April's Pondering

Shortly after I planted my garden, my Great Granddaughter came to spend the weekend with us, and was naturally drawn to the newly turned soil. so to keep her from unearthing my seeds, I made her a small place of her own, and gave her two golden kernels of corn to plant in her little garden..



such pretty little golden kernels: she could have done so many things at this point, tossed them aside into shallow an unprofitable soil, chewed the kernels until they were forever damaged and would no longer grow...

but her GG (great grandma) had said, take these pretty gifts, and hide them in the dark soil



In perfect child like faith this is what she did, not demanding to know the why, or exactly how it all would work, understanding nothing of the need for fertile soil, for the concept of corn needing others of it's own kind to cross pollinate before it would bear fruit, not understanding the need for the Gentle rains that would fall upon it.. to cause it to become tall and strong and bear sweet fruit.



but trusting GG with all those things, she planted..



God gives us beautiful golden seeds, Of faith truth, mercy , love and says plant these deep in the fertile soil prepared for them! Now the choices are up to us, do we attempt to chew on them attempting to discern what they are, how they grow why we should plant such beautiful things in such dark surroundings ? do we demand to know all there is to know about how they will grow, and exactly what they will become, until the time of planting is long past and they are too damaged to bear fruit ?



This child's stalks of corn are tall and strong now, soon she will get the 1st taste of the fruits of her labors, soon that child like faith she exercised in the planting, will be rewarded.



I would always walk in such faith, not demanding to know the beginning from the end, to let it be enough that the father said, Plant these here. and I will show you the sweet abundent fruit they will bring into your life.

Help me Lord to walk from day to day in simple child like faith, forever knowing the Joy and excitement of the sweet harvest of all the beautiful things you have given me..



Amen

My neighbors are not really big on Mowing I'm thinking, for most of the year their yard looks for all the world like the African jungles.. totally un-kept.
AAAAhhhhhh but Then spring comes, and all the random foliage comes alive in a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes, the scene is absolutely breathtaking..for a moment.. just a moment. you are sure it has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
But alas, just as quickly as all the beauty appeared, It's gone. and once again the yard appears simply un-kept.

I was thinking that the same is so with the things of this life. fame, honor, riches, beauty, look so appealing .. for a moment but how quickly they too fade Just like the flowers in my neighbors yard. 

Thankfully there is, as an Old song puts it, A city where the roses never fade.. where Joy, peace, Love, and all perfection dwells for all of eternity. .Ahhhhhh sweet New Jerusalem, which is above. as a wayfaring pilgrim. making my way home. there is no time to search out fame, riches.........
all I need is waiting for me at home.

Springtime: pollen covers the earth like a soft green blanket, more than can be numbered, all seeking life. That chance to grow straight and strong, to tower to the skies and assure their place in the heavens.

So many, all searching, yet because of wind, rain, animals, and improper soil. Only a couple will find just the right atmosphere in which to spring up, must less to be able to grow into the heavens.

Man is quite the same, a multitude in number, all seeking answers to the secrets of life,

Moved about by the winds of change, their earth (this flesh) not properly prepared to receive the light and rain needed to grow, adversity and interference of life sweeping them too and fro never settling long enough to take root.

So many searching, so few finding, failing to hear the whisper of God's voice saying I'm here, walk this way ! Stubbornly they lie there in infertile ground always seeking but never finding the source of life.

Let us daily work this earth we call our flesh so that when the seeds of God's light and mercy comes our way. We will be ready to receive it with Joy.

Make in it deep furrows of love

Water it daily with the spirit of God

Break up the stony places for the seed to take root

Welcome the light of his word into your heart to grow that seed strait and strong.

Then become that 1 living tree in a million who has found favor and grace to take it's place in the heavens,

I was privileged to rise earlier than normal this morning, I love it when I am up in time to hear the Morning song of the birds.
for some who have never had the honor of experiencing this, I will try to describe, to some degree, the indescribable..
while it is yet night, and Just a tiny amount of light starts to turn the darkness into Gray, the birds come awake.
the sound is not like any other you will hear throughout the day, there is no chatter among themselves, but a United chorus of song that encompasses all the species. quite like a choir singing, in perfect unison, Praises to the Creator who is bringing another day upon the earth. I am inclined to want to sing with them, but do not want to interrupt the beauty of their melody. 

the dawn broke clear and still, as if a sabbath of rest had been declared, to give peace to the area that had suffered so much turmoil of wind and storms.

a time for the earth to break from all it's labors and to Be still, and Know that he is God..
It was easy to be engulfed in the Peace and reverence of it all. 
Thank you Lord for your rejuvenating times of Rest.

Wind

I awoke this morning to the sound of the wind howling around my house and through the trees outside,

Now most discribe this as a plantive sound, but to me it is the sound of strength and power, a voice in the trees calling out, Change is coming, Change is coming.

observing all he fallen limbs in my yard it was easy to see that the winds shakings had done it's other Job, to Clean the things that were dead or dyeing, from his creations, making room for the new Growth strength and growth, that he would add to take it's place. Thinking how good it was that the trees were so deeply rooted that they could withstand the pruning they so needed to grow stronger..

so it is with us, are we ready to fact the strong winds that blow in our lives, that shake from us all the things of this flesh we need to be removed so that the new stronger things of God have room to multiply and grow strong.

Unlike that tree, sometimes we are not deeply rooted enough to stand strong, Running instead from the grooming of God we need..... holding on to the things that stunt our growth, and can eventually take over and weaken the whole tree..

May our Lord Deeply root each of us in him, and in all he has for us. so we can bare for him, fruits, that are pleasing in his sight

 Rain 

saturday :

I woke to the melody of rain dancing on my rooftop, it was the weekend and the house was quiet and still, so I snuggled down a bit deeper and pulled the covers around me a little tighter, and began to let my thoughts dance around uninhibitedly with the rain outside.

I could imagine the earth drinking greedily of the sweet  waters, picture the leaves bursting forth,almost overnight, the beauty of the budding buttercups as they burst into bloom and even anticipating the smell of fresh mown grass..

then I found myself smiling as I thought of the sweet rains that our God sends to us, or as an old hymn put's it "showers of blessings", refreshing drinks of his sweet presence and spirit, to sustain us as we walk through this life, giving us strength to grow stronger each day..

as I snuggled there, in complete contentment and peace feeling God's love wrapped around me, as snugly as my blanket, I knew it was going to be  a good day .

dawn

woke up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee, now there's no way one can stay in bed after that smell !! so I slid out of bed and tucked myeslf into my warmest robe and slippers (the mornings are still pretty cool), poured me a biggggg cup of java and went outside to my favorite table to sit and see what the morning would have to offer .

in the midst of the dark gray gathering clouds was a small ribbon of gold, framed in the color of burgandy wine, it shone sooo bold and bright in the midst of the dark clouds , as I enjoyed the scene, I started to worder which was going to win, the gathering clouds, or the morning sun, shortly I got my answer when the eastern sky burst into a mountain of pure Gold..with all the smaller fluffy gray and white clouds all marching towards the light..it just took my breath away, all the birds were chattering non stop in the excitement of it all as well..

it was here that I started to ponder how often we take so many things for granted, and found myself so thankful that I still had the strength to be out and about, my eyesight to see all the beauty that had unfolded before me, my hearing so I might share the excitement with the neighborhood birds, and the Mind, still capable of comprehending the awsomeness of it all.. and storeing it away in my heart and mind as a beautiful memory. Yep !!!  I have sooooooo much to be thankful for..

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

 AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh spring 

the sun is peaking through my eastern window earlier these days, waking me to fluffy Golden clouds  slipping silently across the sky,  robin's are back from their winter migration, in force, and a pair of blue birds are checking out the birdhouse in my back yard to see if it will make a proper nursery. 
I love to watch them, he will check the house over from top to bottom, talking all the while, then he will fly up into the tree and sit bidding her to come down and check it out, she will look all around inside and then turn and look at him, as if to discuss the matter further, it's like he will say "did you see this or that", and she will look and look again.
not sure when they will make their dicision. but I  sure hope they decide to be my neighbors.
Yep . it's definately beginning to look a lot like spring and the miracle of renewal has begun *sigh 

May we all be renewed and refreshed in Christ Jesus our Lord as well, in spirit, soul, and body.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

 
It started around 11am.. as it always does here in Arkansas, with monor crashes, cars in ditches, and a hustle to get ready to settle in with home and family,

then as the snow continued to fall, working it's magic, the world slowly became quiet and still. no sound of traffic, airplanes, or other human noises to spoil the serenity, just the excited flutter and churping of the birds, as they discussed among themselves the changing events around them..

there was hot chocolate to make, (with marshmellows of course), and the menu for dinner definately had to include chili, or good hot soup..

the families, left their seperate interest, and joined together as one, (way too rare), to watch the miracle change taking place ourside their windows.

as the snow danced and twirled it's way to the ground, hearts dance also , just delighted to bask in the beauty.

as the snow started to subside, families were seen coming out of their houses, many with camera's , many just to share in snowball fights and play, the sound of children's laughter could be heard everywhere, such a sweet sound .. neighbors, greeting neighbors to talk about the beauty that was all around them, (this too happens way too seldom).

the snow will melt, days will warm, but the heart will never forget, neighbors know each other a bit better now, deeper friendships are formed, and children's laughter will ring in our memories for a long time..

I feel so richly blessed to have been a part of it all: Thank you Lord