If You’re Broken Today (Revisited)

I'm sharing a post from last June. Just seems appropriate for so many who are in my thoughts today. God bless you, sister - you are not alone.

The sweet words of encouragement come in many forms; the well wishers who send the cards, send the emails, “friend” you through social media. They mean well. Their words are deep and are born out of genuine care and concern.

Yet, words alone don’t keep the walls from tumbling down.

There has to be a point, usually when you’ve fallen to your knees, when they aren’t just “words” anymore. When they’re living and breathing deep within you….when they become the very reason you’re living and breathing.

When it’s all crashing down and you can’t gather the pieces fast enough. When it seems chaos and confusion are your daily “bread” and the devil’s laugh is louder than your prayers….

Speak His Name!

Praise Him right out loud!

Say the words!

“Praise you, Jesus! Praise you, Jesus! All I can do is praise you, Jesus!”

Let the cry of your heart and your praises to God force the enemy back to the flames of Hell and simply speak His name…wherever you are.

~~Lord Jesus,

I lift my sweet sister in Christ to you today. She who is overwhelmed and overcome by all that is not of you. You are the God of reconciliation and of healing. You love her more than what is humanly possible and only You can keep the walls from falling. Only You can truly pick up the pieces for her and make her world whole again. I praise you – I speak with my heart and profess with my mouth that You are king of kings and true healing comes from only You! In Your precious name….Amen.

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

(1 Corinthians 6:14)

God Bless you, sweet friend,
Debbie

Preparing for the Blessing

I’m thinking of the blessing today – and planning for it, too; the blessing only God knows about and will reveal in his time. It’s like the seed we plant in the garden. In good faith we place it right where it will flourish and cover it with rich soil. We water and wait until it sprouts. Though it’s hidden and out of view from human eyes, God brings forth the first signs once it’s had time to gain strength and push through the soil.

Our dreams and our goals, they’re just seeds until they’re nurtured, acted upon in faith and coaxed to life. Dreams, like seeds, take time to sprout…to work through the soil toward the light…

until one glorious day when the whole garden bursts alive with blessings!

That’s when we see that all the tending, the waiting, the nurturing was meant to be. The seed held the blessing within but if we hadn’t acted in faith, the seed would have remained just a seed…and the dream, just a passing thought.

The runner with the broken leg lays out his running shoes for the blessing of healing.

The expectant parents ready the nursery for the blessing of their first born.

The gardener plants the seeds for the blessings of beauty and harvest.

Is it defeat you’re preparing for today or are you making physical steps toward your blessing?

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”

(1 Peter 3:15)

Bound to Bloom

I knew she was there…somewhere, hidden by the black-eyed Susan vine. I hadn’t seen her in awhile – at least, not until she bloomed all red and shimmering in the afternoon sun. The poor rose unyielding; her purpose secure.

I so admire the rose that continues to bloom even though she’s wrapped up in vine. It twists and twines around her every branch. Yet she reaches high, up and away from the vine and she still blooms despite all that’s intent on preventing the blessing of her.

Do you ever feel like the rose? You know that you’re supposed to “bloom,” to shine in some way, but your circumstances, your environment and the stuff of life sometimes have you all twisted up and you nearly forget about blooming at all?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

I find rest in knowing that the intention of each flower planted in my garden has a purpose. Regardless of its growing conditions, my neglect, etc., each has a goal to bring glory to God and beauty to our lives. Period. Each plant presses on through climate changes, adapting to various soil types and other encroaching plant material yet never loses site of its purpose! 

We struggle against much opposition in this life, things that force us to divert our focus for a time. They vie for our attention and steal our energy and our joy. But remember that no matter how tightly wrapped you are in the vines that threaten to entangle you, your purpose still remains. You were meant to bloom!

Wishing you many blessings, sweet sister,

from this gardener's heart,

Debbie

"Blessings ~ from a gardener's heart"

What do you get when you combine your love for the Lord with your passion for gardening?

You get blessed!

And I want to share the blessings from my own garden with you in my new monthly mini-mag called “Blessings ~ from a gardener’s heart.”

“Blessings” is a small monthly collection of 10-12 inspirational messages born from special moments, lessons and memories from the garden.

Blessings will always be just 20 pages and will always be just $6 ($3 for digital download). It’s a quick, easy read for you or as a gift for a special friend.

Whether rustic or formal, a garden is the most fun when it’s shared with those you love. So, please join me in the garden.

I wish you many blessings from this gardener’s heart.

Debbie

                 

     

               Blessings (from a gardener's heart)      

   

     "Blessings" from a gardener's heart is a small collection of devotional and inspirational messages. Thoughts and photos taken right from the garden combine faith in God with the way He speaks to us each day - especially in the garden.    

   

                       

Love, Mom

Sometimes, this mother/daughter thing isn’t so easy. Personalities, hormones and tempers flare; a high tide washing over deep love.

She started out in life fighting; fighting to breathe, to grow and to stay alive while we prayed and stood watch. Watching, believing and waiting for God to move. She was our baby girl. He had to save her.

Praise God - He did.

We’ve had moments, storms and victories, memories along the way that steel the breath and bring the tears. Rejoicing over all the “firsts’ thus far and anticipating the ones yet to come.

It all flashes by, the years revealed in the flutter of graduation gowns and in promises held for the future.

I’m thanking God today for my daughter; for her spirit, her fire, her dreams, her beautiful smile…and her life.

Congratulations to you, Elise

Love, Mom

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012!

Be safe and be blessed!

What Affirmation Looks Like

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Phil. 1:6) NIV

I hurry with the hose from one end of the garden to the other. The afternoon heat really takes its toll on my poor butterfly bush. Leaves on the shrubs are drooping and even the vines are finding it hard to cling to their supports.

I look at my sad garden and shake my head – I can SO relate; it’s easy to droop, to wilt and feel discouraged; to forget about pushing through the dirt and shine your face to the Son.

It’s easy to get caught up in what I’m not able to accomplish….

”but, do you really believe He’d give you a dream and a task if He expected you to do it alone?” I remind myself.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

(John 15:5) NIV

 

Affirmation is all around the garden. God began a good work in each and every living thing planted in the soil. He knew the gift and the joy each element would bring. Through the storms and the heat of day, God’s purpose still remains.

He knows all about your storms, too. He’s there when you’re wilting and defeated, yet He plans to grow you so you may bloom anyway.

Look around. There’s affirmation all around you. It’s there in the garden. There in a child’s eyes. You feel it deep down when you cross one finish line and race toward the next….it’s the completion of what God began in you; faith and hope carried out.

It seems that just when you think you’ve lost your spark and lost your vision, He speaks to the cold center of discouragement and whispers, “….but my plans for you remain. I’ve chosen you to carry this out and I’m here with you as you do.”

I love how the Lord works – just when we’ve lost our way and lost our hope, He somehow breathes life back into the dream…back into His purpose for us.

It only takes that one phone call – that one conversation – that one word that sets everything right again. It tells the heart that you’re doing the right thing by holding firm in your faith even when giving in is easier and a shorter distance to crawl. He somehow brings light to discouragement and sets you back on course. With your feet firmly planted in faith, things just seem to come together NOT “out of the blue,” but straight FROM His hands!

Lost YOUR vision?

Lost YOUR spark?

Don’t do it for YOU – do it for HIM!

Maybe the solution is to start out faithful – and finish there, as well.

May He affirm His plans and purpose for you today!

Many Blessings,

Debbie

Discernment

I love to challenge myself when I go to the nursery or visit other gardens. I want and need to know the names of every plant I see; the Latin for some and the common for others. Sounds strange, I know, but it’s just a little game I play; sort of my own personal “Jeopardy”.

I do the same when identifying the poisonous or toxic plants, and there are many. Some, are quite deceptive, like the foxglove, hydrangea, azalea and brugmansia (angel’s trumpet), to name a few. They’re beautiful and unique each in their own way but are highly poisonous if ingested or even inhaled in some cases.

I think life requires the same discernment in identifying what is beautiful through and through as opposed to that which only holds its attraction on the surface. It’s so easy to be misled by the beauty and allure of something that we believe will benefit us in some way. We think we can identify what is from the Lord and what is not. And sometimes, we end up with something just as toxic and unhealthy as the plants listed above.

 

So, what is the best way to identify God and His will for us when making decisions in our lives? The answer is simple: by staying in constant communication with Him.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 6:16-18) NIV

Heavenly Father,

Help each of us to use discernment and sound judgment in our daily lives. Bless the reader of these words with your presence today. Give clarity to confusion and Lord, help us all to identify the many traces of you throughout each day.

In your name, we pray….Amen.