The Harvest Is Plentiful

This is the first year that I've been able to attract hummingbirds.  I have put out the same feeder year after year, and have even put enticing red sweet stuff in the feeder to lure them, but with no success.  Just this year, my mom brought me a new feeder, and within a day, the hummingbirds started coming.

Something that I quickly began to notice with these Hummingbirds is that they are very territorial.  It is rare to see more than one on the feeder at once, because as another comes, the other will chase it off.

There are like 8 feeding holes on this feeder, but yet only one, two at the most are ever on the feeder at one time.  That's my growing heart for the Body of Christ.  That we would be a people united for the Kingdom of Christ, pulling on the same rope in order that "no one would perish".  I know that is Christ's heart for us.

You are Complete

On a rainy afternoon about to sit down to finish my Bible Study, I hear my familiar beloved sound of the cardinal.  He sounds so close, so of course I get up to look for him.  I go to my kitchen to look in the Crepe Myrtle that I often see him lounging in, and there he is on my window sill.  To my surprise, it's not one that I expect to see this time of year.  It's a baby!!

I had just been studying in God's Word in Colossians 2:9-10 that we have been given all the "fullness of Christ" and that we are totally complete in Him.  When we receive Christ as our Savior we are given, according to 2Peter 1:3, "everything that we need for life in godliness".  That doesn't mean that we are totally mature in Him, but we can be confident, as said in Philippians 1:6 that Jesus will mature us, as He completes His work in us.

So...back to the cardinal.  By looking at him, if you aren't a cardinal lover like I am, there is nothing about his appearance that would let you know that he is one.  He has to mature and be made more complete as he grows.  Does that make him any less of a cardinal?  No.  His identity as a cardinal is secure.  No matter if he looks like a cardinal or even acts like one, his identity is still that he is a cardinal. As is our identity in Christ...many of our lives may look like this cardinal, but He is still completing His work in each of us.  As this cardinal grows and matures, his features will become who he's been created to be...but not without time and maturity.  Soon, the gorgeous red feathers and the vibrant orange beak will emerge, but not without a lot of growth.

We are all in process, being formed and transformed more into the likeness of the One who created us and loved us enough to save us.  You are COMPLETE in Jesus!

New pictures of Tanner Michael

My heart leaps every time I go out back :)

He multiplies and divides spreading his beauty.

At the end of the day he wilts slightly...tired

Thank you God for Your Beauty for ashes!

This is my favorite picture right now.  Roses (along with cardinals) remind me of Jesus.  The bright red symbolizing Jesus' blood shed for me, the thorns representing the crown of thorns that was mine to wear, but He chose to wear it instead in order to save me.  The way the rose is behind Tanner, I picture him sitting in Jesus lap, in the palm of His Hand, closer than I could ever imagine.  Thank You Jesus for your restoration in my heart and in my life. 

It's so cool to hear my oldest daughter Kinsey, as she told me just the other day that when she gets married, that she wants the Black Eyed Susan to be a part of her bouquet and that all the family will somehow have one, in honor of her brother Tanner.  Can I just tell you that there is immense freedom in sharing our deepest hurts?  To know that I don't have to look over my shoulder because I'm fully KNOWN?  Hallelujah!

How do you prepare for HEAT?

In Middle Tennessee over the past few days, we've been under a heat advisory.  As temperatures have peaked close to 100, people are clamoring for a cool place, and others are on the lookout for people who are in need of shelter and water.  For me, I have two choices: either be in a pool, which is like bath water, or be inside.  Even walks to get in and out of the car make me break out in a sweat.  

I don't have much luck with ferns, because by July, they are half dead because I've gotten tired of watering them.  This year has been different as I made a pact with myself that they live and look good!    I have impatiens that colorfully decorate the front of my house, but they NEED water.


So, during these 100 degree days, I tell myself, "I need to water my flowers every day, or the heat will kill 'em".  I've even changed my timer on my backyard flowers to water twice a day.


As I watered I began to think of my walk with Christ.  When I'm in a season of "heat", and things are coming at me from all sides, is my tendency to intensify my dose of "Living Water" so that the heat won't consume me, or do I whine and complain and neglect the very One who will sustain me through the heat?  If I'm honest, there are times where I live in that place where I try to rely on myself instead of my Jesus, who I know will give me all that I need to get me through the heat.


Something I've also seen from my flowers and also my own life is that when I am giving them extra drinks during heated times, they actually flourish and grow instead of wilt and fade!  The past 6 months for me has been an intense time of "heat", but also probably some of the greatest growth in Him that I can remember.  The heat can be very damaging, but it can also, if you allow it to, be the greatest drink of "Living Water".  


Don't resist the heat.  Embrace it.  But always make sure you prepare for it with extra drinks of Living Water.  He will never leave you thirsty.


John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”


John 4:10
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”


Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”

Bloom Big!

People have certain expectations of how they want flowers to bloom.  If you go to the flower shop, most of the flowers look a certain way, with long slender stems and blooms bursting at the the top.  Not many people would be willing to buy flowers from a bush, because they just don't look like we expect.

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. (Jeremiah 12:2)


I saw this tree with these blooms on it this Spring, and my heart just screamed with excitement!  Of all the blooms I saw this Spring, this one was my favorite, because it's not your ordinary bloom, it just bloomed wherever it could.  It's like this tree was screaming, "I can't bloom quick enough so I'm going to pour out of every orifice of my being!"  


Lord, let me be this kind of tree that blooms for You.  That every crack and crevice of my being blooms with the sweet aroma of Christ.  Lord, I may look different, but what is seen and felt and 
experienced through me, may it be beautiful like
You.  May I look and bloom so different in the world,
that it will stop, take notice, and be drawn to You.  
Amen


"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing". (2 Corinthians 2:15)

Tanner Michael

I wait patiently for you every Summer.
Your beauty fills my backyard and my heart.
All who enter sense your presence with us.
I'm no longer afraid to speak of you, 
because you have stolen a piece of me forever.

My heart smiles as your sprouts come back every Spring
Grow taller, greener, buds emerging
You come back in places that you were never planted, 
but I don't mind
Your beauty reminds me that you are the child of my dreams now
not my biggest nightmare


I picture your face and can't wait til I meet you in the air one day.
Sandy brown hair with golden flecks of blonde, just like your sisters and brother
Strong baby-boy-man with the strength of your Daddy


Because of you, I get to tell daily HIS Story of complete love and grace towards me and your Daddy.  You are always part of me because you are part of God's Hand of grace extended to me.

I love you Tanner Michael
I honor your memory through the Black Eyed Susan
instead of trying to forget you ever existed
Mommy loves you
I'll see you soon

Magnificent God!

¹² But God made the earth by his power; 

   he founded the world by his wisdom 

   and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. 

¹³ When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;

he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. 

He sends lightning with the rain 

   and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

(Jeremiah 10:12-14)

As the thunderstorm woke me this morning, God reminded me of His Magnificence, His Greatness, His Power.  I continue to be in awe of the daily gall I have to try to be the "queen" of my own life.  Don't I know what's best for me?  Don't I know myself better than anyone else?  Uh, NO!!  Luke 12:7 plainly lets me know that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

I've heard it said that there is only One King, and He's not taking applications for His position, so as the thunder rumbles outside, the lightning lights up a greenish-yellow sky (are there any warnings out?), I am appreciating the Majesty of the One King who sits high upon One Throne.

Join me in being in crazy AWE of our Creator today.

Lord Jesus,  I admit that I try to take you off your throne at times and put myself there, as if I know what's best and right for me.  help me to know my rightful place before you, kneeled at your feet in adoration and trust.  You do know best, and You know me better than I know myself.  Thank you for loving me enough to create me, and to save me.  I love you Jesus. 

Amen

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thought than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55:9)