Our Ministries
Christian Life Center is a church of ministry. Whatever stage of life you find yourself in, CLC is there to help minister to your spiritual and relational needs. From our energetic children and youth ministries, our instructive young adult and singles ministries, to our comprehensive family ministry and supportive elders’ ministry, CLC is a church that focuses on people helping people -- in a personal and caring manner.
Devotional by Pastor Lopez
Weeds
I once had the privilege of going on a three-week vacation. Very rare are those opportunities in life when a person is able to just get away and relax for an extended period of time. As you can imagine, I returned home very rested and very refreshed.
That is, until I went into my garden. Amazing! How could so many weeds grow in such number and size in such a short period of time? Looking at that flower bed, it suddenly felt like I had been away for three months. Needless to say, the amount of work that went into pulling those weeds made me rue the fact that I had taken such a long absence from my home.
Weeds only need one thing to grow: neglect. They will grow in good soil and they will grow in poor soil. They will grow in wet climates and they will grow in arid conditions. They can cover an entire field or they can grow from the smallest crack in the sidewalk. Truly, weeds can grow virtually anywhere . . . as long as they are left alone. If the gardener’s attention is elsewhere, then weeds have the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Our lives are like gardens that need tending. It takes a lot of effort to develop the necessary fruit that all Christians are to display. Character, integrity, uprightness, morality, virtue, honesty, and purity do not come naturally nor do they come easily. We have to apply the seed of God’s Word, water our hearts with the flow of His Spirit, and be patient to allow God to reveal His nature in us.
Yet, if we allow distractions to creep in, we are in danger of having weeds appear, weeds that will choke out our spiritual lives.
Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed . . . fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them (Matthew 13:3-7).
I can’t afford to be careless with my heart and my attention. Doing so would leave me in a vulnerable condition.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).
How easy it is to allow ungodly attitudes, desires, behaviors, and thought patterns into our lives. All we have to do is let down our guard and these evil weeds seem to show up overnight. And once the weeds appear, it will take a good amount of effort on our part to restore this garden to what it should be. Honestly, it is so much better to keep the weeds from growing in the first place.
No matter how busy life becomes, or how many responsibilities we have to bear, no one can take the spiritual condition of his or her heart for granted. No, if my heart is going to remain pure, then I am going to have to keep my attention right where it should be: on God and in His Word. This is one garden where weeds are definitely not welcome.
