Falling Flowers

 

 

It is that time of year when the vibrant colors of spring and summer start turning brown.  The flowers that graced our gardens and lawns have a tinge of tan on their edges.  This leads us to know that it is time to pick off the flowers that have passed their time and think about preparing for fall and winter.  Folks in New England know that these preparations mean that within a few months, colder weather will be here along with the arrival of snow.  As we approach this time of year, many eek out the last few days of summer.

As I was picking off the wilted flowers, I realized that for my ‘annuals’ (the flowers that only bloom once), they will never bloom again.  For my perennials (the flowers that come back every year), I know that I will see their bright blooms again next year.  Yes, the annuals tugged at my heart.  I thought about us humans and how fortunate God created us as ‘perennials’ and not as ‘annuals’.  He did not create us as ‘one and done’ – we hit our big moment in life and then we pass on.  He put much greater value in us, realizing that every season of our lives creates more beauty, more bright blooms as we pass through life on Earth.  What blessings our God gives us.

What if we are going through a wilted flower season?  What if we are at the end of our summer?  What if our faith is drying up and we do not seem to have enough to continue to another season?  I am certain we have all felt these moments in our lives where we did not believe we had enough energy to move to another day; we did not have enough strength to see another season.  Yet, here we are!  How did we get through to the other side?  How did we pass through the wilting flower season to see another day?

My friends, that is our Lord guiding us, giving us what we did not think we had – strength, energy, hope and love!  We find these blessings in many parts of our lives.  The Word never fades like the flowers.  The Word never passes on and never returns.  In Matthew 24:35, it says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”  There is reassurance that the gift of God’s word will live with us, in us and for us forever.

When we pass through the season of our life where we feel like wilted flowers, lean on the word of God.  His word will always be there for the taking.  Having a tough day?  Pray to our Lord, open up your Bible to your favorite passage and meditate on the goodness He provides for us.  For His grace, His mercy and his blessings are new every day!  Living with this hope can give us the strength to move through to a new season!

Seasons of our lives present us challenges and blessings.  If you are in the season of falling flowers, please let me know.  Let the prayers of others surround you.  May you feel God’s hope reaching out to you through the smile on a stranger’s face, the sun that is shining upon you, and the warmth of a kind word.  God reaches out to us in so many different ways, and His word is ever present.  Just have simple faith!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Word you have given to us – the Word that will endure forever.  As we move through seasons in our lives, help us to return to your Word for guidance and strength.  In your gracious name we pray, Amen!

Overflowing Hope

Zucchini!  Typically, gardeners who start their gardens in spring have an idea of space, what they want to grow, and an idea of the number of plants they will need.   My father started this annual tradition in winter.  He would go through the seed magazines and determine exactly what he was going to grow and how much of it.  There were pole beans, bush beans, three types of radishes, cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, salad cucumbers, etc.   The list was endless. 

Of course, Daddy’s Garden would not have been complete without the zucchini.  We would carefully plant each seed in the spring and by the middle of summer, the zucchini would start coming in.  My poor mom would try to find one hundred ways to use it.  Yet, it continued to populate like bunnies!  Inevitably, we would put the zucchini out in our front yard in hopes that our neighbors who did not have gardens would share in our harvest.  Our garden overflowed and others benefited.  It was a wonderful way to share the abundance of zucchini.

When I read this verse, my mind went to the zucchini.  I was amazed at my dad’s thought process.  Although we would have more zucchini than we knew what to do with, he did not ‘pare back’ the following year.  Nope, we continued to plant the same amount.  It was his opportunity to give the overflow.  Some years we would also have cucumbers and tomatoes to give away.  Yet, there was always zucchini. 

Giving others our overflow can be a terrific way to share with others.  Yes, we could ‘store up’ our treasures and save them for a rainy day, but as Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . ..”  The idea of not ‘hording’ for myself but ‘giving’ to others is a cherished thought. 

I love the idea of overflowing with hope!  I thought about this for some time, asking myself if I overflow with hope.  It is a question I ponder even as I write these words.  Hope, for me, is trusting in God so boldly that I know He will provide the joy, the peace, and the blessings I need to live out his love.  Hope is knowing, unconditionally, that no matter what I may be facing, God has me in the palm of His hands.  I pray that I exude hope and know I will be thinking of this more often in the coming days.  The joy, the peace, the love, the hope that only God can give us needs to be shared!  It needs to pour out of us, not for us to ‘store up,’ but to overflow with those around us.

The hope that we confidently receive from our Lord is one that provides us with life each and every day.  Our simple faith assures us of this hope.  May we take the time to ensure that this hope is shared, abundantly like zucchini, for all to have.  May your hope sit in your front yard for all to benefit from.

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing each of us with an overflow of hope.  Give us the opportunity to share the hope you so richly provide for others that are around us.  In your name we pray.  Amen. 

 

Peaceful Nights

 

 

Summer evenings on the deck.  Weekdays are busy, but weekends at our home provides us the opportunity to enjoy our deck.  Morning coffee time has me on the deck enjoying the beginning of the day.  Afternoons can find us stretching out, even catching a quick nap.  The evenings, we tend to have dinner out on the deck and even bring the tv out for a quick movie.  There are other evenings when we just sit.  We let the peacefulness of the evening wash over us, listening to the birds, the breeze as it rustles through the leaves and just ‘be.’

I enjoy those evenings as they are wonderful preparation for a routine of peacefulness prior to bed.  They start that way.  The winding down of the day.  I may actually close my eyes in rest.  THEN IT HAPPENS!!  The peacefulness I experienced throughout the evening turned into a nightmare of trying to sleep.  My eyes are wide open at 1AM, 2AM, etc. and before I know it, my feet are hitting the ground, and I am out of bed for the day.  I wake up from a sound sleep, thinking!  I think about issues at work, worries from home, general unrest.

I pray to Jesus, “Please take all these thoughts away from me.”  Briefly, that happens.  Within 15 minutes, I decide “I” can manage these issues better and my mind starts racing again.  My husband and I were talking about this today.  I give it to God, and then I take it back!  It is not just during the time when I should be sleeping, it can happen throughout the day as well.   I KNOW God has my worries.  I KNOW God has my issues.  Yet, I can have difficulty to give it to God fully!  I play ‘tug of war’ with God – giving and taking – until my soul cannot manage it anymore.  When I give it to him fully, God gives me back all I need, FULLY!

Giving our trials to God, asking him for peace, knowing he delivers, will provide us the rest, the sleep, the safety we all need.  We know this but doing it can be tough.  So where do we go, what do we do?  I know I am going to try some of the following:

·         Write it down to give to God – send him a letter!  Writing things down can help us to commit!

·         Prayer – talk to God, ensuring you pray when your soul needs it most.  Ask for the peace you need!

·         Meditate on His word – adding verses to your toolbox and bringing them out when you need peace!

Life can be hard, and we cannot do this on our own.  God wants us to have peace, the type of peace that passes all understanding.  He gives this to us freely when we go to Him!  We need to go to Him completely, fully, and give him everything – and not take it back.  Have the simple faith that God has it!  When He has it, you have peace!

Heavenly Father, help us!  May we give you the trials and tribulations that trouble us so we can, in return, have the peace that only you can provide.  Help us to give to you fully so you can give back to us fully.

Floods of Life

 

 

The summer season always sees its fair share of floods.  Whether it is flooding from summer hurricanes across the country or flash flooding in rural areas near rivers and lakes due to an immense amount of rain in a brief period of time, flooding can arrive so quickly.  Often when the floods come quickly and unannounced, those in the line of flooding are not prepared.  Before they know it, the water is rising, and quick decisions need to be made.  I am reminded of the “Mother’s Day Flood” of 2006.  The river behind our home crested unexpectedly and we found ourselves making provisions for our family to stay safe.

Flooding can be like that.  There are times, especially with hurricanes, when the weather folks can share with us ahead of time to ensure we are prepared.  We have time to pack necessary items, prepare our homes the best we can, and head to safer ground.  When we are able to prepare, the safety of our family members is higher and chances our homes can withstand the flooding could be greater.   Preparation can yield positive results.

There are other moments when the flooding comes upon us without warning, creating a moment of fast decision making and chaos.  Without a preparation plan, the flooding hits us quickly, without the ability to execute a plan and drives us to take action that may not prove to be correct.  Instead of driving from flood waters, in a moment of panic, we can drive towards the flood waters.  The lack of preparation can yield disastrous results.

I cannot help but think of how the floods of life can overtake us in a similar fashion.  There are times when we can see the flood coming, where the impact of life can present itself in slow motion, and we have time to prepare for the ‘flood’ that is coming our way.  We can see the mound of debt that we have created flooding our way and can take action to stop it and help it to recede.  We can feel a health crisis that would flood our life and can make health appointments to help navigate its effects.  There are also times when we cannot see the flood coming.  A sudden loss of job without warning; a sudden loss of a loved one; a health diagnosis we were not expecting.  All of these can yield trouble we were not expecting, floods that surround us with no warning. 

Whether we find ourselves in times of anticipated flooding or sudden flooding, there is a way we can prepare!  We can hold fast to the faith in Jesus and the love and hope only He can provide.  By having a faith rooted in Jesus’ love and hope, we can manage whatever flooding comes our way.  Comfort in His Word, worshipping with fellow believers, thanking Him for all the blessings in our lives bring us closer to Jesus every day.  When flooding hits, we know who to turn to.  We KNOW that He is our every-present help.  Jesus will be there for us as we pray during an expected flood as much as He will be there for us in the moments of a flash flood.  As decisions need to be made, let Jesus guide you through those decisions.  May the knowledge of knowing Jesus is with you for each and every step, providing you love and hope, be your safety zone in the floods of life!  Just have simple faith!

Oh Jesus, thank you for being our refuge and strength when floods come our way.  May we go to you – in preparation for the flood or in the moment of our sudden floods – knowing you will always be our hope.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Helping Others

 

The difference between winter in New England and all of the other seasons is that in winter, we do not see our neighbors much.   All the other seasons have many of us outside in our yards, many times engaging in yard work or enjoying time relaxing.  When others are outside doing the same, there is a wonderful attraction to ‘go chat’ and see what is happening in their lives.  Many times, it is discussions of family events or just the weather.  This time to catch up provides us an opportunity to quickly check in and ensure all is okay. 

Making those connections helps when there may be a need to help.  One neighbor was having some difficulty with their sprinkler system – my husband assisted.  We had a tree fall down on our property; neighborhood teens came over to lend a hand.  Being able to see neighbors in need, and lending a helping hand, is part of sharing God’s love with others.  He wants us to connect, He wants us to help, He wants us to carry each other’s burdens.

This is easier to accomplish when you can see what the other person needs.  There are times when we see someone struggling yet we may think:

·         They are strangers; I do not know them.

·         I do not have the skill of what they need.

·         I am rushing myself; I do not have the time.

·         I am certain someone else will help them.

Those thoughts get in the way of us doing what Jesus wants us to do.  Stepping in and asking can be half the battle.  Letting that person know they are not alone in this struggle can be exactly what they need, whether we have the skills to assist or not.  I know I can be guilty of rushing through life and not always taking the time to help.  I need to do better.  We need to do better.  We can be Jesus’ love here on earth.  Let us not just reach out to those we can SEE who are struggling.  There are those we cannot see.  Reach out to those as well.  Share a quick text to let them know you are thinking of them.  Better yet, pick up the phone so they can hear your voice!  The best thing we can do?  Talk to God on their behalf.  You may not know WHAT they need but God does and is always there to hear our prayers!  Let us show others what Jesus’ love is all about!

Dearest Jesus, help us to reach out with your love!  May we help those we see who are struggling along with those we cannot see.  Help us to provide for their needs!  Amen!

Unseen Hope

 

Summer days can be filled with outside activities that keep us busy from sun up to sun down.  Time tending to gardens, partaking in summer sports, spending time by the lake or ocean, playing with our children at the park, enjoying summer vacations, achieving the long list of projects for the house – all of this can keep us from time to rest.  It seems as if that is how our summer has been going, ensuring we are meeting many commitments without time to relax on our deck.

Therefore, when an hour presented itself to my husband and me a few days ago, we took it!  We found our place on the deck furniture and sat.  We put our phones down, we got comfy, and we closed our eyes.  We took advantage of a peaceful moment.  I was also able to focus on other things that may have eluded me during this busy season.  Keeping my eyes closed, I listened.  I could hear the rustle of the summer breeze through the trees – unseen but heard.  I smiled as I heard the birds chirping deep in the trees – unseen but heard.  I could hear the squeals of little ones as they jumped into our neighbor’s pool – unseen but heard.  I could hear myself breathing – unseen but heard.

A sense of peace enveloped me.  I could feel a smile come to my face.  The unseen was providing me comfort, rest, and hope.  Hope that I could regain energy that I seemed to have lost.  Hope that I could let go for a few brief moments of the commitments of life and enjoy rest.  Hope that in the unseen I have found peace. 

My friends, this is what our Lord Jesus has given us.  Although we do not see Him, He envelopes us with His peace and gives us hope.  It is in the hope of the unseen today that we will see Him in eternity.  When we open our eyes from rest, we see this world.  This world is not our eternity.  What we see with our eyes today is the temporary home Jesus has given us.  The unseen home of heaven is where we will be able to rest in His arms.  May the peace of the unseen on earth bring us hope for what we will see in paradise.

Jesus, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice.  By your death on the cross, I will have eternal life with you in paradise.  Although I may not see your face today, my eternity will be by your side.  Amen!

Victory

 

 

Awww, the Olympics.  I have always enjoyed watching the Olympic games.  I would not say I am an ‘avid’ sports fan.  I enjoy watching football in the fall and an occasional baseball game at the local ballpark.  Yet, there is something about the Olympics that always draws my attention.  Upon reflection, I realize it is not just ‘one thing’ that lures me in, but a multitude of areas that tug at my heart.

·       Countries competing in peace!  I realize not every Olympic game has seen peaceful times, yet more than not have enjoyed peaceful competition between countries that are typically at odds.  It helps us to understand that although we may have differing opinions on certain topics, there are areas where we can come together.  Paul shares that with us in Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

·       Individuals doing their best!  Each competitor comes to the games to do their personal best.  They aim to perform at their personal best, searching for the end result.  It is about getting to the end in victory.  Whether it is swimming their fastest lap, running their quickest time, performing their best routine, the goal is to persevere to the end.  We all can work towards our personal best on the path God has laid out for us.  Hebrews 12: 1-2 shares, “…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

·       Humble victory!  I tend to route for the underdog, those who were not expected to win or who receive a medal in their sport that has not seen a medal for a long time – or ever!  Those competitors who enter the ‘arena’ with humility, wanting to do their absolute best to represent their country, and surprise themselves and others with a place on the podium amaze me.  I think of ‘miracle on ice’ in 1980 between the US and the Soviet Union at the time.  This humble team of hockey players banded together to win Olympic gold.  I was reminded of that team when the US men’s gymnastics team recently won bronze – the first medal since 2008 or Daniel Wiffen, the swimmer from Ireland who won his country its first Olympic medal in swimming.  The humble come forth in victory.  This is what our Lord promises us in today’s verse in Psalm 149:4, “For the Lord takes delight in his people, He crowns the humble with victory.”

Jesus shows up every day for us.  He never leaves us; He never forsakes us.  When we walk this earth in His name, with humility, and strive to run the race He has given us in peace with others, He will crown us victorious.  May we be the champions for Christ, striving to do our personal best as we win the greatest reward, eternal life in Christ.

Heavenly Father, you provide to us our own “Olympic stage” to live with you on earth and to dwell with you forever in paradise.  May we continue to be reminded of that each day we live our lives here until we see your face in heaven.  Amen!