Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Goodness of God

Psalm 27: 13-14

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Signs of spring are popping in my tiny flower bed. Tulip leaves have pushed through the soil. The top of the hyacinths are visible. Daffodils are in various stages, with some in bloom. My crocuses raise their thin green arms and the purple and white flowers reach to the sky.

In spring, the goodness of God appears in nature. The woods awaken the trillium and Lenten rose. The oaks and maples poke their buds out of the branches, along with red buds and dogwood.

With all the turmoil in our world, I seek the good. The beauty sooths my soul. When I see the good in people, I rejoice. The child who helps his friend, the young person who assists the elderly, and the believer who shares the truth of Jesus all fill me with hope.

Psalm 27 says to be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord.

Waiting is hard, but the psalmist tells us the secret. Be strong—resist the temptation to give up. Take heart—hope. Hope gives me the strength to keep going, to fill up on God's word and to pray.

The psalmist is confident he will see goodness in life, and so am I. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, and my heart filled with Him, I can move through life with confidence, and experience the good.

When Rosie was a puppy, she wanted to play with Olive, But Olive was old and grumpy. She ignored Rosie most of the time. One day, Rosie had a bone she was gnawing on and Olive laid down beside her. After a few minutes, Rosie pushed the bone to Olive. I saw goodness through my dogs that day.

Look for the good and be the good.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Everyday Joy

When I get out of my car to go in the house, 
these beautiful zinnias greet me.
They happen to be my favorite color--
which brings me joy!

Do you have something you see everyday that brings you joy?

Shout for joy to God, all the earth! -Psalm 66:1


 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

A Touch of Kindness

On our trip to South Carolina, we visited Tandem, in Travelers Rest,
a cute little eatery that features crepes. 
Each table had a sweet bouquet of fresh flowers.
I appreciated this touch of thoughtfulness.

What kind gesture can we show today?


 

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Appreciate and Imagine

Every day I see the work of God's hands--
When I pause by my flowers and watch the bees collect pollen--
Then I see butterflies float on air and hear birds sing glorious melodies.

God has gifted us an incredible place to dwell.
The natural world and amazing creation leave me in awe.

If this world is this beautiful, imagine how awesome heaven will be.


 

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Garden Surprise!

Matthew 13: 44-46
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The columbine had finished blooming. 

The other day, I cut back the columbine, an early spring bloomer, and opened up a spot in the front of my garden. With the spent flowers gone, the pink and white flox shined and flowered to their fullest, but the best surprise, hidden under the other plants, was the sweet little pinkish-red begonia. I had no idea this little guy even existed. He hid under the other plants, yet his blossom pushed forth.

I admit, my heart did a little flip-flop of excitement when I spied the tiny thing. I'd thought about buying some begonias and planting them this year, but never did, so this little one brought me unexpected joy. I hope it grows and continues to bloom this summer.

Like my hidden treasure in the flower bed, the kingdom of heaven is a gift to us. I didn't buy it, but Jesus did. He's the one who buys the field, in the parable, so He can share the treasure with the people who love and believe in Him.

The same with the pearls. Jesus gave everything so that we could be part of the kingdom of heaven. I can't buy my way into salvation or heaven, but Jesus can and did. He traded His life for mine because He loves so much. When I spied the little begonia, I was reminded of Jesus' great love and His gift of eternal life. His gift is free for anyone who wants it.

Seek Jesus and receive His treasure.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

He Cares

I love this time of year, before the temperature rises beyond eighty,
and the plants sprout from the ground. 

My flowers are mostly perennials that reseed and return year after year. 
I don't have to do much to the plants,
and before long I'll have a lovely rainbow of blooms.

I think God filled the world with flowers to remind us how much He cares.

"Consider how the wild flowers grow.
They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you,
not even Solomon in all his splendor
was dressed like one of these."
-Luke 12:27




Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Let the Fields be Jubilant

I went to one of the local libraries on Saturday to listen to a poetry reading.
On my way in I noticed these lovely double daffodils, 
and of course I had to stop and take a photo.

God created the most amazing plants. 
He timed them to bloom at different times of the year
and in so many gorgeous colors. 

This quote by Albert Einstein makes sense to me.

The more time I spend in nature, the more I embrace God.
Through His creation, I get to know him better and 
understand how much love He lavishes on us.


 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96:11-13

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Allow Color to Bless You

God created the world as a colorful place. 
Look around and see the greens, blues, pinks, and purples. 
Red, yellow and orange, black and white and even brown 
add amazing variety and contrast. 

My favorite color, pink, pours joy into my soul. 

That may sound silly, but I believe God gave us color 
to help us understand and appreciate the world we live in. 
On a gray day, a splash of color adds inspiration.

Take a moment to admire the colors and allow God to bless you.


 

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Look for the Beauty

With summer whirling to a close and fall nipping at its heals, 
there's a beauty which takes place in the transition. 
As the black-eyed Susans and zinnias begin to fade, 
the leaves plan their fashion show for fall.

Don't miss it-don't miss the loveliness of every day.
Take a glimpse of the goodness of God's creation.
Soak in the color and embrace the change.

Too busy? Stop--and look, smell, taste, touch, see the 
incredible nature that surrounds us.


 

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Be Still

When I sit on a rock under Marblehead Lighthouse, my mind stills.

Most days my brain spins a dozen directions, but God has given me
this one place where I can guarantee I will be still.

I also enjoy my flower bed when I water it or sit in my Adirondack chair
and soak in the beauty of the blooms.

Sometimes in our busy lives, sitting silent and 
letting the Holy Spirit speak is difficult, yet necessary.

Find a place to be still, and soak in
the love of God and His amazing creation. 

It's okay to rest the body and mind and allow yourself to recharge.



Saturday, May 21, 2022

So Did I

Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My columbine cross-pollinated.

When I first planted columbine in my flower garden, I started with one or two plants. I had grown the old-fashioned ones for years, but when I moved, I failed to take them with me. Eventually, I gathered starts of white and purple from my siblings and added a pretty blue one. With their pops of color and lacey leaves, they add bursts of joy to my plot. As the spring flowers bloom, I'm reminded once again of God's handiwork.

Last year as I perused the early blossoms, I noticed a change in one of the columbine plants. The white ones generally have a multi-petaled bloom, while the purple and blue produce more of a bell shape with tiny curls on the edges. When I focused the camera on one of the white blossoms, I noticed it had a bell shape, too. The white had cross-pollinated with one of the other plants and created a delicate white bell with curls.

I'm fascinated by the work of God in nature. Of course this discovery got me thinking. When I as a human "cross-pollinate" with the grace God offers, I become a different person. I'm no longer relying on myself. Instead, I'm a child of God who relies on my heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Through Him my soul reaches a level of beauty I could not imagine possible.

Just as the white columbine changed and blossomed, so did I when I surrendered my life to Jesus. He has a good work for me to do and when I mesh the abilities and desires God has given me with his grace and forgiveness, I'm a new creation who by what I do, brings glory to my Father. I thank God for His grace and mercy and for the chance to make a difference.

Praise God for Jesus and for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Work of Heart

I enjoy growing herbs and flowers in my tiny garden.
One of my favorite flowers that greets me each spring is the columbine.
I planted purple, white, and blue, and I plan to add pink.
They're all unique, and each one adds beauty to my little plot.

Each person is a work of heart, like the flowers.
God creates us in the womb and breathes life into us.
Each person is unique and has the potential to add beauty to the world.


 

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Fiction Review: When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart

Book Description:
If any place on God's earth was designed to help one heal, it is Meadowland. Surely here, at her brother-in-law's Kentucky farm, Rose and her daughters can recover from the events of the recent past--the loss of her husband during the 1918 influenza epidemic, her struggle with tuberculosis that required a stay at a sanatorium, and her girls' experience in an orphanage during her illness. At Meadowland, hope blooms as their past troubles become rich soil in which their faith can grow.

Dirk Meadows may have opened his home to his late brother's widow and her girls, but he keeps his heart tightly closed. The roots of his pain run deep, and the evidence of it is written across his face. Badly scarred by a fire and abandoned by the woman he loved, Dirk fiercely guards his heart from being hurt again. But it may be that his visitors will bring light back into his world and unlock the secret to true healing.

My Thoughts:
I so connected with Rose's daughter Sienna. What a delightful child! I loved how she saw the wonder in everything. Calla, too. She was so conscientious and caring. As I read along and found out more about Meadowland, I wanted to live there. Gabhart took the heartbreak and suffering of Rose and Dirk and created a beautiful story of healing and hope, spun with a bit of mystery. If you enjoy a good story driven by strong characters with an amazing setting and a satisfying ending, you'll want to read Where the Meadow Blooms. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

See the Soul

Last week I posted a photo of the lily-of-the-valley,
still green, without full blooms.
A few days later, I caught this picture of the beautiful white bells.

What if I'd only noticed this sweet plant in all its glory, 
with bells on and beautiful.
I would have missed the wonderment of the stages of growth.

I love the words "If only we saw souls." 
I would see the heart of the person,
the stages of growth, or the need for encouragement.
I'd see the worth and the beauty of a soul struggling to make it through the day,
or the soul who reaches out and lifts others up.

Seek to look at the soul and see the true beauty.


 

Saturday, April 23, 2022

A Season of Singing

 Song of Solomon 2:11-12

See! The winter is past;
    the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
    the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
    is heard in our land.

Raindrops glistened on tulips.

There is something about a flower garden just after the rain that brings joy to my soul. Whether the fresh smell of earth, or the magnification of the colors against the muted sky, the beauty of God's creation fills me with gratitude. I love the way the tulip blossoms cup above the stem. Each petal appears satiny soft. Beyond the simplicity of the outside, God created an incredible system inside the plant that assists in growth so the flowers return year after year.

Some of my friends are still experiencing snow where they live, and I'm sure they look forward to the rains and flowers. Even in southwest Ohio in mid-April, cold air lingers and weather folks speak of the threat of snowflakes. Yet, as the weather changes the flowers remain. They huddle to fight off the cold and stand against the storm until the time of singing returns. Much like believers. We need to stand together and show the world the love of our Lord and King.

I rejoice and glorify Him as color returns and fragrance bursts from flowers. In my tiny garden the daffodils nod their heads and the tulips stand tall. When I see the beauty of the spring flowers, I'm reminded of what is to come. Solomon calls the time after winter a season of singing. Birds chirp and tweet; just today I heard a robin's song.

As lovely as the spring blooms are, imagine the glorious beauty that awaits us in heaven. There will surely be a season of singing when the heavens open and time on this old earth is finished.

Take time to enjoy spring and sing praises to the King!

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

A Quiet Moment

My flower garden is tiny compared to ones I've had in the past,
yet this little plot brings me an abundance of joy.

Hyacinth, daffodils, and tulips raise their heads and 
nod to me to have a good day. 

The vibrant colors flood me with joy and remind me
Who created them.

A quiet moment in the garden blesses my soul.


 

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Celebrate Hope!

What a wonderful time to celebrate life!

Spring, milder weather, flowers blooming all give us hope, 
but Jesus offers the greatest hope of all.

As we contemplate Easter and the incredible gift of mercy God gave us,
let's celebrate Jesus and his grace.


 

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

He Has my Heart

As a believer in God, Jesus is asking me to also believe in Him.
And why wouldn't I? 

As sure as the flowers bloom in the spring, Jesus loves me.
He has my heart and protects my soul.
Life may not be easy, but I have the one who eases the pain and gives me joy.


 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Mom Lived Ninety-five Years

Mom taught me a lot of things...
to finish my work
to work with my hands
to read and respect the written word
to love fiercely
to laugh
to cry
to hug
to cherish my family
to grow flowers
to love Jesus and share His hope.

Thank you, Mom

In remembrance of my mother, Maxine Frost
1927-2022





 

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Keep Making a Difference

We need honeybees to keep our food and flowers growing.
These little creatures nab the nectar and pollen and pollinate other plants.
And they make delicious honey.

Humans may measure God's plan by their standards,
but in God's eyes, we all have an important role in His kingdom, 
not matter how big or small.

Be like the bee and keep making a difference.