Abundantly

For many years, we had a garden in our backyard.  It was a good producer of cucumbers, zucchini, squash and tomatoes.  When the harvest was abundant, I remember walking out to the garden to pick the goodies and pretty much without fail, I'd arrive in the garden empty handed.

I knew there were plants producing an abundance of produce, but there I stood in the midst of all that bounty with nothing to carry the abundance of vegetables back to the house.

If this would have happened only once, it wouldn't be such a great illustration, but this happened to me time and again.  There I stood, looking at the vegetables around me and totally unprepared.  So, I'd improvise by putting the small stuff like cherry tomatoes in my pockets, then I'd turn the bottom of my shirt up and fill that to overflowing with larger items. I'd carry the abundance to the house leaving a trail of vegetables behind me.

Why didn't I go to the garden with the expectation of the bounty that awaited me?

Why wasn't I prepared to receive what I knew was waiting for me?

This little gardening memory got me thinking about the abundance of good things the Lord has for us.  Do we come prepared to receive or do we stand and look around in awe, but never take what the Lord has prepared for us?

In 2 Corinthians 9:8 it says, And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.

Don't stand in the bounty of everything the Lord has for you and be unprepared to receive!  Take what the Lord has for you, then in return use it to overflow your blessings on others.