Watered and Fed

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." (Psalm 1:3)

Planting in containers poses many challenges. It is very exciting at the beginning of Spring and Summer to go the nursery and stock up on new plants to make my yard look beautiful. I am very diligent when I first plant to water regularly to ensure growth. The problem with container plants like these ferns are that they need constant attention because they don't have enough soil to keep them from drying out quickly and not much room for their roots to spread out and flourish. The fern on the left has been neglected, while the fern on the right has been fed regularly.

I am reminded that taking time to focus on my relationship with Christ keeps me fed and healthy. Keeping watered by staying in His Word, looking for Him in His Creation, and basically being preoccupied with Him throughout the day keeps the soil of my heart moist and ready for growth.

Restored, Renewed

"Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

(Romans 11:19)

Several years ago, the sweet warmth of Spring crept in before its usual time, and this Crepe Myrtle, along with many other plants in my yard made an early appearance. Not long after that, a verocious cold snap covered our area and virtually killed every bit of the new growth that my plants had. That summer, I wondered if this tree and others would ever recover. No life appeared in those shocked plants.

Two years later, this is the picture that I look at when I go outside. What I felt couldn't recover is more beautiful than ever!

The verse above reminds me that in our journey in this life with Christ, there are times when a quick and mighty wave of adversity can absolutely make us snap and appear that there is no life left in us. Unfortunately, our timetable is not God's, and restoratation may not be immediate...it may even take years, as with this Crepe Myrtle, but just as the picture shows, when it comes, it is more beautiful and healthy, because it was in God's timing. The blooms of our lives are so much prettier when the Savior is grafted in.

Every Step of the Journey

" so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5)

As we journeyed to California, Oklahoma proved very flat, but as I looked out the window, I couldn't help but notice the power lines and how they were shaped like crosses. As far as I could see, I could see these powerlines. It reminded me of God's sweet faithfulness to His children and His promise to always be with them. It warmed my heart to know and be sure that no matter where I am in the journey, He is with me every step of the way. Great is His Faithfulness!

My Beloved

You're My Beloved You're My Bride

To sing over you is My delight

Come away with Me My love

Under My mercy Come and wait

Till we are standing face to face

I see no stain on you My child

You're Beautiful to Me

So Beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace

Cast all your care down at My feet

Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe My life inside of you

I'll bear you up on eagle's wings

And hide you in the shadow of My strength

I'll take you to My quiet waters

I'll restore your soul

Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved You're My Bride

To sing over you is my delight

Come away with me my love

(words by Kari Jobe)

On The Wings of the Storm

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

This scene came right on the heels of a violent storm. Lightning flashing everywhere...torrential downpour...wind shaking things in its path. In my experience with God, storms always bring beauty...always

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Pull Over

God's beauty is everywhere! He's sitting in Heaven just waiting for someone to ask Him to show off His Glory! This scene was one of those days...God used the ordinary task of going to pick up pizza to ask me if I was going to take time to notice His Glory. I could not pull off the road fast enough to try and capture this beauty with my camera! I figured that I needed to pull over instead of trying to drive and hang my camera out the window.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array." (Genesis 2:1)

The Climb

We had a fun opportunity to go to the mountains of Georgia where the Appalachian Trail begins. We made the trek up more than 600 stairs to get to our destination the the top of some amazing Falls. As we were climbing and huffing and puffing up each stair anxious to get to the "beauty", I looked back upon this scene. God gave me a gentle nudge as I looked down. So many times in this life, God presents us with a mountain to climb. It may be a mountain of pain, of sorrow, of growth, or even of joy, but as we tend to do, we want to get the hard work of climbing over with so that we can reach the top and see the beauty. In my hurriedness to reach the top, I was missing the beauty of the climb...the stopping every so often to see the beauty of where I was and the even greater beauty of looking below to see how far I came. The peak and end destination was beautiful, but God didn't want me to miss the beauty in the climb.