A Rose

Flowers.They come in all shapes and sizes. Some people make a living off flowers. Some flowers once seen have a special memory or are associated with a special season. I think of the poinsettia. We have them at Christmas time. Tulips, almost every Easter we see them in various colors and are on our tables as we celebrate. Or maybe the chrysanthemum, this time of year they are everywhere marking the passing of Fall.  I have my favorites and you have your favorites.

Last week, I had the chore of pruning back our rose bushes. I am not talking about the climbing vine type, or the knockout roses that so many people have. I am talking the old rose bush. I don't like this part of ownership, but love what the roses give me, so I know it needs done. I must trim them back before winter, if I want to continue to have healthy thriving bushes next year. As God has been doing lately in my life, or is it that I am noticing more, I felt a lesson unfolding. A lesson, I know I was to pass onto you all with my blog.

I got my cart ready for the clippings and put on my gloves. I had trimmers in hand. As I headed to the rose bed, I began to realize why I don't like this job very much. I have to reach in and cut the branches back. Each one. Not just the ones blooming, but each one. I need to cut them knee high to survive the winter winds and cold temps. As I started on the first one, I realized how thick and strong some of the branches were. I had to work hard to cut through the tough wooden texture. No matter what type of gloves I wear, some of the thorns poke through. I had my hands bleeding in no time. Then as I moved to the next bush, it happened, one of the super teeny tiny thorns, broke off into my finger. My finger was throbbing. Every time the cloth of my glove rubbed against it, it dug in deeper and hurt more. I had to take off my gloves and get a needle to remove it. I couldn't finish what I was doing. It was getting dark and I so wanted to be finished. I managed to get a few more trimmed and decided if I didn't take care of this now, it was going to be a problem. They can be a very light green on the end and it blends into our skin, so you don't see it. As I leaned in against the light and counter top of my kitchen sink, I was flooded with this thought.

As my finger hurt, stung, and burned, my Savior's head felt a thousand times worse. You see, they shoved a "crown" of thorns on His head and mocked him. I can't imagine how that must have felt. The type vines they used were much, much worse than my small rose bush. The thorns were longer and sharper.  Then I began to think of the rose a different way. My hands were all scratched up and bleeding. I thought of what His back would have looked like.  He took whips that cut open His back. As I went back to the rose bed, I looked at that last bush differently and want to ask you the same thing I thought of, the next time you are given a rose.

Did the Creator create the rose to remind us of His Son every time we saw it? You see, the small rose bud is tightly held together and over time, each petal slowly opens to reveal the center of the rose. The petals are the beautiful part of the rose. It is the part that attracts the eye. As you look down the stem you will soon see all kinds of thorns. If held carefully you can work around them and not get hurt. Then as you work your way to the base you see a thick wooden stem. The tops are soft and green, but the base is more wooden in texture. The thorns to me, are all the sins and temptations that we come across. The things in this life that can cause us harm. The wooden base reminds me of the wooden cross He hung on just for me and you. He did not deserve any of it. You can't miss the emerald green leaves. When I think of emeralds, I think of gems and riches. I am reminded I am a daughter of a king, which means I am a princess and part of royalty. The rose itself, reminds me of me. I am the part that catches God's eye. I have many layers, but He is willing and patient to work and wait until all the layers are opened to reveal the real me. The real me, that He created. He must prune and cut the branches in my life that aren't yielding fruit. He knows that it is painful for me to get pruned back, but He knows the beauty that will come from His trimming. On the rose, if you trim the extra small branches that really aren't doing much, you will have bigger, stronger, healthier blooms. If God trims back those things that are not necessary in my life and would only cause me to be distracted from Him, I will grow stronger in Him.

The last thought I had was this, my favorite rose, is the deepest darkest red you can find. I had a tear in my eye, as for me, that was the final reminder of His Son....He bled the deepest, richest red blood on that wooden cross for me and for you. Yes, they come in different colors, but when I see a long stem red rose, my mind immediately drifts to the Savior and His love for me. Friends, His Fingerprints are everywhere! He desperately wants us to follow Him.

Are We Thankful for the Normal Stuff?

For the most part, this week has been a "normal" week for me. I had a busy last 24 hours, but the past week has been fairly normal. I have been able to take many walks this week, sometimes two a day. October is my favorite month and I love the colors of Fall. On my walks, I have been processing what this week should be about in my post. As I pondered and I walked, a common theme came to me. Am I thankful for the normal things, the day to day things? I spend time thanking God for my family, my home, blessings in my life, etc. However, am I grateful for the smaller things. I thought back over my previous day. I got up at my usual time, I took a hot shower, I put a load of laundry in the washer, made a cup of hot tea to go with my breakfast. I checked messages on my phone, emails, and even got the mail from the mailbox. I went for groceries, got my whole list checked off. Cut the grass and trimmed back some flowers since colder weather was coming. I even talked to a few people on the phone. I was able to chat with my daughter who is on a missions trip halfway around the world and spent part of my evening with our other daughter. I sat on the porch and played Frisbee with pup and even spent some time with the cats. (they still need attention). I made dinner and put the dishes in the dishwasher and folded laundry. I also even curled up in a nice warm blanket and watched some TV to end my day.

If you are still reading....you are wondering why you should care and sorta boring? You don't need to care. But as I thought about my weekly, daily stuff, I take so much for granted. I assume each morning when I get up after sleeping on a soft mattress with flannel sheets, that hot water will be available to shower, have a cup of  tea, do laundry and wash dishes. I assume that the Internet will be working and I can keep up to date with incoming and outgoing messages. When I went to the store, I didn't make my list from what was available, but rather, what I wanted and needed for our household. I assumed the car would start and keep running as I did my errands. My daughter is away and I miss her, but knowing we can chat and see how well she is doing makes me feel so much better. I miss her, but she is old enough to be doing this and I am not near as worried(if at all) as I am excited and happy for her. I have a riding mower to sit on while the grass gets cut and I listen to my favorite songs on my iPod. I have a yard for my family and dog to play in. I have a home that is clean and warm. I have a selection of blankets to wrap in. Last night, was the first really cold night of the season, and it is going to get so much colder, but as I do every time this happens, I think of the homeless people in my own neighborhood. How cold they must feel on nights like last night. I assume the electric running through the house will turn on light bulbs, heat up ovens, and keep the appliances working.

Do I take time to thank God for the "gifts/blessings" in my life? For providing the income to afford these items? Do I feel entitled or owed them? This is what really sealed the deal for me. I am having upcoming surgery soon and had to get some tests done to make sure the doctor was right in his diagnosis. I needed a CT Scan.While waiting in the office to be called back, I saw a sweet lady who was waiting for her husband. I could tell from the moment my eyes met hers, she was worried and sad. His cancer had returned. They were an older couple. Had to be married 60+ years. She had to wait out in the room because of the radiation. I felt very compelled to ask her why she was there and if she was okay. She began to share with me that they had to try two times to come to the office because he was sick in the stomach and they had an hour drive. I assumed from her words, she didn't drive anymore or she never had. They turned around and rescheduled for later in the afternoon, that is how I could meet her. She also shared how in her senior years she has started allergies, very similar to mine. She seemed a little mixed up, so I am confused about it just being allergies, but if I am that good at her age, great! She had breathing issues too, which I suspect is more than just an allergy. We use the same inhalers for asthma. She said their home is surrounded by fields and all the dust blows and makes life outside difficult. She never once complained. I told her I was there for tests as well. I told her, that when I prayed for my allergies I would pray for hers and for her husband. She had to be 80 years old. Her face lit up when I mentioned prayer. We had a common bond and she seemed so relieved. I did too. I am guessing we will meet again on the other side.

As I walked to my car, the sun shining, and Fall leaves blowing, I thought to myself, depending how my results come back, I could be in her shoes in an instant. My normal could be taken away. Do I appreciate all the little details God does for me every day? Do I appreciate the normal when it comes? We tend to talk about the stresses and life changers, but we don't say thanks for the assumed. Are we grateful to have a normal day some would call boring? I know our paths were to cross. You see, I asked God to help me to not have to wait long, because anxiety creeps in for me with my history of hospitals. I was feeling anxious about having to wait and I hate waiting rooms in a hospital setting, but she helped me talk about stuff and our time went quickly. She helped me realize just how quickly the normal can be taken away and we learn a "new" normal. I know I helped pass her time and reassure her about some of her allergy symptoms. I don't think she felt quite as alone. She was hopeful about the cancer treatment and felt her husband would be fine. They were getting a checkup to see if things had improved. I pray they did. I also smiled at God as I turned the key of my car. I had prayed I wouldn't have to wait. I had to wait, I just had a visitor to help pass the time. :)

Something happened this past month that have stuck with me, I want to share with you. The geese are starting to fly overhead each evening. The other week, a lone goose kept flying back and forth, calling out for its mate. Not sure why or what happened to it. Anyway, after 30 minutes of it, I could stand it no longer. I wanted to wave it down and let it rest safely in the hen house till morning, but knew that would never happen. You see at night, it would be hard to stay alive by ones self unless on the middle of the pond. I said a very quick prayer. "Lord, you created that goose and you know where its mate is. Please protect it this evening and help it find a new flock or its mate". Seconds later, again it came. All alone. I hung my head to go inside for the night. I was finished outside for the evening. That's when I heard it. A sound I have learned to love this time of year. A whole team of them. At least 12-15 came flying overhead. They were catching up to it. Being the animal lover I am, I simply bowed my head and thanked the Creator for the love of animals in my heart and that for this night, that goose would not be alone. I waited a few extra minutes, it was now dark, but the sky grew quiet and I knew they had met up for sure. God hears our prayers. He answers them as He sees fit. He could have left that goose alone and I would have still believed that, however, that night I know He was smiling with me. For you see, I couldn't see the other flock coming, I could only see what was in front of me. He knew they were coming and He got to watch it all unfold before my eyes. Trust Him with the details. I once heard said. "Life is like a parade. We only see a small piece of it, that is right before our eyes, but God sees it from beginning to end."

Take time to look around you at all the things He provides for you. I feel we are asked to be grateful in ALL things and you can start by thanking Him today. What if your "normal" all changed tomorrow. Would you miss it? If so, thank Him today. He may still have changes ahead, and we need to accept change, but we still need to be grateful for the day to day stuff He provides. I shared the geese story, because I think of that as a small prayer from my heart based on a love He planted 43 years ago. I am waiting on some answered prayers that I will keep praying until I hear, but when He immediately answers the small prayers I am reminded that He is still working on the prayers and now is not the time. So, while I can think He forgot, He says, I have not. He hears me when I pray. Some are instant answers and some are not now.

**On a side note, my tests went well and my diagnosis was confirmed. I will be having sinus surgery in two weeks. I am not sure how blogging will go. I am told it is a six week recovery, but week one seems the most challenging. so time will tell. If He gives me thoughts and the ability, I will type away. If He gives me a time of rest, I will be back shortly. Very common surgery, but would appreciate your prayers for my surgeon(steady hands), my family and for a speedy recovery!

Fruit

What do all these pictures have in common?

Because of the fruit/seeds on the plants/trees, we know what they are and what they belong to. While taking a walk this past week, I noticed how so many of the trees are getting ready to drop their fruit or seeds this time of year.  How can we tell what type plant or tree we are looking at? Simply look at the type fruit or seeds it is producing.

I remembered the words of Paul in Galatians. Galatians 5:19-23 to be exact. Depending on the choice we make, will depend on the type "fruit" we will produce. By choice, I mean, whether you choose to live in the sinful nature we were all born with, or if you have surrendered your life to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. We are promised in scripture that when we accept the Son, we receive a Counselor which is the Holy Spirit to come into us and live in us. You will produce the type fruit that comes with whichever choice you have made.

Paul reminds us if we live by our sinful nature, the "fruit" we will have is: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins. Doesn't look very nice does it? Some are pretty big in our eyes, but some are things we are all capable of doing. What, you ask? Quarreling with one another, being jealous of what others have, we aren't happy with what we have, just what we don't have, we have become a very, very selfish ambitious group of people and have we not at one time or another been envious of what someone else had?

However, if we keep reading, there is some really great news and reminders. God knew that left on our own, we would become just like that, with no hope of ever changing. So, He tells us in His Word, that if we have the Holy Spirit, along with it, we are able to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now they look simple on their own, but if you break down their meanings, you are overwhelmed with what all you are able to do.

Here we go:
Love: sacrificial, unmerited deeds to help a needy person
Joy: an inner happiness not dependent on outward circumstances
Peace: harmony in all relationships
Patience: putting up with others, even when one is severely tried
Kindness: doing thoughtful deeds for others
Goodness: showing generosity to others
Gentleness: meekness and humility
Self-control: victory of sinful desires

This is what I pondered and what I want you to ponder this week. If when we walk around this earth and we see all kinds of trees and plants and we can tell instantly what type they are by either their fruit or seeds or as I included in my pictures, the leaf on the stump, what do you want people to recognize about you instantly? If your choice is the second list of things, remember, we can't have them on our own. It doesn't matter how "good" you are, how nice you are to people, or even if your family is saved. It matters what you choose. God is a gentleman. He will come and knock, and wait to be asked in. He will initiate relationship, but it is up to us to accept. We can't work for it, we can't hope for it, we can't wish for it, we can't even buy it. We can only have those abilities if we have the Spirit living in us. Look closely at the definitions I included. A few of them you might be able to pull off on your own for a while, but eventually you will tire of it. These items in scripture are referred to the Fruit of the Spirit. You will bear these qualities if you have the Spirit in you. Now, if you have accepted the Spirit into your life, but you aren't producing fruit in these areas, it isn't because He isn't there, it is because we have not let Him lead. When things are difficult and you have joy, that is not something you can just come up with. You have Joy, because the Spirit helps you have inner happiness that isn't dependent on your circumstances. Don't we all know someone who while in a very difficult situation was still the most pleasant person to be around?  Peace, the world wishes they could buy it, a lot of our Christmas cards will talk about it, but true peace can only come from the Spirit. I could go on and on. But did you catch the last fruit listed? Self-control....to have victory of our sinful desires. The only way we can overcome those are by the help of the Spirit. When we receive Christ, we aren't instantly able to do all these things. I still struggle, but I know that if I ask the Lord to help me, he will. In Christ, we are a new creation and we should be giving different "fruit" than we did before. So, I ask you, what type fruit are you showing to those around you? If you have chosen Jesus, you should be bearing Fruits of the Spirit. Spend some time this week asking Him to help you in the areas you feel weakest.

Autumn

Fall is my favorite season of all. I have decided this week, to look back through my pictures and post some of my favorites over the past two years. I hope to get out with my camera and take more pictures this year to add to my collection. If I do, I will be sure to post a few.

What is your favorite thing about Fall? Is it the cool mornings with warm afternoons and then cool evenings again? Maybe it is stopping by your favorite roadside stand and picking up apples, mums, and pumpkins. Maybe you love to bake, and the tastes and smells of Fall fill your kitchen, whether it be apple dumplings or pumpkin pies.

Maybe still, it is the bright colors as nature shows off one last time before the winter winds move in and nature takes a break from producing crops and blossoms. I love the sunsets as well. They keep me outside way longer than I should and I can't take my eyes off the horizon. This past week, we seemed to have some extra special ones. As I was watching the sun set, I was reminded that in heaven we will not need a sun, because His Glory will shine so brightly. Can you even imagine the beauty of God? If the sun He created and will destroy,  can cast the colors of vibrant oranges, reds and yellows, what must He cast?

I hope this week, you can make a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate, whatever hot beverage you prefer, and sit on your porch or local park bench and soak up the rays of His Creation and vibrant colors. We can easily get busy with the day to day things that we forget to look. Soon, we will be filled with gray skies and the occasional white snow, which I love, but the colors will be dormant for a bit. How about this week, you and I take time to thank God, for the extra detail He puts into His Creation. Hope you enjoy the photographs!

 If you have been reading my blog for awhile, this is the entrance to my "secret garden".

Storms

Storms. Picture them in your mind. Sometimes they come out of nowhere. You can be having a great day outside when all of a sudden, the winds start to change, the air feels different, and to some, even smells different. Not everyone can smell rain, but if you are one that can, you know something is coming. What do you do next? Usually you take shelter or cover. If you love storms you sit on your porch and watch it pass, others may head indoors.

Some storms are just a show of Nature’s power and strength. The winds come, the trees blow, the sky changes and cooler temps are in the air. Other times, we hear a far off rumble in the sky that gets louder and louder as it moves closer. If lightening is involved you may remember as a small child, for every second you can count between the thunder and the lightening is a mile in distance for the storm to reach you, so you count.

Still other storms come and the windows rattle, the trees are now bending in half, and you are no longer watching on the porch, but from the safety inside, you see all your porch furniture blowing. It is a bad one. Your neighbor loses part of his roof. A branch crashes through your window. The rains come pouring down and making small streams on your driveway.

Now imagine you are on a ship out in the big, deep, blue ocean. You see wave after wave coming, the blue water is soon turned to white caps and you try hard to hold on, but trying to keep your balance is out of the question. No matter how hard you try, you can’t stand up. Wave after wave knocks you down. There is nowhere to go, you just hang on and hope it passes quickly. (hope I didn’t make you seasick).

That is what happened to the disciples and they were with the Creator himself, who controls all Nature, only they didn’t fully understand that. They knew they could run to him, but they had no idea what He would do. I like the account Luke gives us in Chapter 8:22-25

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping, the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” And they were in filled with awe and amazement. They said to one another, “Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?”

This past month, I experienced some storms and I suspect you did too. Things were going well. I had a routine I liked. Things were running smoothly. The first waves that started to come were small and the air began to change a bit. I was simply eating a few peanut M & M’s one of my favorite snacks. I felt it go suddenly. The corner of my lower molar hurt so badly. But within seconds in seemed to pass. Then a few days later, while eating chips (I do eat good foods as well, in case you are wondering), I felt like a rock was in my mouth. I broke my tooth. I called the dentist and they were out of the office for vacation and I had to wait 2 weeks for an appointment. The time went quickly. I went to have the tooth repaired and a crown was in order. They had to first build the tooth up and while doing so the other corner was breaking off. So, they were able to repair the tooth, but I had to wait 4 more weeks, to make sure the nerve was still okay. Thankfully, it was. I went for the crown and for the first time in my life, the Novocain simply would not take. I felt most of the drilling. My dentist felt awful and tried to help me as much as possible. These things happen. As I lay in the chair, I realized something pretty amazing was happening. I didn’t bolt or ask to reschedule. I simply prayed my way through it. I had no one else to reach out to, but to Jesus. He knew my fears of dentist and mouth issues. He knew why those issues were there. He simply held my face still and gave me the strength and courage to get through it.

I barely got that appointment finished when I received news from my ENT Dr. that a CT scan needed to be scheduled for my sinuses and then two days later were the results. The results, show why I am having so much trouble with my allergies and surgery is needed and will be in November. The surgery is very common for him, but does carry risks, that I am willing to take, in order to feel better, but still would appreciate your prayers.

The final wave came just hours later, our daughter was having some shoulder issues. Her doctor has decided she needs physical therapy for an undecided amount of time. Hopefully a month or so. If this doesn’t work, cortisone shots will be needed, and if still not corrected, surgery. Surgery most likely will not be needed, but it is floating out there. I don’t need to tell you, money has been attached to all of these waves.

I feel like some days I can’t catch my breath because of what keeps coming. But yesterday, I had the wave of peace wash over me. That is the reason for this blog. It has gotten longer than I intended, but truly feel someone out in Internet Land, needs to hear this too.

God is with us in the storms of life. I could be experiencing much, much worse storms. Remember the beginning of this post? Some storms, come and go. Some bring rain. Some are just a show of strength, and some are damaging. The disciples had the Creator right with them, yet, they were still scared. There are times in my life I beg God to stop the storm before it hits. Then there are times, I pray to avoid it. Yet, other times, I pray He will help me through it, because like it or not, the waves keep coming.

This season of my life, He seems to be walking right down through the middle. He isn’t taking the storms away, He isn’t stopping them. He is however, holding my head and resting His strong hand on my shoulder. He is walking right beside me. While getting my tooth drilled, he held my head. While alone on that table, while the camera spun and pictures were being taken he held my head still because I couldn’t move for 5 minutes or they would need to start all over. While getting the results, He pulled a chair up next to mine and put his arm around my shoulders and looked at the images with me, so I would have something physical to see and understand. I know in November his hands will be on my surgeons hands. I have been praying and begging for relief from my allergies. He is giving me the help I asked for in a way I hadn’t thought.  My daughter, she noticed a difference already after one session. We have insurance and so we won’t have to pay all the bills out of pocket. We have a savings account for things just like this, if we do need to pay. We put the money away for a safety net and yet, when we have to withdraw it, it makes us nervous. It isn’t our money, it is his. He will provide for us. I can’t say enough, I have no worry or stress through this. I sleep soundly every night. I realized I cried out in faith to him and he helped me before I could finish praying. I don’t have fear because I have Jesus.

I know you are experiencing storms. They come in all shapes and sizes. Please remember they will keep coming. We don’t live in a perfect world, but we can call out to the Creator at any given hour and ask him to help. He may quiet the storm, he may stop it, or he may walk out on water and meet you where you are at and help you walk across it. But whatever way he chooses, you will never walk alone. That is a promise! I feel so blessed to finally have answers and I pray the next storm on the horizon will strengthen you rather than knock you down. Because when we survive a storm, we realize, we come away stronger and closer to him and isn’t that all he wants anyway?