Trillium flexipes |
Toadshade Trillium |
Trillium flexipes |
Toadshade Trillium |
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each
of you to the interests of the others.
Grandchildren remind me of flowers. Over time, they bloom and grow into themselves. We are blessed to have wonderful grandchildren who respect us and help us. I don’t take that for granted. We give credit to their parents who have raised them to love God and love people.
A few months ago, I mentioned I would need help in my little
flower garden. I like to play in the dirt, but I can’t do what I used to. My granddaughter
Dylan volunteered. April zipped in after the flurry of March, and I stopped in
Lowe’s for some garden soil. Of course, I got distracted by the colorful perennials
and purchased a pink and a purple columbine and a pretty pincushion flower.
I sent Dylan a text that Sunday and she came on Monday. This
young lady knelt in the dirt, planted flowers, dug out others, moved a few, sprinkled seeds and
smiled. When she stood, she was covered in dirt and mulch and she looked lovely,
because she wore humbleness and helpfulness in all its glory.
Dylan graduates high school this year, and I know she’ll
bloom into whoever God intends her to be. She already has a great start, a
wonderful work ethic, and kindness for others.
I’m calling this section of my flower bed, Dilly’s garden,
and I’ll be blessed each time I admire my granddaughter’s work.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or any
children you love in your life, show them how to love others without wanting
something in return. Teach them to help others by helping them. Show kindness
and kindness will blossom and show appreciation.
We all have someone in our lives to nurture. The best way is
to share the love of Jesus.
Song of Solomon 12: 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.
Bright yellow flowers bob their heads among the purple petals.
As much as I love winter, I adore the first blooms of spring. In southern Ohio, the daffodils are popping. Have you noticed seasons have their own array of color? Right now we’re seeing a lot of yellow and purple. Forsythia bushes are waving branches of golden blossoms and vinca vines are displaying their periwinkle buds. Soon, the tulips will open and add reds and pinks to the display.
All of these flowers fill my soul with joy. Their beauty gives
me hope. After the cold, dark season of winter, God graces us with a rainbow of
color and days filled with sunshine.
Have you experienced a dark season? They come and go, don’t
they? When I’ve traveled through a dark tunnel in life, hope shined at the end
of the darkness, because I didn’t journey alone. Jesus walks with me
step-by-step. As a believer in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I’m in their
company every day, no matter the circumstance. The Holy Spirit dwells in my
soul and guides me on the dark days and the bright days. He’s the reason I
never walk alone. We don’t talk much about the Spirit, which is a shame.
God created me to have a physical body and a spiritual soul.
I’m so thankful for both. Although my body is wearing out with time, the Spirit
brings wisdom to my soul. Jesus’ love and grace pour into me and fill me with peace.
As spring arrives and fills the days with beauty, reflect on
the hope, peace, and joy of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.
God bless you!
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I can’t help but turn to one of my favorite verses as I consider the new year.
Christmas didn’t turn out as I had hoped this year. Illness
caused a shift in plans. Yet, we still spent time with family, as we could, and
worshipped the Savior we celebrate.
I was reminded one more time, that I’m not in control. I can
plan and prepare, but life sometimes takes all the lists and calendars and throws
them into a blender. I don’t recognize what pours out, but I understand
regardless plans work out and timing isn’t mine.
One thing I want to take from the Christmas shift is to always consider God in my plans. He knows what’s best for me and my
family. You see even though I didn’t get to have things my way, I was still
blessed beyond what I deserve.
As I move toward the shiny new year of 2024, I cling to Romans
15:13. I trust in God for the hope, joy, and peace He promises. I believe in
Jesus, who loves me and saved me, and I cling to the Holy Spirit and His power.
I pray as you look to the new year, you’ll seek Jesus and
the hope we have in him.
Blessings for 2024.
Luke 2:10-14
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that
will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This
will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests.”
You gotta love Linus!
I don’t think I’ve missed watching A Charlie Brown Christmas
since the show debuted in 1965. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate Linus
and his blanket. If you watch closely, when he recites the story of Jesus’
birth, he drops his security blanket. He knows his true security has come as a
babe in the manger. Yes, the characters are cartoons, but the story is real. Charlie
Brown represents all of us who are searching for the truth, and Linus presents
it to him in the most beautiful way.
As Linus tells, the angels addressed the shepherds with good
news of great joy. Years ago, a hymn called Hark How All the Welkin Rings by
Charles Wesley evolved over time into Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Welkin means
heavens or skies. He shared the beautiful idea of the angels, who rejoiced.
Wesley’s hymn changed, but the story of Jesus’ birth remains the same. The angel
approached shepherds, a lowly lot by society’s standards, and shared the good
news of Jesus. That act shows me Jesus came for every one of us so we can have
a relationship with His Father, God.
A few years ago, I realized I’d clung to this hymn because
Linus and all his pals sang it at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has
stayed at the top of my favorites list for years.
As you contemplate Christmas and the love of Jesus, I hope
you sing with joy.
What it's about:
The book that J.I. Packer called, "Haunting, deeply pondered, and
beautifully written," is changing lives. A Small Cup of Light is the story
of an unexpected encounter with God in the desert of despair. Several years
ago, Ben Palpant suffered a sudden and massive health collapse that crippled
many of his faculties nearly overnight. That experience prompted him to ask the
hard questions, like, "What shall we do when confronted with the ache of
our suffering in the presence of a living God?" Palpant's story is proof
that a relationship with God can be more intimate not in spite of suffering,
but because of suffering. A Small Cup of Light is a bold invitation to face God
in the darkness. It is a rousing call to the human spirit, offering hope to the
hopeless and a song to the suffering.
My Thoughts:
I seldom read and review nonfiction. Not because I don't like it, but because
most of what I read is research for writing. Author, Ben Palpant attended the
Goodlit Writer's retreat with me and twelve other writers, where he shared
beautiful fiction prose. I knew he had published before in the realm of
nonfiction, so I thought I'd see what he had written when I got home. I'm so
glad I did. A Small Cup of Light is the heart-wrenching and yet, joy
filled story of a time in his life when he faced a difficult and scary health
crisis. Ben takes that hard time and opens up about how God met him there after
he learned to listen. This isn't a sugar-coated story of recovery. This is the honest story
of a man who came face-to-face with crisis and found along with the anger,
disappointment, and frustration, a joy that could only come from glorifying
God. Ben's book will lift the weary and weighted and offer hope to all of us. His
melodic writing comforts, along with the many references to scripture and
wisdom from other writers which he quotes. He says, "The very hope of the
Gospel rests directly upon our ability to imagine a world in which suffering
serves as the soil from which resurrection springs." I highly recommend A
Small Cup of Light. I purchased a copy.
Genesis 1:3-5
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that
the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God
called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there
was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Glory filled the sky.
The best thing I can say about my week at Goodlit Writers
Retreat is—God
blessed me with a gift. An unexpected—I can't believe I'm here gift. Surrounded
by other people who strive to write for God, I witnessed the beauty of minds
and hearts opening up and pouring out. Folks from all over the country met in
the quintessential small town of Stanford, Kentucky, to better understand the
purpose of God's calling to write.
The different backgrounds and experiences meshed together to
form a group who, like me, wanted to obey and follow the journey God is leading
us on.
On Tuesday evening, Angela and Jess, hosts for the week,
invited us to their beautiful farm. For me, a country girl at heart, the trip
filled me with joy. After a delicious Kentucky dinner, Jess drove the tractor and
pulled us on a wagon (with upholstered seats) to the top of a grass-covered
hill and we watched the sunset. As the light and coming darkness played
together, the pinks and pale blues turned to glorious red and deep navy. Just
before night fell, the sky reminded me how when people come together to create
or work, or live as a family, God can bring harmony to the dance.
In whatever I do, I pray God joins me as I pursue my dreams.
He's the one who placed them on my heart and poured the talent and skills into
me. Angela owns a beautiful soap store in town, Kentucky Soaps and Such. When we
toured the production area, this quote was painted on the wall. "Lord, let
our workspace, whatever that looks like, be our worship place." When we bring the work we do before
the Lord and ask Him to partner with us, we couple with Him and bring Him
glory.
Watch a sunset and let the beauty fill you with joy and a desire
to dance with God.
Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
My zinnias are blooming.
This time of year, as I'm driving through the country toward
my hometown to visit family, I roll past fields of soybeans and signs with
sweet corn for sale. Abundant gardens filled with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers
catch my eye, and one home offers pick your own flowers. The cosmos and zinnias
dance in the breeze, inviting people to stop by and cut a bouquet.
My daughter, Maggie, and her husband, Michael, grew a lovely
garden this year. From their abundance, she gave us green beans and zucchini,
and I can't wait to see her blue pumpkins. As I sat in my chair and snapped the
beans, I considered how amazing it is that God gave us so many incredible
plants. He offers a variety for us to eat and a multitude to enjoy.
The zinnias I planted from seed have sprouted and bloomed.
Their rainbow of color welcomes people to our door and brings joy to my day.
I am in awe of all God created. From the tiny pea to the
giant redwood, the woods to the rainforest, the ocean to the mountains,
everything He made He gave us to explore, discover, use, and enjoy. God also
gave us responsibility to take care of the earth and the natural resources He
provided. As I soak in the beauty, I long for us to appreciate and care for the
environment we live in.
The whole earth is filled with wonder and I rejoice in God,
the Creator of everything. Even as I love all the plants and animals, I adore
and worship the One who made them, and I'm thankful for the bounty of summer
and the beauty of the season.
Thank God for His gift of creation and rejoice in Him.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.
Every flower must grow through dirt.
I've grown zinnias everywhere we've lived. The tall green
stems topped with an array of color danced in my flowerbeds all summer—until
we moved to the condo. The little plot where the lavender and black-eyed Susans
thrive isn't good for zinnias. I'd given up trying to grow them from seed until
a new spot opened on the other side of the porch. The HOA had removed a pine tree
and left a gaping hole in the landscape. When the neighbor gave me several
packets of flower seeds, I stirred the dirt, laid down some potting soil, and
sprinkled the seeds with the hope of growth.
In about a week, little seedlings pushed through the dirt. Those
tiny green sprouts brought me joy. Not all the seeds made an appearance, but the
ones who did will show the colors of summer. I'm eager to see how they grow and
bloom.
Like the seedlings, sometimes we have to push through the
dirt to grow. The soil may represent a difficult time in our lives when our
hearts are tested by sorrow, despair, or uncertainty. Or maybe we're in the
wrong soil, like the zinnias. The dirt in the little flowerbed didn't allow for
growth, but the other side had the nourishment the plants needed.
Maybe we're in the wrong place because we aren't listening
to God. What if I've allowed myself to stop listening to the Holy Spirit, which
means I've cut off my life's supply of grace and hope?
Regardless of where I am in life, I will continue to grow
through as I go through. Whether I'm pushing through the soil or finding myself
in the wrong spot, I need to seek Jesus and listen to the Spirit of God so my
faith will produce perseverance and perseverance will bring me to maturity.
Have you planted your heart in God's soil?
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Rev. 5:13
Proverbs 24:3-4
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
I’ve lived in 14 different homes in my lifetime.
When I was young, my parents sometimes took us for a Sunday drive to look at houses. We rolled along rural roads and through small towns. From that experience, I learned to appreciate the architecture of older homes. Some with fancy ginger breading and others with simple porches attracted my attention. To this day, I enjoy seeing some of the interesting houses in our travels.
Of the 14 different houses I’ve lived in, some of my
favorites were the old farmhouses. They have so much character. I loved imagining
what stories they could tell. From the farm wife toting in eggs from the
chicken coop to the child sitting on her dad’s lap at the end of the day. Life
was breathed into the home. Love, laughter, dinner around the kitchen table,
cousins piling in, and the dog laying by the hearth. My mind weaves a tale of
joy. However, I also know some houses heard the rough voices of arguing and
anger. They felt the trembling of fear and sorrow. Those homes break my heart.
I also see the houses, who abandoned over time, have the
life sucked out of them. They look tired, run-down, weary, and sad. I wonder at
the stories they could tell.
As I compare a house or home to life lived, I see the same
thing. Many people are filled with joy, peace, and love. While others may be
angry or fearful or live a weary, sad life.
I could have been any of those three. We all could, but when I
accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow and love Him, my life found the joy, love,
and peace I longed for. Even in times of sadness and difficulty, Jesus’ love
carries me. I no longer live as a slave to fear, anger, sadness, and sorrow.
Instead, Jesus poured His love and grace into me and loves me more than I could
imagine.
I want my home to be a place of love and peace, reflected in
Jesus, just as I want my life to shine for the Lord.
Does your home reflect Jesus’ love? Does your life?