Tending the Garden
I spent several hours today tending my flower gardens. I have to admit that I have neglected them for several days weeks which caused me to spend so much more time today……
weeding…..
“deadheading” and pruning…..
fertilizing……
and spraying for insects.
Just last month the flowers were beautiful and producing gorgeous blooms. One month later, however, they were looking like they needed attention! I marveled at how quickly pests moved in to feast on the beautiful flowers. Due to several weeks of hot temperatures, weeds had sprung up like crazy. And, because I had neglected to fertilize for several weeks, I wasn’t getting the explosive bounty I had earlier this season. As I worked this morning, I realized that my spiritual garden needed some tending as well.
I had been neglecting quiet time with my amazing God lately.
And….pests and weeds had crept in…..
negativity……
a spirit of complaining…..
an easily offended heart…..
a grumpy attitude.
I had allowed busyness and activity distract me from what was important.
I had not fertilized my heart in the Word. I have not seen the bountiful fruit that comes from a well-fed heart.
I had not spent time in His presence, asking Him to prune away the dead parts of my life.
This morning as I worked in my garden, I realized that my “spiritual garden”, the garden of my heart, also needs constant tending. I need to spend time alone with God, pushing away all of the activity and distractions. I need to water it with the Living Water. I must feed it with the Word. Then, my spiritual life WILL produce a beautiful, abundant bounty of fruit.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Father God, thank You that You are a patient, gracious Gardener. You long for us to come to You to be watered and fed. You want to remove the weeds and pests from our hearts. Lord, thank You that You give us so many reminders of these Truths. Lord, do what You need to do in my heart so that it produces a beautiful harvest. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Thirsty for Him,
Tracy
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Read MoreTransformed From an Ordinary Woman to an Extraordinary Delight
There is an old African story about a man who chose for himself a wife from among his people and then went to her father to negotiate for her. It was customary for a suitor to offer two to four cows to the father to prove that he could provide for his bride-elect and to offer something in exchange for his daughter.
The man was not like most men. Instead of offering just a few cows, he offered 10 fine cows to the father in his bid for her hand in marriage. The father gladly accepted the offer.
This created quite a stir in the village. What did this young man see in this particular young lady that made her valuable enough to pay 10 cows for her? Was there something the villagers had missed about this young woman? Word began to spread to other villages – there was a 10 cow woman living nearby.
The young man treated his new bride like a queen, for he had paid a queen’s dowry for her. Likewise, the villagers treated the new wife with respect, for she was no ordinary 2 cow woman, she was a 10 cow woman! And all this treatment was effected this young woman, too. She began to act less like a commoner and more like a great lady, for after all, she was a 10 cow woman!
And so it was through great sacrifice and wisdom, that one African man transformed an ordinary woman into an extraordinary wife and took great delight in her.
This is how God feels about us. God, with great wisdom and through great effort and sacrifice, has transformed a group of very ordinary sinners into an extraordinary bride for Himself. Isaiah calls this woman Zion, today we’re called the Church, the Bride of Christ.
Look at this beautiful passage from Isaiah 62:2-5 (NLT) and see how He feels about you.
“The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the LORD’s own mouth.
The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.
Never again will you be called ‘The Forsaken City’
or ‘The Desolate Land.’
Your new name will be ‘The City of God’s Delight’
and ‘The Bride of God,’
for the LORD delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,
just as a young man commits himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.”
He has saved you and made you righteous. Like the African man with a 10 cow wife, His extraordinary payment shows your great worth, proves His ownership and provides protection. He holds you close and crowns you as His radiant bride, giving you a new name – Hephzibah – meaning God delights in you! Rejoice in that today. Rejoice in God’s delight over you.
Burying my raw hides
This morning I gave Harley, our little Chihuahua, a raw hide chew then I went into my office to spend time with God. I don’t usually leave the door open but today I did. Soon Harley wandered in with the raw hide in his mouth, but he wasn’t there to see me. He wanted a place to hide his bone.
Harley tried about a dozen spots. Underneath the wingback chair. Beside the filing cabinet. Behind my desk. In the corner. But none of these places seemed sufficient so Harley took his raw hide and left my office in search of a better hiding place.
God often teaches us His truth through everyday circumstances. He did that with me this morning while I watched Harley try to “hide” his bone in plain sight. When Harley nosed the carpet to “bury” the raw hide I thought, “Isn’t that silly? He thinks he can hide it from me.”
Just then I got that familiar nudge from my heavenly Father. “You do that too.” What? “You try to hide things from Me.” Ah! Then God brought Psalm 139 to mind.
“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely” O LORD. Ps 139:1-4.
God knows me inside and out. He knows everything I think. He even knows what I’m going to say before I do. I cannot hide my sinful behavior or thoughts from Him. But sometimes I try. And I imagine I look as silly to God as Harley looked to me.
The truth that God knows all and sees all can be frustrating when I’m not completely yielded to Him. However, the same truth gives me comfort, peace, and joy when I submit to Him in obedience. Because wherever I go, He is there with me. His “hand will guide me, and your right hand will hold me fast.” Ps. 139:10
Read MoreLeave a Legacy
Do you have interesting stories to tell like this Southern Belle I met last October? Framed photos of generations before you that bring you great joy?
Or are you like me, either don’t know much about your family tree? Or maybe their stories are ones you’d rather not hang on your wall?
Our lives are affected by generations before us. Parents. Grandparents. Great grandparents and beyond. We learn what is important by what they chose to do with their time. We learn what they cared about by what they spoke out about. What silenced them, we took note of, Maybe that doesn’t matter. Then we grow up and often repeat what we agree with and dump what we don’t. Regardless of the good or bad legacy, family touches our lives. The reality is we are here to leave a legacy. It’s overwhelming at times.
I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy this year. Asking myself hard questions. Finding no clean cut, easy answers. Feeling frustrated with my failures and yet feeling hopeful all in the same because I’m still here.
When I think about my future family members, I wonder, “What will they say about me?” “Will remembering my life bring them joy or sorrow?” “Will my photo be hidden or displayed?”
These two verses give me a clue about the whole legacy thing.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6(NIV)
When I read and reread these verses, I see one strong way to affect future generations.
To love God and keep his commandments.
Father God, I need You. Without You, I’m a mess. I need Your life-giving, life-changing Word. I need Your Holy Spirit to guide me daily. Teach me how to love You more each day. I want to keep Your commands. I long to live a legacy of love. Please show Your love to thousands of generations after me. The greatest gift I can leave behind is NOT my picture and my legacy, it’s YOURS! In Jesus name, Amen.
***************
Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany
Read MoreDon’t Be Afraid
Jairus was one of the rulers of the synagogue and he came begging for Jesus to come to his home to heal his daughter. Jesus did not come right away, he continued to minister and heal others. Then word came from Jairus home that there was no need to trouble the Teacher because his daughter had died (see Mark 5:35).
Lately my chronic illness has been in a “flare”. My pain has increased; I’ve been having fevers, inflammation as well as exhaustion. I have had chronic pain and chronic illness for over 25 years and sometimes I find myself crying out to the Lord asking Him why He has not healed me.
I’m sure that Jairus’s crisis made him feel confused, afraid, and without hope as I feel some days. Jesus’ words to Jairus in the midst of crisis can speak to us today as well. “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” Have faith; trust Me. Jesus knows there is always hope and promise.
The next time we feel hopeless and afraid, we need to look at our problems from Jesus’ eyes. He is the source of all hope and promise.
Dear heavenly Father, sometimes when I consider how long I have been suffering with my chronic illness and chronic pain I feel as though I should give up all hope. But then I feel the comfort of Your Spirit as He shows me through Your Word and Your creation just how much You love me. For in You is my hope and strength. Thank you Father that I can run to You whenever I feel afraid and as though all hope is lost. You alone will chase away all my fears. You are My divine Healer. All I need is You. In Jesus precious name, amen.
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