The Garden In My Mind

I've been doing a lot of dreaming about this summer's garden already, have you?  The seeds we ordered are already here!  Yes, there is snow outside, and the wind is freezing, but it's so fun to plan and imagine how the garden will look this summer!  So, as I was looking through my old issues of gardening magazines I found this poem on the back of an old Birds and Blooms-

The Garden in My Mind

 

I have a secret garden

Where lilies never fade.

The daisies never wither,

And roses bloom in shade.

 

Brick paths are lined with larkspur,

And bee balm blooms bright red.

Bringing hummingbirds to sip

The nectar from each head.

 

Lilies surround the birdbath

Where robins come to call.

Blue jays come to the feeder

That stands against the wall.

 

There are chores that I must do,

I know I cannot stay.

Garden scenes will wait for me.

They're just a thought away.

 

~Joseph Fecher~

Keep dreaming!

Robins

 

I always think of Robins as a sign of spring, and here they showed up a little early this year!  I enjoy watching the birds and squirrels out the windows of our home.  You know, in the Bible Jesus says that God sees even when a sparrow falls. 

 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29,31

 

If God knows what's going on even in a sparrow's life, don't you think he knows what's going on in yours?  God has been reinforcing that idea to me again lately- he has a plan, and not only does he have a plan, but it's a good plan.

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me when you

seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

THANK YOU LORD!

True love is...

spending your Saturday building a new garden for your wife! 

There were a lot of heavy rocks to lift and we are all tired out. 

I'm looking forward to planting in a couple months! 

Soaring

 

We rarely see bald eagles here in our part of the country,

but I spotted this one today way up in the sky- he had no fear

or worries so high above all the problems of this world.  I hope

these words from Isaiah are encouraging to you today.

What is Love, Anyways?

 

In our Bible study this week the question came up, What is love, anyways?  I'm not sure I gave that great of an answer, so I decided to do a little study on it.  Is love a feeling?  Is it just doing what's best for someone?  Are we supposed to show "tough love" in some cases?  Is love dealing harshly with someone who is not following the truth?  In the New Testament we are told to love each other 28 times, so we better know what it really means. 

 

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.

Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer,

and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1 John 3:14-16

 

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:12

 

So from these verses, love is sacrificial and unconditional.  If the situation comes up where we feel like we need to confront someone or let them know the error of their ways, we better speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Speaking the truth in love means coming to someone with a kind, humble, and patient attitude, being willing to serve them and help them in any way we can, like Jesus did for us.

 

 

Thankful for Seven Years

SJ and his Dukes cake

 

I can't believe it's been seven years since we had a baby!  SJ is growing up, like they all do.  He is a joy to have in our family and we are sure thankful for him.  Looking back when he was a tiny preemie and the doctors were telling us all the possible complications he might have in life because he was born 11 weeks premature, and here he is now as healthy as any of us- what a blessing from God!

 

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

Psalm 111:4

Sunday Drive

 

LA and I took a drive through the country around our place

this afternoon.  There were a few more stone houses I'd heard

of that I wanted to see.  This one was pretty neat, although

we couldn't get very close to it.  It would have been a pretty

place to live, overlooking the grass covered hills.

 

 

This one was more fallen in, I don't want to let this happen

to our stone house!  It did have some pretty stone work

over the doors and windows.

 

 

 

All that was left of this last one was the bottom half.

 

 

 

Here is the story of our stone house and

here is another interesting story

about another area stone house if you like history!