Winter In The Garden: The Song Of The Chimes

                      Winter In The Garden: 

                    The Song Of The Chimes

Dear Friends,

      Our lives are organized into years, seasons, and days.  It was all put into motion during the days of creation.  God had all the intricate details planned. Knowing that God included His Son and redemption for us in His plan makes me unable to express my gratitude except to worship Him.  

     Seasons come and go and we turn the pages on the calendar each month.  Each day we have the opportunity to focus on the tasks that need to be done and to watch and listen for God’s still, soft voice.  Who needs my attention today?  How can I make a difference?  What is God’s will in my life today?

     During the summer these baby wrens demanded the attention of their parents! They were so hungry and very noisy.  I’m not sure when they realized that they could sing instead of screaming, or when they decided to fly out of the birdhouse, but it seemed to happen all of a sudden.  The wrens have come and built nests and had baby wrens every year for many years. I like to think that they are from the same family, and that the grandparents tell the little ones stories of past summers in the garden. I think that these little birds are something I can count on to show up next spring, like I trust that some cosmos flower seeds that dropped from the summer flowers will sprout and bloom next to various perennials that will return to grow and bloom again. 

     Today it’s winter and it’s raining.  I can hear the wind howling through the trees and the chimes on the porch are singing the song of winter. Trust. Remember. Pray. Listen.

Psalms 104:19

“You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.”

     This creation that surrounds us is marvelous in the way it changes as the seasons change. He made it that way to demonstrate His faithfulness.  We can count on Him to have the sun rise in the morning and have the wrens come again next spring.

    During this winter  season, when we can listen to the chimes, let’s pray to see the work He has planned for us.

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Snow Falls and Tears Fall

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                    Snow Falls: Tears Fall

Dear Friends,

     It's nice to be here again.  The list of reasons for being absent and neglecting this time with you is long.  I think the break away was needed and I am ready for a nice visit.  

     Jesus experienced times that He needed to distance Himself from others.  Sometimes people didn't understand why He wasn't there when they needed Him.

     In Mark chapter 4 we can read about a time when Jesus was so exhausted that He was sleeping soundly during a storm at sea.  His disciples thought He didn't care that they might all drown.  This situation makes me ask myself, "Would I be afraid of the storms around me if Jesus was physically with me?" After the storm quieted at the sound of His voice He asked them a question.

     Mark 4:40

"Then He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

     I want the kind of faith that grows stronger during these storms.  Can you pray this with me?  The storms don't seem to be subsiding right now.  Every day is full of challenges for all of us.  Jesus is with us and He won't leave us.  I love the image of a giant bird that has the strong, soft wings over us for protection. The storm blows. The wind blows like whispers.   Singing beautiful songs over us that bring tears streaming down our faces. 

     Let's pray and pray for one another that our faith will grow and we can face these storms!

1 Thessalonians 3:24

"And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows."

Through The Storm: Seeing His Faithfulness

                  Through The Storm:
                Seeing His Faithfulness 
Dear Friends,
      God alerted  Noah that a storm was coming.  Noah and his family trusted God and remained safe throughout the flood.  I can’t begin to imagine the difficulty in that situation.  So many questions race through my mind.  The lack of  things  that we today consider necessary must have made the experience extremely challenging!  
     A storm is raging. 
    When Noah was waiting for the dove to return he didn’t despair.  He knew that God had a plan, even if the details weren’t clear to him yet.
     The storm brings many challenges depending on our individual circumstances.  During this time we all have moments or days that we need to take a breath, look around us and take inventory of what we do have.  Maybe our gratitude list is short today.  Today we can look at the story of Noah and see his faith and obedience, his patience in the storm.  
     The dove came back with an olive leaf!  The flooded earth was showing signs that the water was receding and an end of the flood was near!  They waited and continued trusting for two more months until God told them that they could release the animals and leave the ark.
     Throughout history men  have faced extreme hardships.
     I pray that this storm we face today will be remembered by the love we had for one another, the sacrifices we made for each other.  I hope this time in history is remembered for how people united in the cause to bring healing to the world.
May God be merciful and help us all!
Genesis 8:3-4
“So the floodwaters gradually receded from the earth.  After 150 days, exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.”
Genesis 8:12
“He waited another seven days and then released the dove again.  This time it did not come back.”
Psalms 90:14
“Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”

     

The Seed Gifts

The Seed Gifts

Dear Friends,

     I have been thinking of seed gifts and what they are and how God uses them.  

     Many years ago, before I had a flower garden, I called my children my garden.  When the twins were babies, I took them for a stroller ride in the neighborhood.  I exclaimed over the beauty of the row of giant hibiscus lining a driveway.  The owner asked me if I would like some seeds from them.  After I replied that I would, he went to the garage and brought out a large coffee can and proceeded to fill it with enough seeds for me to plant a flower  garden!

     A year later we lived in a house where I had a yard for a flower garden, so I planted several of the seeds and by mid summer I had gorgeous, red, pink and white hibiscus blooming.  When the seed pods formed and dried, I collected them and started sharing those seeds with people who liked them.  

     Many of the plants I have now have similar stories of where they came from and who gifted me with them.  This year I am growing beautiful moon flowers from seeds that a cousin gave me.  That flower will most likely be featured in my next letter to you!  A garden is for sharing, you know!  These letters are a way for me to plant seed gifts.  I want the words to build up and encourage you!  The memory and blessing of the seed gift lives on!

     A seed gift doesn't need to be actual seeds, but can be an act of being kind in some way.  It has to do with listening to the Holy Spirit and acting on the whispers you hear spoken.   

     Ruth listened to that quiet voice and gave Naomi her companionship and loyalty.  A boy shared his lunch with Jesus when the multitude was hungry.  A widow used her last bit of  flour and oil to feed a stranger.  A woman broke her alabaster jar and anointed Jesus with fragrant oil.  These were examples of seed gifts.  Those gifts blessed the ones who received them and continue to be remembered and still are a blessing.  Seed gifts keep giving hope, joy, and life! 

    Do you have things in your life that were seed gifts from someone?  Maybe it's a memory of a kind word that still puts a smile on your face.  

Acts 20:24

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others  the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

1 Corinthians 12:6

"God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us."

Romans 12:8

"If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.  If it is giving,  give generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

From Deep Inside Comes A Sacrifice of Praise

     From Deep Within Flows A Sacrifice Of 
                             Praise
Dear Friends,
    Once again it has been a while since I wrote to you.  I was just in the garden this morning waiting for the Voice to whisper a message for me to share here.  The message was given.  When I opened the blog page, this one had been started, but left unfinished. The message started then is meant for today.
     The garlic scape bends and curls as if bowing low in agonizing praise.  It’s agonizing because the longing to be intimately communicating with the Savior cannot be held back any longer.  The message to the one or ones who will hear the voice calling them is clear.  Come to Me if you are hurting, grieving.  Come if you are guilty of wrongdoing.  Come if you are lonely.  Come if you are thirsty.   Come to the well to be renewed, refreshed.
    The rose bush caught my eye this morning, as it's covered in delicate, velvety, red blooms.  Some of the leaves are glossy as if recently polished, but others are brown and full of holes.  They have been lunch for some hungry insects.  
     Even now, in late July, the rose bush is giving.  In the midst of her pain and loss she is still beautiful, worthy.  Her roots have reached out and found a source for refreshment.  She has sacrificed many leaves and suffered a lot of damage but is triumphant through the suffering she endured.  The Source is always willing, able and sufficient to fill the empty places.
  No matter how long it's been, the Well is sufficient when we offer a sacrifice of praise.
Isaiah 61:3
"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His glory."
Psalms 141: 2
"Accept my prayer as incense offered to You, and my upraised hands as an evening offering."
Psalms 106:1
"Praise the Lord!  give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  his faithful love endures forever."
      

Rejoice in the Lord, Always

            Rejoice in the Lord, Always
Dear Friends,
     Finally things are sprouting and we have had two sunny days in a row!!!  I've got color popping up here now!  I will have lots of new things to discover in the garden during the coming days.        
The flower  that you see in the picture today is the same plant that I use for the border picture, only that one is when this silver dollar plant goes to seed!  It's so unique and nice to have it blooming early in the spring!  The seeds drop and I usually have them sprout in a lot of haphazard  places. 
    Rejoice!  Always!  That sounds good when things are bright like a sunny day filled with sweet scents and bright colors!  Tomorrow and actually the rest of the week is forecast to be cloudy, and stormy.  I know myself well enough to realize that I need to be alert to the fact that the weather does not need to control me.  I can rejoice in the Lord, even on a stormy day!  I confess, I do have a hard time when I don't have the right weather to be outdoors.  
Romans 8:39
"No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
     When the sun shines brightly and we look closely at a flower, we notice the intricate design and details that God created.  My thoughts return to Him and I remember His love for us and how He cared enough to fill His creation with things like the silver dollar plant for our enjoyment!
Hosea 6:3
"Oh, that we might know the Lord!  Let us press on to know Him.  He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."

Stone Walls and Golden Shields

         Stone Walls and Golden Shields 
Dear Friends,
     I’m going to be honest here.  I’ve been struggling this winter.  The long months of cold, snow and gray days, along with the sickness and death of my dear friend have made me have difficulty focusing to write.  When I’m able to be outdoors and working in the garden I feel renewed in mind and spirit.  I’m able to pray and meditate while I do the work.  Often it's during these times that I start to get an idea of what to write in these letters.  Now, because it’s not garden season yet,  I will try to use my imagination to take us to summer time in the garden.
     It's often hard for me to keep up with the garden work during the summer.  The weeds compete with the flowers for space and seem to take over when I'm not looking!  The weeds could be compared to a relentless enemy.  They  are determined to control the garden.  Enemies can be described in different ways.  The army of an opposing country, or one person who has harmful intentions or even thoughts that attempt to take us away from God’s path can be considered enemies.  
     God makes provisions for us to be safe from these enemies.  We need to be alert and aware so we can put up the walls of defense to fend off the thoughts that can hold us prisoners.  He is our defense, our strong tower and our armor.  Staying close to God in prayer and the Word can be difficult during the time of warfare but it also is where we will gain our strength for the duration of the attack.  So let's think about the strong, stone walls and golden shields while we draw on the provisions God has for us to use for the purpose of protection!  
Ephesians 6:11
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” 
Psalms 91:4
“He will cover you with His feathers.  He will shelter you with His wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
Psalms 122:3
“Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached.”