It is in the garden that the Lord comes and reveals His love to me. That is where I go to spend time with Him, and have conversation. It is sweet fellowship with the One who created me, knows me completely and who accepts me. As I share these conversations, I pray He will reveal His love to you too!
I tried something new this spring. I tried growing my pepper and tomato plants from seed. I had tried this once before, but without success, so I planted these seeds in the dirt hesitantly, not wanting to hope too much. After watering them, I set them out of the light, in the warmest place I could think of, on top of the refrigerator. After a week, I took a peek. To my surprise, tiny green stems had appeared. I watered then again and left them there for a few more days, and when they were slightly taller I brought them down to the light by the window. And they kept kept growing. My hope was growing now as I watched these tiny, tiny seedlings stretch toward the light. As they got taller, I began to pay attention to each indivual plant, transplanting them each to a larger pot and propping up their tender stems on sticks to keep them straight. My little seedlings began to delight me as I watched them grow. They started receiving extra attention from me as I would watch over them, taking them out to the sunshine on warm days and bringing them in when it got cool. I am enjoying watching their progress of growth, each stage is fascinating. The Father plants us in this soil of life, with much anticipation and expectation. He is not a hesitant gardener as I was. He know the plans and purposes He has for us. He knows what is in the seed. Patiently He waits... And when we discover His love, we sprout and begin the process of growth. So tenderly and eagerly our Gardener watches over each one of us individually. He has everything we need to grow, to flourish, to prosper. He does not leave us to ourselves and demand that we make it in our own strength. No, He sees each need, propping us up if we are drooping, preparing and fertilizing the soil, pruning at times when needed. He takes such delight in the process... Such delight in each plant, watching with expectation for the fruit. He is not worried about failure, or discouraged with the slow ones... No, He gently continues to nourish us in His love...with His smile always upon us... His delight is from the beginning to the end.
But unlike my tomato plants that will grow, bear fruit and die... Each of His plants have the opportunity to just continue and continue to grow more and more in His fullness, bearing more and more fruit, until they meet their Gardener face to face, where they will continue to grow in their love for Him!
Jesus, do you love me? Have You removed Your love, removed Your favor, turned Your face from me? When I pray, do You hear? My circumstance is not changing... "My dear child," He responds, "Let Me ask you a question. Does God the Father love Me?" Of course, I respond. The Father loves You, the Son, and the Spirit...You all are 3 in 1! "It is the same with Me, my child," Jesus whispers, "With the same love that the Father has for Me, His Son, I love you! You see, we (you and I), are one, joined, cemented together. I am in you and you are in Me. To hate you would be to hate Myself, and God to hate Me... No, my child, no circumstance can ever change the intensity of My love for you." "My dear one, nourish yourself in My love for you. Let it sink in deep, let it saturate your very being... Until there is never a doubt again. Let My love for you bring you to much joy, much peace, much rest... Let My love still the turmoil of your heart letting you know that you are loved mightily by your Maker, your Savior, your Friend, your Shepherd. You are the beloved!" John 15:9 "I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves Me. Let My love nourish your hearts." TPT
I love watching my grandson learn to walk. Each time I see him, he has advanced a degree. How proud he was when he took his hand off the sofa and stood all by himself, And then he was grinning from ear to ear as he took that first step, And then two and then three steps to get that toy he wanted. Last week, I counted eight steps before falling, Today he walked across the room barely thinking about his accomplishment. Our Father does not despise small beginnings. When He asks us to trust Him in an area, sometimes we feel like we are taking baby steps. It does not bother Him He is there by our side to pick us up and administer hope. He asks us to try again, encouraging us with His truth. How He cheers with each step of accomplishment, reminding us of His truth. He delights to see us get up...time and time again. And before we know it, those baby steps have turned into a steady gait of trust, As we gaze upon our Father, our Daddy. He does not despise small beginning, Because He knows these baby steps will turn into mighty steps of faith. He knows because He put the greatness of His power within each of His children. Next time I see my grandson, he might be running across the room... You will be too... That is what His goodness does!
Spring seems to be having a hard time coming forth this year. There definitely are signs...the birds, the grass is slowly becoming green... But I keep looking up into those barren branches, Looking with anticipation for the green... I believe this spring is a picture of the longings and desires of our hearts. We have prayed, seen in the Spirit, believed the promises... But we continue to wait..and wait. But the promise is so close... That which you know is there but is yet hidden is about to burst, It's about to come forth. But we continue to wait... Oh, but let us not give up hope, The signs of promise are beginning to appear. Let us continue to stand..continue to persevere, continue to contend, believe and trust... Let us keep our eyes open wide, With much anticipation and child-like wonder. Let us have our pens and pencils ready to record the goodness of the story... The goodness of our God. Yes, it is ready to burst forth!
Thank you Lord for that "Father's Help" That help that comes from Your Daddy heart As You look upon Your child, Hear her cries, her plea, Bottle her tears, See her need... A "Father's Help" You send her way the moment she calls.
A "Father's Help" that turns the tide of the battle, sending the enemy running.
A "Father's Help" of protection, A "Father's Help" of provision, A "Father's Help" of comfort and kindness...
A "Father's Help" that You deliver with such delight to Your precious child...
I have been watching these pink geraniums by my kitchen window. They have cheerfully displayed their pink color all winter. They have looked out that window at the barrenness of the winter and the piles of snow... but they have continued to bloom. They have felt the cold draft through the glass of the harsh cold, but they have continued to bloom, delighting all who have entered my kitchen. They have continued to bloom, because here in my kitchen they have all they need to grow. They have warm soil for their roots, water for nourishment, and sunshine shining in the window to nourish their leaves and stems. The weather on the outside does not effect them as they grow inside my kitchen. Makes me think about us. If we are in Christ, we have everything we need..inside.. to grow, to prosper. We have Christ living in us enabling us, nourishing us, teaching us, watering us with His goodness, shining the light of His presence in our every day. What a gift! Christ in us that enables us to prosper, even when circumstances on the outside seem black, cold, and harsh. What a blessing we can be to those around us when we shine His light so brightly and bear His fruit...despite the circumstances on the outside. Just like those geraniums brighten up my kitchen reminding me that spring and green is coming... We can bless those in our life with hope and encouragement when we continue to shine and display the beauty of Jesus, despite the circumstances. The secret ingredient...Christ within us...our hope of glory!!
