This year the Cardoon has produced more stalks with many more thistles. They have also been taller. Yesterday we took the decision to cut them down. It is good to leave them through the winter for the wild life and we have done that in the past. However, this year we felt that the plant base would do well not to be lifted by strong winds but stay securely in the ground. It has already sent up new leaves.
I photographed this architectural thistle high up above our heads and I will share these with a question asked by David in a Psalm.
This is his question:
‘ What kind of person is fit to live and fellowship in the presence of God?’
To answer this question David lists moral traits rather than formal religious rituals.
These seem impossible to live up to and so they are. Why bother?
Until you listen to Jesus speaking using a gardeners thinking:
Stay connected to Me/Abide in Me and I in you, As a branch of itself cannot bear fruit of itself, except it stay connected to / abide in the vine, no more can you except you stay connected/ abide in Me.
With this in mind let us see how David answers this question in my words ‘ How does the sin choosing creature live with the perfect Creator?’
Honesty and integrity
‘ Those that walk honestly with integrity uprightly, doing what is right and speaking the truth from the heart.’ Psalm 15 : 2
Kind speech
‘ Those that don’t backbite, gossip, spread slander or harm a neighbour with words.’
Psalm 15 :3
Moral discernment
‘Expressing disapproval for wicked behaviour while honoring those who fear and respect the Lord.’
Then this
Reliability
Reliability shown in keeping promises even when doing so brings personal loss or hardship.
A thought from me as I read this. By God’s words the world was created and He expects us to respect our words as they have authority as well.
The actual words: ‘ He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.’
Fairness
Refusing to charge unfair interest on loans to the needy or accepting bribes against the innocent.
‘ He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.’ Psalm 15 :5
‘ Those who do this will never be moved.’ Psalm 15 : 5
Take care,
Sandy 🙂