Sometimes I think there are two people living in this body. One is positive thinking, ready to take on the world. The other is scared, always hiding where it’s safe. I like positive Phil. He’s fun to be around, people respect him and he makes a difference. Scared Phil, on the other hand, I loathe. He believes he has failed even before he tries. He believes people tolerate him. I want positive Phil to live and scared Phil to die.

So why does scared Phil keep showing up? How do I get rid of him, permanently? It’s like he’s handcuffed to me and I’m stuck with him until one of us has served his time. Why is positive Phil missing when I need him most? He comes, visits, then goes back to where ever he came from.

When I was a kid, I wanted my own section of the garden. Dad gave me a row and I planted what I wanted in my row. Tomatoes, bell peppers and corn. Having my own row in the garden meant I was responsible for the care of the row.

I’d come home from school, go out to the garden and water my row. Every day I hoped to see one of the plants poking up out of the ground. Four or five days had passed, I had watered them as I was taught and still, there wasn’t a sprout to be seen. I grew frustrated. This garden wasn’t fun anymore. It was work. It wasn’t long until I was giving my bike the attention my garden needed. My plants didn’t grow well. They didn’t produce much and what they did produce wasn’t very good. I had a good crop of weeds, though. I wanted to have a good garden, but wanting didn’t get me a good garden.

What if the two Phils are like my garden? What am I doing to nurture positive Phil? Or have I grown impatient because I haven’t seen results after a couple of days? One thing’s for sure, scared Phil grows, even when I’m not trying to grow him. Growing positive Phil is hard work. I want positive Phil to grow, but just wanting won’t make it happen.

However, I don’t have to work alone in growing positive Phil. There is Someone who wants to help. Someone who is able to do much more than just want. “And I am sure that God, who began this good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

Father God,
In Your Word, You’ve told me what it takes to grow up to be Your man. But it’s hard and I get frustrated and impatient when I don’t see immediate results. Give me courage to live for You when I’m scared. Give me strength to keep going when I’m weak and tired. Finish the work You’ve started in me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: Do you feel the pull between being a confident man and a frightened man? How does knowing that God is committed to completing the good work He began in you help you today?

Sometimes I think there are two people living in this body. One is positive thinking, ready to take on the world. The other is scared, always hiding where it’s safe. I like positive Phil. He’s fun to be around, people respect him and he makes a difference. Scared Phil, on the other hand, I loathe. He believes he has failed even before he tries. He believes people tolerate him. I want positive Phil to live and scared Phil to die.

So why does scared Phil keep showing up? How do I get rid of him, permanently? It’s like he’s handcuffed to me and I’m stuck with him until one of us has served his time. Why is positive Phil missing when I need him most? He comes, visits, then goes back to where ever he came from.

When I was a kid, I wanted my own section of the garden. Dad gave me a row and I planted what I wanted in my row. Tomatoes, bell peppers and corn. Having my own row in the garden meant I was responsible for the care of the row.

I’d come home from school, go out to the garden and water my row. Every day I hoped to see one of the plants poking up out of the ground. Four or five days had passed, I had watered them as I was taught and still, there wasn’t a sprout to be seen. I grew frustrated. This garden wasn’t fun anymore. It was work. It wasn’t long until I was giving my bike the attention my garden needed. My plants didn’t grow well. They didn’t produce much and what they did produce wasn’t very good. I had a good crop of weeds, though. I wanted to have a good garden, but wanting didn’t get me a good garden.

What if the two Phils are like my garden? What am I doing to nurture positive Phil? Or have I grown impatient because I haven’t seen results after a couple of days? One thing’s for sure, scared Phil grows, even when I’m not trying to grow him. Growing positive Phil is hard work. I want positive Phil to grow, but just wanting won’t make it happen.

However, I don’t have to work alone in growing positive Phil. There is Someone who wants to help. Someone who is able to do much more than just want. “And I am sure that God, who began this good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

Father God,
In Your Word, You’ve told me what it takes to grow up to be Your man. But it’s hard and I get frustrated and impatient when I don’t see immediate results. Give me courage to live for You when I’m scared. Give me strength to keep going when I’m weak and tired. Finish the work You’ve started in me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: Do you feel the pull between being a confident man and a frightened man? How does knowing that God is committed to completing the good work He began in you help you today?

About this Author: Phillip Lemons

Spring Cleaning Goes Outside
Spring is in the air and it’s time to get outside. Although “spring cleaning” usually refers to cleaning the inside of your house, cleaning the outside can be important too. A little extra care and prevention now can make for sunny days ahead. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to get your yard and garden ready now. Here are our top five suggestions for a cleaner and more beautiful yard! Read more

Take action: Don’t feel like you have time to take care of your lawn, or to do anything else these days? Explore time management in our Managing Time Wisely online interactive life lesson.

You said it: This week, Agnes commented on Unmasking Our True Selves, saying “Thank you for this article, I feel as though you were writing to me. … I feel as though you were writing to me.” Maybe it could speak to you too? Read more

Blog: Gardening in Small Spaces
If Spring has you itching to get your hands in the dirt, don’t let a lack of space keep you from gardening. There are lots of ways to cultivate a garden in very little space. Read more

Video: 3 Minute Expert: Buying a Lawnmower
If you’re tired of the noise of your old lawnmower, or the endless raking, bagging, and aching backs, here are some tips to help you find the perfect lawnmower for your lawn. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Developing Great Communication Skills” Join us in the chat room May 31^st 2009 @ 10:00pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Weed it and Reap
Someone has said: “It is not enough for a gardener to love flowers; he must also hate weeds.” This really reminds me of our Christian life. Our life is like a garden in God’s kingdom which He has given us to tend. The more beautiful His gardens are, the more attractive and inviting His kingdom will be to others. But if our garden only grows weeds, well, the Bible says it’s only good for being burned. Read the full article.

Take action: Spend time growing your faith this spring! Check out our Growing in Faith series of online interactive life lessons.

You said it: This week Mohaloaloha shared on the Because of His Mercy women’s devotional, saying “It’s a good reminder for ourselves to bring us back on track and into perspective. I would say all too often and almost daily I’m thrown into the “acts” and then I get stressed because I feel like I can’t possibly be doing the best I can to follow Christ and be a good Christian, but it’s nonsense I’m filling myself with by telling myself that! :)” Join the conversation on TheLife.com Devotional for Men and TheLife.com Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Experience TheLife Blog: The God Debate: Craig vs Hitchens
On April 4 2009, a public debate was held at BIOLA University between William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens. The topic: Does God Exist? Read more

Devotional: Aphids and Sin
Take a moment to check your heart today. Do you have sins in your life (noticeable or secret) that need to be confessed? Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Developing Great Communication Skills” Join us in the chat room May 31^st 2009 @ 10:00pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Having a well kept yard will help you enjoy your home that much more. Kick back with a tall drink, relax in a lounge chair, and enjoy the view.

More outdoors living:
Alaska Inside Passage Adventure
The Man’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing, and Life

Nan gardened on a grand scale.  While I wish I could have a garden like hers, I simply don’t have that kind of space.  (To be honest, I don’t have that kind of time either.)  Gardening on a smaller scale fits better into my life right now.

If Spring has you itching to get your hands in the dirt, don’t let a lack of space keep you from gardening.  There are lots of ways to cultivate a garden in very little space.If you have any green space at all consider turning a small corner of it into  garden.  Even a single square foot can be enough room to plant flowers or start a herb garden.

If all you have is a balcony or a windowsill then it’s time to think container gardening.  All sorts of plants can be grown in containers.  We’ve got lots of ideas and information about container gardening in “Gardening in Small Spaces”.  And don’t miss the recipe for a perfect summer steak marinade.   It’s time to fire up the grill.

More ways to get ready for summer:
7 Treats for summer
More container gardening

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s  Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

This spring our grandson was visiting on a nice sunny day so the two of us went to the back yard to do some clean up. The task would have gone faster without the help of a two year old but for the delight of being together I invited him to join me.

I learned two lessons from a two year old child’s perspective that day. In the middle of the afternoon it started to snow, one of those spring squalls that produce large flakes of snow. Domonic turned to me with a big smile and said, “Me chase snow!” He proceeded to run, turning in circles, laughing all the time while attempting to catch the snow flakes. His joy was infectious! The lesson I learned in watching him was that we need to enjoy the moments that God gives.

The second lesson Domonic taught me had to do with his wanting to help me In the clean up process we filled several baskets with debris. I started to carry the first one away when Domonic said, “Me help.” I really did not need his help but I let him take hold of the basket.  He didn’t really have the strength to help, but I let him do it even though I had to slow down.  It gave him great pleasure to help his Papa!

I began to think about how God views us. I do not claim to be a theologian, but I am convinced that God does not really need our help. The fact that God invites us to join him in his work is because he delights in the relationship with us and knows we will be satisfied in that partnership with him. In my desire to help God, I am very much like a two year old trying to help his Papa.

So the lessons from a two year old that I learned that day were to enjoy each moment God gives, even though there is a task to be done, and to understand that God desires and delights in our relationship with him.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O LORD,
how profound your thoughts!  Psalm 92:4-5 (NIV)

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.   Psalm 17:6-8 (NIV)

Questions: What kind of relationship with God do you have? Why does God desire and delight in a relationship with you?

About the Author Mike Woodward

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Deliver Us from the Evil One, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

If you’re itching to get your hands in the dirt, don’t let a lack of space keep you from gardening.

If you have any green space at all consider turning a small corner of it into  garden.  Even a single square foot can be enough room to plant flowers or start a herb garden.  If all you have is a balcony or a windowsill then it’s time to think container gardening.  All sorts of plants can be grown in containers.

Think about what you’d like to grow. Do you want flowers for color?  Vegetables for the table or herbs to cook with?  If you’re working with a windowsill, herbs are a great choice.  They thrive in small spaces and are very hard to kill.  Ornamental grasses can also add a lovely touch of green to any room.

Find the light

Take note of where the sun is on your deck or windowsill and what time of day it is there.  Plants all differ on the amount of sun they require.  Too much sun and your plant will wither, not enough sun and it will rot.   Don’t worry about the type of light you have – there are plants that thrive in almost any lighting conditions.

When you get the greenhouse, light requirement will be clearly marked on each plant’s label.  (Most growers use  a color system – yellow for full sun, orange for part sun and purple for shade.)  If you’re unsure, as a salesperson.  No amount of water or loving care can make-up for putting a plant in the wrong light.

When choosing your plants, remember: if they’re all going in the same container, they all need to have the same light requirements.  Sometimes you can cheat this if you have a smaller shade plant protected by a larger full sun plant, but if you’re just starting out, keep them all the same.  Trust me, you’ll be much happier with the results.

Choose your container

Remember that the plants are going to grow (hopefully) so it’s best to choose the largest container that fits your space and your purposes.  If you’re planting herbs, a container with multiple openings can give you room for a whole herb garden in less than a foot of space.

Look for a container that has holes in the bottom for drainage. If you want to use a vintage pot that doesn’t have holes, hide a smaller plastic container with holes inside it.  The soil must be able to drain or the plants will get moldy.

Don’t forget to look up

If space is really at a premium, consider a hanging garden.  Hanging baskets of all varieties are available at your local greenhouse.  Like plants sold individually, hanging baskets will be labeled for their light conditions.  If you don’t see a label, ask.  You can grow flowers in a hanging basket but you can also grow some special varieties of tomatoes that way as well.  If you’re going to put herbs in your hanging basket, make sure you hang the basket low enough to be able to harvest them.

What to grow

If you want to eat from your small garden, try growing cherry tomatoes.  You’ll get a lot more fruit per square foot from these smaller tomatoes than you will from a larger variety like beefsteak.  Salad greens also flourish in small spaces, just be sure to harvest regularly.  If your lettuces get too tall the leaves will turn bitter.

If you want a flower garden, Geraniums add a lot of color to full sun gardens.  If you have a shaded area look for Impatiens, a lovely little flower that comes in a huge range of colors.  If you want something very low maintenance, non-flowering plants like Coleus or Dusty Miller will thrive all summer, all you have to do is water them.

For a basic herb garden try planting rosemary, oregano, chives, cilantro and lavender. Basil is another popular choice, but I’ve always found it grows better in a pot indoors.    With this you’ll have all you need for fresh salsa all summer and a perfect steak marinade (see recipe below).

It doesn’t take a lot of space, or a lot of time, to turn a forgotten corner into a garden.   What will you grow this year?

Perfectly Simple Summer Steak Marinade

You will need:
•    a few spears of rosemary
•    a small handful of fresh oregano
•    a clove or two of garlic
•    ¼ C extra virgin olive oil
•    salt and pepper to season
•    steak(s)
•    a large zip close bag

To  create a marinade for that perfect summer steak, about an hour before you want to grill grab a few spears of rosemary and a small handful of oregano from the garden.  Chop it up along with a clove of garlic and add it to about a quarter cup of olive oil.   Season the steaks with salt and pepper and pierce the meat in a few places.

Pour the marinade into a large zip close bag and add the steaks.  Seal the bag (removing the air) and rub the marinade in to the steaks.  Let sit in the fridge for an hour.  Fire up the grill and get ready to remember what summer tastes like.

More ways to grow:
How do you define yourself?  Take our online lesson about the things that matter