Rain and Sunshine

Sunday it just rained and rained and rained... glorious, beautiful, nourishing rain... the thunder boomed and the lightening cracked as we were sitting in Church... it just made God's love seem all the more real... He knew what we needed and as usual He provided. The earth was rejuvenated by the much needed moisture that only He can give...

Monday was steamy... once again just perfect to warm things up after the rain.  Today we planted and it was just right... cooler and breezy... Everything is alright, God is in Heaven.

Why do I doubt sometimes?  I just don't understand when He has never let me down, although I have let Him down. He has never left me wanting for anything and He has always loved me tenderly, even when I didn't deserve it. 

Life is filled with stress along with the joys... we have good days right before and after the bad ones...

Faith as a mustard seed right?  Do you know how small a mustard seed is?  Oh we of little faith...
Again a special note from Helen Steiner Rice...

Mover Of Mountains,

by Helen Steiner Rice

Faith is a force that is greater

than knowledge or power or skill,

And the darkest defeat turns to triumph

if you trust in God's wisdom and will,

For faith is a mover of mountains -

there's nothing man cannot achieve

If he has the courage to try it

and then has the faith to believe. 

Until next time,

Jean

Spring and Faith

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" Ecclesiastics 3:1-2

Spring & Faith...

Spring.... is the day I long for through the cold, dreary days of Winter.  Although who could complain this past Winter, if that's even what you want to call it.  I am curious to know what the actual snow fall accumulation was, it certainly couldn't have been very much. 

This Spring allowed us to get some yard work done mush sooner than 'normal' around here~ some that typically wouldn't have even gotten around to until at least April, and that's with good weather.  Neil kept telling me not to get too excited, we would surly get a snow storm any day. I know he's right, but I told him that I have faith that it won't.  Some may call that fruitless faith or even wishful thinking, but I really thought it is was here to stay... but we did get some more snow... and I did even loose one of my David Austin Roses with it... my Graham Thomas... so disappointing.  About four years ago we had that blizzard on Easter Sunday... such is life in Michigan!

Faith is a great thing you know. It helps in times of distress... it keeps you looking forward instead of backward... I truly believe it makes a person a whole lot happier. 

Until next time,
Jean

Waiting On A Mirical

God is in the business of making miracles happen every moment of the day.  We live in a nation where people don't really think they need God... people are pretty self sufficient... yea we all have bad day's and mishaps, but really... for those who've got a job, a family, a decent vehicle and the basic necessities of life, you're OK... right?

What about those who live in third world nations... those areas that are war torn... famine and sickness surrounds these people... some of them have the opportunity through missionaries to come to know the Lord, while others linger around idol's never knowing the one true God.

We as a 'civilized' culture, and I say that loosely, can pretty much take care of ourselves.  Yes there are those who have experienced the natural disasters of floods, tornado's and such, but overall we've got it pretty good.  There are grocery stores and what ever you want stores on every corner... not so much where we live in the country... but you get the point. 

When do we as a nation get to the point where we realize that we do need God?  That He is control of everything... even our trivial little lives?  We are so little in the big scheme of things... yet we think we are so very important.  It reminds me of the Titanic... the proud captain said that even God Himself couldn't sink that ship... well we all know what happened.  I don't think God is cruel for allowing that to happen... but His Word is true and 'pride does go before destruction'...

Let us truly look on our self and realize that life is but a breath and at any given moment we can simply be gone as a vapor... as the wise Ecclesiastes writer wrote... 'life is all vanity'...

Until next time,
Jean

God's Hand Is Always There

God's Hand Is Always There

a poem by Helen Steiner Rice

I am perplexed and often vexed,

And sometimes I cry and sadly sigh,

But do not think, dear Father above,

That I question You or Your unfailing love.

It's just that sometimes when I reach out,

You seem to be nowhere about.

And while I'm sure You love me still,

I know in my heart that You love me still,

I know in my heart that You always will,

Somehow I feel I cannot reach You.

And though I get on my knees and beseech You,

I cannot bring You close to me,

And I feel adrift on life's raging sea.

But though I cannot find your hand

To lead me on to the promised land,

I still believe with all my being

Your hand is there beyond my seeing.

My heart is longing to be there by your side and when you led me to this poem I know You are there... I just wish I could feel Your arms surround me now... for I feel so alone.

Until next time,

Jean

I Believe In Miracles

Life is filled with trials and some days they look bigger than anything we as humans can deal with... but my God up in Heaven is still working miracles today... for me and for you!

Today is one of those days I need a miracle... God knows what it is and I believe He will provide... this mountain appears bigger than Mount Everest, but I know it's not, not for my God.

This God saved four young souls from the blazing inferno of the furnace...
He fed his prophet for over three years by the ravens...
He parted the Red Sea and allowed His people to cross...
He created the sun and the moon...
He made the lame man to walk and cured the lepers...
He made the rainbow for a promise...
He made His son to rise from the dead...
He healed my back pain through the prayers of friends...
He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us pray...
He saved my soul...

He will move this mountain... I have to have the faith that it takes to move mountains... only as big as a tiny mustard seed... that's all I need for Him... trials make my faith grow because I see how He always works things out... and He'll work this out too...

I know he will,
Until next time,
Jean

Bouquets...

So simple yet so elegant, isn't it.
... wild flowers, sweet pea blooms, cleome, queen Anne's lace... whatever you can find...
placed in old glass milk jars, wine bottles, mason jars... whatever you want... that's the charm of it!

Flowers are charming and add happiness and smiles where ever they are... I have met a few people in my day that have actually said they don't like flowers... and I might add, they are grumpy people... afterall anyone who can't find beauty in a flower has to be grumpy, wouldn't you think?

I think of Heaven when I am in my gardens... afterall, 'it all began in a garden'... yes I imagine how beautiful it must have been, and how beautiful it must be now... I believe with all my heart that Heaven will be one big beautiful garden.  God created the earth and all that is on and in it... have you ever looked inside a flower bloosom?  Those who believe in evolution must be so sad inside... to look at the beauty of nature and try to convince themselves that it just happened... it is just so silly to me. 

Yesterday Evan noticed a bumpy toad in the flower bed off the patio... I right quick got a clay pot and put it in there so it would have a home.  Evan, Aaron & I watched it as it backed itself into the dirt and used it's back legs to burrow itself in.  Today Ethan noticed the Baltimore Oriole's in the yard... the orange brightness of there beauty didn't just happen... Nature simply sings out of Gods glory... to hear and understand that song is a blessing and a gift.

Today I planted up a few more of my containers... I planted begonias in some of my pots for the porch tables and kitchen window sill.  Basils in pots on the front porch too... just gotta have basil everywhere.  I have several wheel barrows that I have always planted double petunias in. This year I am doing something different...   In one I decided to scatter zinnia seed... I love zinnias... they just smile at you! In another I planted several nasturtiums.  I am excited to see how they look all full and overflowing.  I have another that I am not sure what I am going to do yet... I am one of those gardeners that will just know when the time is right. 

Today was a great day... hope yours was too!
Until next time,
Jean

My Heart & Soul

The Lord's day is so special to me... it allows me time to reflect on things... the everyday things of life... what's important and what's not... my family and the time we spend together... where things are going and stalling... to just be...

Today's sermon talked a bit on the ark... the minister was comparing the raven and the dove... it was quite enlightening to me... I had never really thought about some things that he pointed out.

First Noah sent the raven and it just roamed to and fro but never returned to the ark for safty... 
Then Noah sent out the dove... it flew and found 'no rest for it's soles...' and it returned to the ark of safty...  then it was released again and this time it brought back an olive branch... life... but it still returned to the ark... then the third time it didn't come back... it was able to survive in the new life found on the earth...

In the New Testament satan is said to roam to and fro across the earth looking for what he can devour... a raven is a 'devouring' bird... it's hunts for carnage... dead things...
A dove is often a symbol of Christianity, peace and gentleness... like Jesus... the dove went out and sought life...

There is only true life in in living for Jesus and His salvation...

A hymn we sang at church...

Holy Jesus, lovely Lamb,

Thine and only Thine I am;

Take my body, spirit, soul,

Only Thou possess the whole.

Thou my dearest object be,

Let me ever cleave to Thee;

Let me choose the better part,

Let me give Thee all my heart.

Whom have I on earth below?

Only Thee I wish to know;

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

Thou art all in all to me.

All my treasure is above,

My best portion is Thy love;

Who the worth of love can tell?

Infinite unsearchable!

Nothing else may I require;

Let me Thee alone desire;

Pleased with what Thy love provides,

Weaned from all the world besides.

Until next time,
Jean