Killer Plants

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, . . . he cannot be My disciple. —Luke 14:26

Some forest workers fight fires. Others battle fast-growing plants. A Mercury News article reported that teams of volunteers are working hard to remove invasive plants from the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Workers point out that many of the non-native species they are fighting are sold in garden stores. The German ivy plant, for example, has become a serious problem in California. This fast-growing exotic house plant competes with the native species, smothering and shading everything in its path. It can completely cover and destroy a tree.

Thinking about these home-grown invaders can help us understand something even more crucial than saving trees. Jesus warned us that anything that competes with Him for our hearts can choke our spiritual lives. He said that even the natural love of family can be dangerous and keep us from following Him (Luke 14:16-26). Our Lord demands our undivided love and loyalty.

Once we value Christ above everything else, we will learn to love our family with a deeper and healthier love. But until our ultimate loyalty is determined, home-grown affection will do in our hearts what fire or German ivy will do in a forest.

Don’t let anything compete with Christ

To follow Christ we must let go
Of all that we hold dear;
And once we have denied ourselves,
Our gains become more clear. —Sper

The more we love Christ, the more we’ll love others.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 7-9; Acts 18

2 posted on 07/12/2007 6:08:30 PM PDT by The Mayor ( A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.—Proverbs 16:9)

To: sneakers; vigilante2; Jade Falcon; Laurita; txradioguy; tongue-tied; SoldierDad; KB4W; ...

Honoring Our Heroes

Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
Brett (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
Col Mike (gpapa)
CMS
David (LUV W)
Defender2
Ev (MozartLover)
Future Snake Eater (RightOnline)
Jade Falcon
JemiansTerror (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan (AZbushgal)
Josh (doug from upland)
Karen (fatima's granddaughter)
KB4W (arbee4bush)
Kevin (skimask)
Kevin and David (vigilante2)
Laurita
LCpl Carter
Lt Jason Clindenin (friend of Frou)
M1Tanker
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Milo828 (mystery-ak)
Nate (sneakers)
Old Sarge
OneLoyalAmerican
Robert, Jeremy & Daynnis (SoldierDad)
Sgt Sean Reed (preed)
Son (GodBlessUSA)
The Sailor
tongue-tied
Tonkin
txradioguy
Victor and Tony D (weldgophardline)
William (jackv)

11 posted on 07/12/2007 6:16:38 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

14 posted on 07/12/2007 6:17:29 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

Good evening, Mayor. Hope the week has treated you well. Thanks for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

30 posted on 07/12/2007 6:31:03 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

Hi, Rus. Hope you’re having a good week! Is it heating up a lot up there? It’s still in the 90s here...no 100s yet...XXcrossing fingersXX!

Thanks for our beautiful lesson from God’s Word.

54 posted on 07/12/2007 7:04:25 PM PDT by luvie (You never win when you play not to lose....Rush Limbaugh)

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