As we transition from winter to spring it stirs my heart to see life emerge in both animals and plants. It is surely a picture of Easter and resurrected life. Last week, on a warm spring morning, I saw several small birds flittering around our water fountain to get a drink of water. I was reminded of how well they are taken care of, yet how much more God loves and cares for us. Hope you enjoy this poem about …
Category: Garden
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 My daughter and I went to Texas recently to visit my sweet sister who is valiantly and gracefully dealing with cancer. Because her immune system is weak, the doctor suggested she and her husband move to a more secluded place away from the college campus of Baylor. So, they are now living with dear, sweet, loving friends they have known since the mid-1980s. …
Despite our past failings and mistakes we can still experience beauty, goodness and joy. About 10 years ago, we planted new trees and shrubs in our backyard. As a centerpiece we planted this Japanese maple where we could see it outside our patio windows. We knew its color would be awesome, not to mention its beautiful shape. When the tree was still small I noticed it leaned to the right. I tried to correct it by pulling it …
Sometime early in the fall, the earth begins to tip upward and those of us in North America begin the march toward winter, when the sun is furthest from the earth. Moving away from the sun, brings on cold temperatures. Sap that once easily moved in trees to supply life, eventually slows down and leaves get less and less nutrients, so they turn colors and die. Leaves fall to the ground and pile up everywhere. The formerly lush green …
And we know that for those who love God all things (no matter what the season) work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (emphasis added) …
I was at a retreat center recently on a cold, windy drizzly day. I had a raincoat, boots and a sweater but even with all that, I still didn’t want to wander outside too much. The dark colors, broken limbs, dead leaves, gray sky and harsh wind all reminded me of the seeming death in winter. Yet, in reality, things are just sleeping in the winter and spring will come. Green will emerge, grass will grow, the sun will warm …
I love the near-instant satisfaction of working in the yard. When it’s tended to regularly the results can be fabulous. Just like our soul. Tending to and caring for the health of our soul can result in its blossoming into the wonderful entity God intended. The opposite is also true, right? My work in the yard involves a lot of weeding. Identifying and removing the stuff that doesn’t belong. Looking back on this past summer’s weeding, I …
If you are a gardener or someone who loves the beauty of nature in a yard, you know that weeds, dead leaves, overgrown vines and yard clippings have to be taken out. Large brown bags from home stores line our street as evidence that we have to do something with the refuse, the weeds…the junk. We too have to take out the weeds and overgrown vines that sometimes lurk near our heart and influence our actions and thinking. These weeds move …
I have a confession to make. I’ve always been the kind of person that acts first and reads directions later. I like to think I’m doing better in this area as I get older but, if I’m honest, I still prefer speed and action over slower, thoughtful effort. As you may know, sometimes doing things this way has negative repercussions. Earlier this spring, when weeds nearly covered our front yard, I decided to go to Lowes to get what I needed – weed …
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. -Psalm 107:9 (NASB) Are you satisfied, thirsty, hungry…in your soul? I am constantly amazed at how fast weeds shrivel up once they’ve been pulled out of the ground by their roots. When I cut roses and put them in water, they only last a few days. Water is not enough to sustain them. Hungry plants, whether weeds or flowers, need nourishment – both soil, …