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.”

    
     

Butterflies, Colorful Leaves and Snowflakes

        Butterflies, Colorful Leaves and Snowflakes

Dear Friends,
     I have started to write a letter to you a few times and it didn't go as I wanted.  Since I could wait and start over, that is what I have done again in hopes that the words flow and can reach where someone needs them. 
     The snow and cold has already been happening here in the midwest.  It's a little early for that as it usually waits until after Thanksgiving.  
     The other day, out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a butterfly fly past the window.  I took a closer look and realized that  it must have been leaves being blown off the tree.  I kept looking and realized that it was snowing, huge, fluffy flakes!  It took me by surprise!  Life does that sometimes.  Sometimes a surprise is happy and sometimes they bring us to a stand still.
      I have had to pause again and now it is past Thanksgiving and more snow is falling, like tears that fall as you cry out in prayers for a loved one.   It’s a very heavy snow.  
     Praying and giving thanks are linked together like the links of a paper chain made with glue and glitter.  I’m praying for a very special friend who has been sick.   I'm so thankful for the blessing of a special friendship.  Friendship includes going through valleys with each other.  Jesus had a special friendship with Lazarus.  He spent time with him and his sisters, Mary and Martha.  In John chapter 11 we read that the sisters sent an urgent message to Jesus.  “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”  
     Jesus had a plan for Lazarus and He has a plan for us.  His desire is always for God to be glorified.  His decision to postpone going to Bethany must have been a difficult decision since it brought His friends grief and also grief for Himself.  He was also angry at the unbelief He saw when He told them to roll the stone away from the grave that had held Lazarus for four days.  “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believed?” 
     Then He thanked His Father for hearing His prayer!  “You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 
     To all who are reading this, the message is to always pray that God will be glorified!  Pray to be His hands and feet here on earth that He will be glorified!  God desires that we hold on to hope to see answers to our prayers!   Turn our thoughts to remember past answered prayers so that our faith be built up!  He does answer prayers and He does miracles still today!  Remember to thank Him, like He thanked the Father!
John 11:41
"So they rolled the stone aside.  Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father, thank you for hearing me."
Isaiah 53: 5
"But He was pierced  for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed."
Jeremiah 17:14
"Oh Lord, if You heal me, I will be truly healed; if You save me, I will be truly saved.  My praises are for You alone."

A Worthy Vessel

                     A Worthy Vessel
Dear Friends,
     I was reading about the Samaritan woman at the well and some thoughts came for this blogpost.  
     The story is found in John 4. 
      While on a journey, Jesus stopped in Samaria at a well called Jacob's well.  Normally, Jews didn't speak to Samaritans.  Jesus asked the woman for a drink, which surprised her.  She also was surprised that a Jew would speak to her because she was an outcast of society. She only came to the well during the time of day when it was less likely to be busy.  
     Jesus had a lengthy conversation with her.  Her eyes were opened to believe Jesus when He boldly told her that He was the Messiah!   He who had asked her for a drink was now offering to give her water that He called Living Water.   
     The fresh, bubbling spring in her heart couldn’t be contained!  She went running into town to tell  the Good News to the very people that she had been avoiding!  They were fascinated by her message and came running to listen to this man who claimed to be Messiah and had told the woman all about herself! 
     He wants us to have this same spring of Living Water bubbling up that this woman had.   Let’s let this spring bubble up, overflowing and touching lives of people around us!

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬



“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:39-41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Becoming Beautiful

                  Becoming Beautiful
Dear Friends,
     It has been a while since I've written to you.  I've started a few letters, then life happened and it was hard to come back to the same thought line.  Last week I saw this butterfly on this particular zinnia and God spoke a message to my heart.
     Something you will immediately notice about the flower is that a lot of the petals are gone.  Life still exists in the flower and it still holds nourishing nectar for the butterfly to sip.  The beautiful butterfly hasn't noticed a problem or flaw with the flower and is enjoying it immensely.  
     As I was taking pictures the butterfly would sail through the gentle breeze.  It circled past me so near that I could feel a soft breath-like movement as it fluttered past my cheek and landed back on the top of the broken flower.  I was mesmerized by the beauty!
     I thought, "This is why I grow flowers!  To see a sight like this and to hear God whisper a message to me is why!"
    We all experience brokenness at some point during life.  It can be caused by a number of things and can have many different outcomes.  God sees all the brokenness too, and He sees it like this butterfly sees the broken flower.  It's worth something.  The flower has worth to the butterfly and God sees our worth and potential through our brokenness.  
     A man who does volunteer work with me at the Salvation Army gave his testimony at a meeting I attended.  He shared about his brokenness.  He had come here from another country  as a small child.  They were very poor and  at a young age he got involved in gangs and drugs and spent time in prison.  Then God got ahold of his life and he has spent the past 40 years serving others.  He glows with the love of God!
     I want to encourage you today to know that God sees your worth!  You are beautiful to Him.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's masterpiece.  He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

     

Manna From Prayers

                  Manna From Prayers
Dear Friends,
     When I look at my garden full of pink Missouri primroses I think of the manna that God provided for the people as they journeyed through the wilderness.  They would gather the sweet tasting manna that had dropped from heaven.  I can imagine the children filling their mouths with it as they helped fill the baskets.
     Have you ever seen an artist's work studio, a carpenter's shop or a gardener's potting shed.  Tools and equipment line the shelves in the midst of projects that are being worked on.  In my sewing room are bins full of linen and silk fabrics that were cast off and discarded by former owners.  The sewing machine, pin cushion and thread rack are ready to be put to use.  The garden shed is filled with bags of soil, various sized pots and tools for gardening.  The wheeled cart has been left in the garden by the area that I was working in, along with some gloves, trowel and clippers. 
     God delivered the Hebrew people from the Egyptians and led them through the wilderness.  The wilderness was a sort of work shop.  God continually gave them signs of His presence and protection. He opened the Red Sea for them.  He fed them from heaven.  He guided them with a cloud always providing for their needs.
     When Jesus had a multitude of people following Him, He spent days teaching and healing.    
     In Matthew 14 we read of a time when Jesus told His disciples to feed the crowd of 5000 men plus women and children who were following Him.  Five loaves of bread and two fish were blessed and broken by His hands and given to the crowd.
     In Matthew 15 we read the account of when Jesus had compassion when He noticed that His followers were hungry.  Seven loaves of bread and 2 fish were found.  Jesus blessed the meal and the food was distributed to all 4,000 men plus the women and children.  All were fed until satisfied and the left overs were gathered into 7 large baskets. 
      As I read the account of the time in the wilderness, tears come to my eyes and I pray that I will be thankful and see His hand at work in my life.   I desire to be soft clay in His hands and  I pray that the manna I gather be sweet to taste and full of the nourishment I need.  Each of our lives is like an art project.  God uses events and people like tools to mold and shape us.   The words that come to my mind when I think of the Israelites journey through the wilderness and the feeding of the multitudes is abundant provision.  God is the abundant provider.  May our prayers bring the manna from Heaven so God will be glorified!  When we are in need we can remember the manna blessings, the past times when prayers were answered and when needs were met.  We can pray with thankful hearts to the wonderful provider!
Numbers 9:17
"Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it."
Matthew 15:37
"They all ate as much as they wanted.  Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food."

Finding The Promiser

                 Finding The Promiser
Dear Friends, 
     When I saw the word 'Promiser' being used, it grabbed my attention.  The word brings some questions to mind.  Who is this Promiser and what does He promise?
     George Mueller said that when a trial comes, "I will wait and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it."  He was confident because he was intimately acquainted with the Promiser. 
     We know that the Word of God is full of promises.   He also put His promises in creation to draw people to Himself.  The promises are not hidden.  They are in sight for anyone to see!  
     The sight of this blooming pussy willow was a promise that the season is changing from winter to spring.  Signs of newly sprouting plants bring hope and knowledge that God is in control.  He hasn't hidden this truth, but displays it openly throughout the world.     
     The grip of winter has been unusually tight this year.  Many areas have been experiencing unrelenting wintry weather when normally spring is in full bloom by now.  We had a small glimmer of warmth that made the plants including the pussy willow wake up, but then freezing temperatures came and snow covered the ground again.  Life is unpredictable like that sometimes!  The little bits of yellow from the blooming daffodils poked up through the snow helping me remember that spring will come eventually. 
     Our wonderful Promiser has given us hope to hold on to the promise of the coming change of seasons, the dawning of a new day and the turn of trials into something good! 
Ecclesiastes 10:7
"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning."
 2 Peter 1:4
"And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises...."
Psalms 147:4-5
"He counts the stars
and calls them by name.
How great is our Lord!  His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!"