A Gardener's Journal-Psalm 143:6

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I stretch out my hands to Thee; My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land.

Psalm 143:6

Refreshment

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For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3

Where is that in the Bible again? : Google tip

If you're like me, you sometimes find yourself with a verse on your mind but can't quite remember where it is. Searching a concordance, even online can be difficult using one key word. This is what I do: type into google as much of the verse that you are pretty sure of (a key part of a sentence) add the word "bible" and hit search. 99.9% of the time there will be tons of hits containing that verse. Usually the search results show you that the reference is listed on that page. It doesn't matter what the page contents are, a quick glance will give you the location of the verse and you're good to go.

The giving of you...

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As much as we do and do during the holidays, the ministry of relationship is the most important giving you can do.

Philippians 2:4
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

(scrapping materials by Mary Fran)

One on One: A Personal Advent

With all of the festive and spiritual trimmings of the Christmas season it is easy enough to overlook how personal and one on one our Savior is. We look back and see how God's plan unfolded in the world's history through the prophesies and the birth, life, and the salvation work of Jesus, yet in our own lives this also rings true. God had a plan from before the beginning of your life and brought a redeemer into your personal history.

The principles of observing and remembering the progression of the advent season apply to our personal lives and to our walks with God. This Christmas as the carols and hymns are sung and the Gospel story is told, remember how personal God is. Remember and celebrate the coming of the Emmanuel into your own life. Remember that each day we need to long for, look for and expect our Savior. Be reminded that He indeed comes. His mercies are new every morning, He is the same in all of the yesterdays, in your yesterdays, your todays, and forever.

Rejoice! The joy of the Lord is your strength.

I am thankful...

(this is a photo of me that I asked my sister to take this summer.)

All the way my Savior leads me-
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me-
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me-
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the day;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

-hymn

"All The Way My Savior Leads Me"

Autumn Light

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.

Psalm 43:3

A Single Pearl

She put the simple black dress on with grace. Even in its understatement there was elegance. The dress had been hers for sometime now. It was a part of her journey. It had been cared for and it was wearing well. The little crimson thread, a mending, was artfully hidden. There had been a stumble and a fall in the dress, but somehow there was a beauty in the damage repaired.

When the last covered button was fastened she hung a single pearl around her neck. She put her hand over it for a moment, treasuring the gift. Her thoughts were hopeful. Thoughts of the loving gesture of a chair quietly pulled out for her at the candlelit table. Thoughts of a glance that said more than words can say, the gentle grasp of hands, and of good conversation with her companion. Someday, a companion.

She entered the room cheerfully and went right to work. To each guest she offered a warm smile and answered requests. At times the warmth was returned. Often she was paid little attention. The guests were there on their own terms and she would play a part in their evening.

There was candlelight on each linen covered table. For some it was the glow of friendship, for others, the dimming of hope. It was the flicker of anger, the burning of tears or the first warmth in a cold sorrow. Some wanted the candlelight removed.

Food was served, drinks refreshed. Demands met. Complaints registered. The night was long, the black dress rumpled, and her feet were worn and bruised. At times a tear would quietly roll down her face.

Some nights when the tasks were almost done, a kindly person would pull out a chair for her with a caring glance that refreshed hope. Hope for a night at the candlelit table.

Tomorrow night would come soon and she would continue her work.

It was with grace that she put the simple black dress on. The hidden crimson thread a reason for serving. All that she had was from her Father. The dress, the mending, the work, and her resting garments. The single pearl around her neck was a tender reminder, a statement of His love and pleasure in her. She was cherished.

Again, she would enter the candlelit room with joy and strength. Food would be served, drinks refreshed. Demands met. The nights were long, but this was her Father’s business and her inheritance.

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2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

James 1:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Romans 8:17
…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Anthem part 2 (the current song of my heart)

Psalm 28:8

The Lord is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

Lamentations 3:24

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."

I had planned to come back and share a {current} anthem in my life, and today said song was the soft spot I needed to land in.

Today would have been a great day to hear encouraging words, but instead a perfect stranger spoke to me in the rudest way a stranger had ever spoken to me. Ever. I didn't provoke him. He just had an opinion and he shared it. He wasn't one of those odd looking characters that you expect things like that from. He was a well groomed, well dressed man, old enough to know better. At the time I was finishing up an errand, with a headache. A headache that was unexpectedly escalating and I was hoping not to get sick before getting home. I knew at the moment it was wise to ignore the remarks and continue on my way. Later I had plenty of ideas for responses. None of them life giving.

In all my weariness, there was a place of strength. Not my strength, but my portion. A measure of hope and strength, of love and mercy, and of peace. An unfailing shelter from the voices of discouragement.

Sometimes we need to be very deliberate in running to that shelter. This song is a part of that running for me. One of those songs I put on repeat at times, just to let it soak in.

(a couple of days ago when looking for a video to share the song, I listened to several renditions of the song, mostly by people that loved the song and wanted to make their own video.

That night everyone of them touched me. It was meaningful to see all of these different people singing the same song to their God, my God, with their own voices. Truthfully, I didn't listen to the entire video for most of them, but I kept clicking on videos and watching ordinary people sing. Tonight, I was just too tired to tolerate even one of the humble renditions, but the memory of those singing is a sweet one.)

I think I have found a way to let you listen to the song with an audio link...we'll see if it works.

You are my Strength

*Now tell me, what are the current anthems of your life?

PS here is another song that runs a close second along the same line.

His eye is on the Sparrow

Aunt Tea is asking...

Go here and answer the burning question...

In a word: anthem

Psalm 42:8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life .

anthem
n.
A hymn of praise or loyalty.
A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.
A modern ballad accompanied by rock music instrumentation.
[Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphōna, from Late Greek, from neuter pl. of antiphōnos, sounding in answer : anti-, in return; see anti– + phōnē, voice.]

This morning I had a blog visit from a gal whose blog is called Sanctified Woman... that triggered my desire to find an old favorite song by a similar name. What an interesting bunny trail it was for me. The song I was looking for came from a late 70's album by Janny Grein. (yes, I'm that old) Looking for it led me to a few other oldies from that era, and to a couple of her songs from the same album.

Often, I am inspired by the faith of the generations that came before me, especially my grandmother's, but today it was my own generation, and my own journey that stirred me. In the late 70's I was a teen that loved the Word. In those years I attended the big and original Calvary Chapel with Pastor Chuck Smith. Every week, and actually nearly every night, hundreds of people would come to church carrying rather large, I mean, REALLY large bibles. The bibles were usually encased with some kind of cover, likely denim or tooled leather. The bibles were read and talked about. Treasured. The word was taught from Genesis to Revelation. Systematically and in order. (Sunday nights) It had been since childhood Sunday schools that I had heard much of the God that was contained in the Old Testament. He was the same God to me as the one from the New Testament and I loved hearing the Word from the Old Testament, something that was missing from most Sunday mornings in my life. It just felt wonderful to be in a place that embraced the whole bible and savored it as a whole package.

Today, the teens and young adults from the 70's are finishing the raising of their children, and becoming grandparents. We have miles to go, but we have a journey of faith to look back on now too. I have heard of those finding the old Jesus music on the internet and finding tears in their eyes. I did too. Yes, some of the music sounds really dated (and some timeless, and some foot-tapping fun) but it was part of our faith journey. Looking back we see our walk with God and His walk with us. We remember the personality of our generation, and the personality of the faith of that era. It's a part of who we are. A part of our perspective which we bring forward to the next generations. I can tell you that I have not always been faithful, but God has. I can tell you that some of the anthems of my passion still ring true. I can tell you that my passion still has purpose, and though I dance with bum knees and other slow-downs, there is a race I can still run. There is a baton I can still hand off. There are still water bottles to hand out.

The soundtrack of my journey includes the hymns of my grandmother and the music of the Jesus people in the 70's. It includes the beginning of the worship music era, and today's new music. Today, the 70's music reminded me of my youth. I was encouraged with the reminder that God's Word has always been important to me, and humbled knowing that I had tripped up along the journey in ways I would not have expected. I can tell you God is faithful.

I encourage you to appreciate the anthems of your journey. They inspire, encourage, convict, and energize you. The songs of your journey become entwined in your memory, reminders of God's faithfulness.

Janny's songs had the Word in them. It rang true for me. I couldn't find "Sanctified Made Useful" but I found two other songs that I really appreciated, on myspace. "Covenant Woman" and "More Than Conquerors". You can find the oldies here: http://www.myspace.com/jannygrein

I dare you to listen to them.

Abide

abide- (remain, tarry, continuously and daily place yourself, and do not depart from)*

John 15:4, 9

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

1John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

*from strongs 3306

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Trust, Dwell, Cultivate...

(click on image to view large)

Aunt Tea also has new photos and content HERE
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In a word: encouragement

Encouragement

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another….” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself…” Colossians 2:2


What if we considered this our life’s work? To encourage and build up one another?
What would friendship look like if this were it’s goal? or marriage, parenting, time spent with fellow workers, time spent in our neighborhoods, or with our church fellows?

The Greek word, parakaleo (Strong’s 3870 ) includes the concept of proximity. Calling someone to your side, for strengthening, encouragement, comfort, instruction etc.

Webster’s definition of encourage is worth meditating on…

encourage

Etymology: Middle English encoragen, from Middle French encoragier, from Old French, from en- corage courage1 : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : HEARTEN2 : to spur on : STIMULATE3 : to give help or patronage to : FOSTER- en·cour·ag·er nounthe synonyms ENCOURAGE, INSPIRIT, HEARTEN, EMBOLDEN mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. ENCOURAGE suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency . INSPIRIT, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something . HEARTEN implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal . EMBOLDEN implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance .

I desire to live as an encourager. Will you also? I too, need life giving, courage building, heart strengthening, filling up.

In a word: kindness

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

The Greek word is chrestos. (Strong's 5543)
Fit- fit for use, useful, virtuous, good.
Manageable-mild, pleasant (as opp. to harsh, hard, sharp, bitter). of things: more pleasant, of people: kind, benevolent.

To be fit for God's use, to be virtuous, and good in His hand, we must be kind. We should be manageable by Him. We must be kind; mild, pleasant and benevolent toward people. Not harsh, sharp or bitter.

It sounds a bit old fashioned and un-American, but I think it’s time to seriously reconsider kindness as a lifestyle. To be vessels made useful.

Good Friday Stirs the Soul

If we stop to take the time, remembering the cross will first bring a soberness and a gratefulness to your soul. If you continue to linger you will find that the cross will sweeten your cup of difficulty, grief, weariness, regret, loneliness...
whatever it is you bear.
It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus endured the cross.
The joy of being your savior, your friend, your everything.
It was for the joy of presenting you, perfect, to the Father.
P E R F E C T.
Allow the cross to stir sweetness and completeness into your soul.
Your sorrow, your pain, your inadequacies your unworthiness...
were all completely, perfectly borne.
You’ve been redeemed, beloved.

Hebrews 12:2 * Philippians 1:6 * Colossians 1:22