Life Outside the Pot

My garden is off to a pretty good start this season. I’m working hard to dress it up in time for my mother’s visit in a few weeks, and I’m having a blast creating my little haven.

I recently transplanted about 5 hydrangeas to the garden from containers on my patio and they’re all thanking me with beautiful, new foliage and flower buds. It’s amazing how plants will take off when you give them space to dig their roots deep in the soil.

But, why should I be amazed? Once anything or anyone is loosed from the confining walls of our will and given the chance to grow in the grace of God, will we not flourish?

It’s so easy for us to limit our thinking to “life inside the pot” when God intends for us to flourish in the garden –

don’t you agree?

We put plants in containers and expect beautiful, vibrant results, but they still rely on the human efforts of us/the gardeners to water, feed and tend to them while their root system and potential are limited to the pot.

I’ve lived most of my life “in a pot,” so to speak; constricted, controlled and held back by others and even by myself.

But, praise God for life outside the pot!!

I praise Him for the SON-light that warms my soul, for the clear running springs that never run dry – they nourish and fill me.

I’m blooming in the garden now from the inside out

with the joy of Him!

Just as a beautiful garden is meant to be shared, so should our faith! So should our joy! So should our love for the creator of all things wonderful. And so should our testimony! We’re to share our story; how He lifted us from a lifeless stage and set us free to bloom and bring glory to Him.

Step into the garden, my friend. You have the authority (I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. – Luke 10:19) to step outside of the walls that constrict and limit your growth.

Step into the garden and bloom for Him!

Be blessed today and EVERYday,

Debbie

Through it ALL, He Reigns!

I happened to look out my back window this morning only to find my mini dachshund staring back at me. No, he hadn’t grown 4 feet to peer in through the window – he simply jumped on top of the picnic table to get a better view of things.

I walked away sipping my coffee and thinking how very smart Willy (my dog) is. From his view at ground level, (his little legs are only about 3 inches long), the top of that table must seem impossible to reach. But, he was determined. I love how he didn’t see the bench in between as a hindrance, but as a stepping stone to get to the top. Very clever J

I could probably learn a lot from Willy - looking at all the things in my life that hinder and impede progress as stepping stones or necessary rungs of the ladder.

But sometimes, the distance between those stepping stones is too great. When I’m standing on one, the next is too far out of reach and the answers stop coming. The path becomes unclear and discouragement settles in deep.

The bright sky turns to cloudy gray and a cruel wind blows in disappointment, negative thoughts and fear which clutter the air waves and block out the Lord’s voice. How hard He has to work to get through my thick head sometimes.

It’s so easy to default to despair and discouragement.

To fall down instead of up into the saving arms of Christ.

Yet His voice does not fall silent and His words do not cease simply because of my frame of mind. What I feel and what dictates my mood has no bearing on what the Lord has planned. His agenda will still play out. I will struggle and I will triumph. I will laugh with my whole heart and I will cry with my whole being. We all threaten to wave the white flag at some point in our lives, yet we’re given precious moments of rest to savor and through it all, He reigns.

Regardless.

He reigns!

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut. 8:2-3)

Photo credit

Thank You For it ALL!

It’s good to be on the back side of several hectic weeks. I can finally breathe again.

Speak in full sentences again.

Relax with a cup of coffee and have a phone conversation again.

Even (dare I venture to admit) work in the garden again!

But in the middle of my running around these past weeks, a simple thought kept rising to the surface over and over. So much so that I finally started to speak the words out loud at random moments and my spirit still jumps with joy each time:

Thank you for it ALL!

…and repeat.

I can’t help but to keep thanking God for ALL of it; all the years and the days, all the "stuff" I may never understand, all the different relationships and people I’ve met along the way, all the experiences that have lead up to this point in my life. I thank Him for all the disappointments and heartache, all the joy and elation, moments that still the breath and bring the tears.

Thank you for it ALL!

I thank Him for the feeling of being settled and resting in that safe and comfortable place with Him. I thank Him for the sweetness of knowing Him and that He cares about all that burdens my heart.

Thank you for it ALL!

Thank you, Jesus!

Photo credit:

Spring Coffee Time by Yana Ray