Kudzu and the Kingdom of God

At times I wonder if my prayers get above the ceiling, if I have any influence in my city, if the church makes any real difference in the community, if faith is anything more than wishful thinking. But then I remember that by its very nature the Kingdom of God HAS to grow.

All of us have to deal with discouragement from time to time. So did Jesus' disciples. When Jesus sensed that their morale was down, he told three parables that are recorded in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew.

---Those parables tell us that the Kingdom of God has something in common with kudzu, the unofficial state flower of Mississippi.
In fact, some folks credit kudzu with having preventing the whole state of Mississippi from being washed down the river.

For the sake of you who may be new to the south, let me explain that kudzu is that leafy vine that you often see growing up telephone poles or covering little valleys down here. If they ever find a commercial use for the stuff, the South will surely rise again.

Nothing can grow like kudzu. It is the only plant whose growth is measured in miles per hour. You remember the story of Jack and the Beanstalk? That was no beanstalk; it was a kudzu stem.

--- The best way to plant kudzu is to throw it over your shoulder and run. It's important to plant kudzu at the right time.
Always do it at night. If you do it in broad daylight, your neighbors will take you to court.

Here are some cool websites that explore the wonders of Kudzu!
http://www.cptr.ua.edu/kudzu/
http://www.hower.org/Kudzu/Kudzu/index.iwp

We Christians are part of a kudzu-kind of kingdom. When we are faithful and walking in our callings, God blesses his kingdom with prodigious growth and transforming influence.