Genesis 3:17-19
“And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.””
Aloha Craig and Erin, it’s a beautiful Saturday here in Hawaii. I hope you’re having a great day too.
Even though I have much work to do here at home today, I will be going to church this afternoon for a Missions Team meeting. But first, I will try to get as much done here on the farm as I possibly can before leaving. There are always the basic everyday chores: animals to feed and water because like babies, they can’t eat and drink unless you give them what they need; the fruit trees, potted plants, and garden must be attended to because they need water or they will die; but also, I need to tackle the weeds. Ahhh…those nasty good for nothing weeds! They do keep growing! But not as bad as during the winter months, which is our rainy season. I’ve cut the weeds as much as I possibly can with the weed whacker and mower; but now, I have to use the hand clippers and a small pick-ax to cut and clear the weeds away from the stalk of the plants. This is a tedious but necessary chore. So even if I get an hour or two of work done before it’s time to go, it will be worth it.
For today, I’m going to tackle the weeds that are growing among the dragon fruits. They’re going to start blossoming soon, so it’s time to get ready. These dragon fruits were planted by Eulanda the first summer we bought our farm. Now, these three little starts she planted have taken off. They are now large patches. Other dragon fruit cuttings have also been recently planted. I’m waiting for them to take off and start growing soon. Since they do so well on my side of the island, I’m making plans to focus on dragon fruits as my main crop for the farm. Research shows that since they are cacti, this is the perfect place for dragon fruit and I can’t wait to get started. But these weeds are killing me! I reach my hand in between the prickly thorned plants to get to the base of the weed so I can pull, cut, or dig them out. I will be wearing gloves, but the thorns will still scratch me up, causing them to bleed and scab over. O well, that’s the hazard we all deal with since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, as seen in today’s Scripture verses above.
From Adam, our representative here on earth, all guilt with sin by him we share. Now with our Prophet, Priest, and King, we have our kinsman-redeemer sent. So we, his chosen few, will give glory, praise, and honor to our God. John Milton, a puritan author who wrote the great epic poem called, “Paradise Lost” in 1674, writes what Adam said at the end of Book vii.:
“… and thus Adam last replied…
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend.”
My dearest and precious Craig and Erin, I love you all with all my heart and I pray for you every day. It is my deepest, most sincere desire that you both have a life free from the pains of sin and have a great, fantastic abundant life, filled with the joys of Christ.
Your Daddy!