Fall gardening is my favorite. In the fall, cool weather plants like lettuce, kale, turnips and mustard greens grow well. They are easy to grow and require little maintenance. The cooler weather helps to keep insects from invading the garden. That is, most years.

Fighting the army worms

Army worms began eating my turnips. When I first noticed them, they were small and I picked off the ones I could find. My biggest problem is that I garden so I don’t have to concern myself about what insecticides producers have put on their crop. Plus, fresh produce is so much better. I was satisfied that I had hurt the worm population.

Next visit to the garden, the worms had begun to eat my kale also. My small effort to eliminate the worms had not accomplished much. I pulled off a few more worms and hoped they wouldn’t attack much more.

I went out of town a few days. Upon returning, I saw the worms were destroying my young crops. My negligence to take care of the problem had caused devastation. The invasion of the worms was minor at first, but soon became overwhelming. I had chosen to just hope the problem, in this case, the worms, would stop invading.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Momentarily Robbed

The army worms made me think of the mental attacks of the devil. You know, that little thought that may momentarily rob you of your joy and peace. After a few moments, I tend to go on about my day ignoring. Then once again that thought enters. I entertained that thought a little more this time. The invasion of fear and foreboding of bad enter and begin to take a big chunk out of my joy and peace.

Aggressive Action

Today I took aggressive action against those army worms. I wish the demolishing of the devil’s attacks were so easy. However, if we would be aggressive against the attacks in the beginning, the destruction to our joy and peace would not be.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”  ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Occupy Our Minds With Good Thoughts

Martin Luther said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from nesting in your hair.” If we don’t occupy our minds with good thoughts, the enemy will fill it with bad thoughts. Think about what you think about. Stop the bad thought before it destroys your joy and peace. Philippians says to do these things and the God of peace will be with you.

https://youtu.be/TdxEF6GwLqg

Pleasing sung by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Paula Wallace