Tending the Garden

Tending the Garden

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Beauty, Blessing, Encouragement

Knowing God

As our long summer days end, I find myself weeding, trimming and even pulling up plants from my flower beds.

I tried to tend to my garden to keep it healthy by trimming, fertilizing and watering. Many days I found it in a hot mess.

Those potato vines went crazy this year! They grew everywhere, overtaking zinnias and other flowers in the bed, up the porch railing and into the driveway. I cut them back occasionally, but they were a bit overwhelming. Plus, those little flies ate holes in the leaves of my flowering plants!

Some of my garden plants and bushes surprised me. Who knew I had a plum tree that would produce hundreds of plums? And an elderberry bush that I could use for medicinal purposes?

Others brought disappointment. My tomato plants never produced. I blame the potato vines for that. My cucumber plants went wild climbing up a screened-in porch and flowered, to mostly shrivel up later. When I pulled those up, I found four large hidden cucumbers that weren’t edible.

My rose bushes did not disappoint. They were consistent throughout, showing out with bright red, fuchsia and pink blooms. The ginger plants with their big and beautiful white blooms provided a heady aroma on my porch. Both kept my dining room table dressed in color and fragrance.

What a day brings

I think our gardens depict life sometimes. We try to keep healthy by inviting God’s presence into our day, seeking Him and studying His word. Sometimes we still find ourselves in a hot mess.

Some days are just crazy, one setback throwing things off and overwhelming the other areas in our life. Those are the days we need to keep the right perspective . . . and keep ourselves healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.

Sometimes a day takes a surprising turn, and we enjoy the fruits of that, finding joy in the blessings that come our way.

Our personal “life” gardens surprise us and showcase a diversity of people He created to make our lives beautiful and fulfilling.

And let’s just be honest. Some days bring disappointment. What do we do when life seems to spiral out of control? If we are grounded in our faith, we weather those days. When disappointment comes, we can take time with those close to us, investing in others. We can be intentional about our relationships and stop fueling unhealthy relationships – those that bring us down instead of lifting us up and encouraging us.

Thankfully, some days bring about much joy and color to our lives. These serve as a vital part of your life’s garden. What are the activities in your life that give you joy, provide a sense of accomplishment, serve others and make your days fulfilling?

Think of the people in your life — the bright and colorful additions — who can lift your spirits, supporting and encouraging you when you need it. These people are bold enough to speak the truth into your life, who call it like it is.

Preparing for the next season

In the good and bad, the surprising and the steady, we can find joy in our season. Let’s approach this next season with purpose, discipline and endurance.

From the beauty around us to the people God places in our path, be refreshed and let the beautiful garden of our lives refresh others. 

“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing,” (Isaiah 51:3 NIV).

_____________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

Knowing God

Knowing God

by | Aug 15, 2024 | Belief, Joy, Mercy

Knowing God

We witnessed the magnificent view from a distance. Experiencing it up close was quite a different story.

After viewing Whitewater Falls in North Carolina from a lookout point, my sons and I took a side trail to the top of the waterfall. Halfway there we stopped to read a sign warning us of the danger going forward.

Pressed for time, we almost turned back but decided to keep moving forward. The treacherous path failed to deter us. We made it to the main plateau, step by step, across mud and wet rocks, and even climbing down through a rock cave. Water danced around smaller rocks upstream, surging over the menacing rock cliff downstream.

We squinted to see the lookout point where we had first stopped.

An awe-inspiring sight

If we had turned back along the way, we would have missed the source of the falls. We would have missed the exhilaration of being that close, of seeing a view of awe and wonder, far better than the one from the manmade viewing deck.

As we hiked back to our car, I voiced my thoughts. “There’s got to be a lesson here.”

Words of wisdom flowed out of my 16-year-old. “It’s like going to church but not really knowing God.”

He was right. Like seeing God from a distance or maybe through someone else’s experience, but missing the overflowing love mercy and grace He offers us individually.

We can attend church weekly and only go through the motions. We can even be in God’s presence and not even know it.

We may sing the songs and hear the teaching, but until we know Him, we won’t experience the joy, the awe of being in the presence of a Holy God.

Think on this

“It cannot but be a major tragedy in the life of any man or woman to live in a church from childhood to old age and know nothing more real than some synthetic god compounded of theology and logic, but having no eyes to see, no ears to hear, and no heart to love!” — A. W. Tozer, American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor and spiritual mentor.

We can experience Him though. The Creator of the universe wants to connect with His creation.

As believers, we have access to God the Spirit. He dwells in all believers, going where we go. He sealed us and promised to stay with us always. Why would we choose not to worship Him as the preeminent giver of life?

Being in church is one thing. Being close to God is quite a different experience.

May we no longer be satisfied to know about God. No longer satisfied to watch someone else’s God story. Let’s move beyond seeing God from a distance and find Him in a living, personal experience.

The Lord is full of awe and wonder. Our lives may be messy along the way, but when we know Jesus, we will experience the powerful, transformative and joy-inspiring presence of God.

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?,” (Psalm 8:3-4 ESV).

_____________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

The God We Serve

The God We Serve

by | Aug 6, 2024 | Faith, God, Trust

wooden walkway above grassy field

I found a scribbled note from a church service in my luggage. A 20-year-old note. Wow.

I don’t know how it got in the bag. The note just appeared.

Apparently at the right time.

Everyone has an Egypt – a place where God is moving and directing. It’s not an issue of who you are; it is who God is. God cannot use anything we’ve got until we let go of it. God will not ask for what you don’t have, but what you do have.

After the burning bush experience with the Living God, Moses must have left that spot with renewed respect and adoration. Although a hunted man in Egypt, he gathered his family, left his safe and familiar environment, and returned to Egypt. It wasn’t about him but about God.

God had already equipped Moses with what he needed.

I’ve had this thought on my mind a lot lately. It seems God has been reinforcing the same message to me like a persistent drumbeat in my ears. Sunday’s sermon supported that message. Even a movie I watched recently touched on the same theme.

Letting go

I have a friend who waited on God for a decision. As she waited, no answer came. Nothing happened . . .  until she took a step of faith. After that, the other needs were met and other decisions fell into place. God had already provided the answers. She only had to let go of her fears, and trust.

Do you need to let go of something today? Are you waiting to act on a decision until you have it all together or the means to accomplish the task?

We serve a God Who is powerful. A God Who moves and directs our lives. He supplies exactly what we need.

It’s not about us when we’re staring at that decision or that mountain before us.

Two-decade-old reminder

I have prayed for clarity many times in my life. Maybe that’s the wrong approach. As my 20-year-old note reminded me, it’s about the God we serve. We don’t need all the answers but to trust the One who does.

After some back and forth with God, Moses let go of his fear and headed back to Egypt.

Will you let go of the thing that’s standing in your way? Can you accept that God has equipped you with the means to do what He’s asking you to do?

Let’s learn from Moses. Let’s learn from my friend. If God has called us to do something, let’s do it.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you,” (Psalm 32:8 NIV).

 

 

_____________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

Embracing Scars

Embracing Scars

by | Jul 24, 2024 | Miracles, Peace, Sorrow

Squeal with delight

My son experienced a once-in-a-lifetime adventure this summer. Hiking to the summit of a 12,000-foot mountain in Colorado, he and a few other high school boys celebrated their achievement with excitement and a song.

That exhilaration prompted them to dip themselves in the icy stream alongside their campsite. The upside? The thrill of the experience and the joy of their accomplishment. The downside? My son slipped on a tree lodged 4 feet above the water. As he fell, a branch cut his thigh. He proudly showed me the 3” mark.

I told him rubbing it with vitamin E might keep it from scarring. To my surprise, he preferred the scar. It represented a badge of honor — a reminder of his mountaintop experience. “Every time I see it, I’ll remember that day.”

What our scars tell us

At that time God impressed upon me the significance of our emotional scars. While we may not like the disappointment, the heartbreak, the trial, the grief or the pain that caused the scar, that scar represents a memory or a season in our lives.

Physical scars tell the story of the body’s natural healing process. They could take up to 12-18 months after an injury or surgery to heal and fade. Emotional scars seem to hang on for much longer, like an old habit that’s hard to break.

While our inner wounds remind us of a difficult time in our lives, they can also point us to Jesus and His work through that trial. They can remind us of a fearful season, but also God’s protection through it. Scars may remind us of a time of faithlessness but also demonstrate God’s faithfulness. They can remind us of a time of suffering but also God’s love that got us through it.

Maybe you have physical scars reminding you of some trauma in your life. They could be internal, hidden inside so no one will know. Maybe an unkind word spoken left you with a scar. Or have you suffered from a disease that hinders and impacts your future? Maybe you experienced an unimaginable sorrow or a betrayal from someone you loved and trusted.

What our scars teach us

Scars serve as powerful reminders of our experiences in life and the lessons we learned from them. God sees them all and He’s working in them. That doesn’t mean we bypass the pain, but that we sense the presence of God through it, of the healing He provides in it. In those moments, we can see He was with us all along.

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,’” (Exodus 33:14 NIV).

Be patient with yourself. Let God’s healing take place in your life in His way, in His time. When your scar reminds you of that difficult season, remember the lessons that have shaped you and your God who remained by your side.

“My scars I wear proudly, I want you to see. They are only life lessons that no longer bleed.” ~ April Peerless

_____________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

Pride Goes Before a Fall

Pride Goes Before a Fall

by | Jun 25, 2024 | Determination, God, Humility

Squeal with delight

I tumbled down the stairs of a small plane.

I had traveled to New Orleans to speak to a group of communications professionals. The opportunity had me nervous but also energized. Although young, I tried to appear confident and poised.

That backfired. My heel caught on a step and took me down, my composure with it.

Embarrassment gushed in like a flash flood. At least it was a small plane so few people witnessed my calamity. I picked myself up, looked at my bleeding knee and greeted the person designated to drive me to the meeting.

Impressive, I know. I’m still puzzled about how my slacks didn’t tear, but my knee did.

Pride leads to downfall and destruction

The dictionary shares a proverb describing pride. If you’re too conceited or self-important, something will happen to make you look foolish.

I imagine you can think of one foolish act driven by pride. It can sneak up on us and lead us down a road we never thought we’d travel.

The Bible says, “Where there is strife, there is pride,” (Prov. 13:10 NIV).

Pride can also destroy a person. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall,” (Proverbs 16:18 NIV).

Even leadership expert John Maxwell has something to say about pride.

“Leaders who fail to prune their pride will meet demise. That’s not a guess, it’s a guarantee. With pride, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ we will fall, but ‘when.’ There are no exceptions.” – John C. Maxwell, #1 Leadership Expert and Best-Selling Author

Pride opposes God

At its core, pride is opposing God.

The Bible describes others who struggled with pride. Haman, who tried to abolish the Jewish race, found his story didn’t end well. (See Esther 3-7.)

King Saul disobeyed God out of pride and self-importance. He lost his kingdom . . . and his life. (See 1 Samuel 15.)

Satan’s pride led to his downfall, falling like lightning from heaven when he attempted to overthrow God and steal His glory. (See Luke 10:18 ESV.)

The giant Goliath, arrogant and rude, was defeated by a teenager with a sling and a stone. (See 1 Samuel 17.)

Put pride in its rightful place

Pride is dangerous. We need to put it in its rightful place.

Choose humility over pride. Humility brings wisdom. Pride generally leads to negative outcomes. Jesus said, “Pride is one of the many ‘evil things that come from within and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 ESV)

Recognize limitations. Acknowledging our limitations allows others to lead or excel in a particular area.

Resolve conflict. Putting pride aside opens the door for restoration. Admitting you’ve made a mistake can go a long way toward handling conflicts and strengthening relationships.

Be teachable. Maintain an open mind. Listen and learn from others and embrace an attitude of lifelong learning.

Pride tells us to measure ourselves based on our accomplishments. Instead, let’s ditch pride and live in our God-given identity. Grab hold of the confidence we have in Jesus. Know that He works in and through our lives. Day in. Day out.

Anyone can slip up. We never know what’s coming. The key is to stay grounded in the One who gives us all things – including the ability to accomplish whatever task is required.

_____________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

;