Encouraging Deep Roots

I love being outdoors because all around my yard is a fragrant scent of growing things.   The morning is especially nice because everything is fresh and clean.     My garden looks good, except for my tomato plants which all have blight.  An older gentleman in our church who has farmed for years suggested taking off all the infected leaves and spraying them with a solution of milk, so I am trying that.  Hopefully, I can salvage some.  They are looking pitiful. It's been so rainy and cool that the things that are doing the best are all the cold weather plants.  So far the pumpkin and squash and peppers are doing well.  The cucumbers are not so great.  If I continue to garden next year and at this point I have my doubts, I really am going to have to do something to enrich the soil.  As it is, I'm not going to be able to grow tomatoes for a while.  Blight has been a problem here for a while ...

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (MSG) ~ Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.   Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing.   Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered,...

Psalm 37:25-26 (HCSB) ~ I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread. He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing. Matthew 6:25-34 (HCSB) ~ “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?    Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?     Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?   And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread.   Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!   If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorr...

This week's Multitude Monday is short, sweet and to the point!   Deuteronomy 10:21 (HCSB) ~ He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome works your eyes have seen. This week I'm thankful for blessings #2511 - 2520. 2511.  Preparing meals for my family. 2512.  Praying with a friend who was going through a hard time. 2513.  Picking my battles with my children and realizing that it's okay.  2514.  Listening to an acquaintance share her frustration and being able to offer advice and encouragement that helped. 2515.  Using my talents and gifts for the Lord. 2516.  A relaxing and fun afternoon with two friends from church yesterday. 2517.  Hearing from the Lord and stepping out in obedience even when it's hard and I don't want to! lol 2518.  Words of encouragement and challenge from our denomination's district superintendent last night. 2519.  The ...

Exactly a half a year has passed since I wrote my yearly goals and I decided I better revisit them before I lose all track of time.  My goal this year was to live intentionally and so to that end, I want to make sure I'm doing what I said! I'll list the goals and then underneath write an update in blue. Spiritual * Consistent quiet times with the Lord each week. * Go on a retreat this year to write, meditate and connect with the Lord. I've done fairly well with being consistent. If I keep my phone and computer off, it's even better!  Those two things are the biggest distractors for me.  I actually am going to our denomination's family camp next week, as well as spending two days at a retreat center my sister and her husband runs the following week.  Dan will be joining me mid-week, but I'd love to get some writing done before he gets there.  Emily is coming with me but I know she is going to be busy with her cousin. Marriage * Build up my...

God takes the things that happen to us in our lives and if we allow Him to do so, can shape them into something beautiful that we can share with others.  When we share the story of our lives and what God has done, many will see how He works and can use their own struggles. My story is fairly simple.  God took a young girl from a broken family and called her into full time ministry.  I've had struggles, heartache and pain along the way.  Things were pretty bumpy my entire life and yet, God has used that pain and heartache and I'm able to help others who are going through similar things. And that makes it all worthwhile.  My story will not be the same as yours.  Each of us has our own unique circumstances that the Lord can use for His purpose.  We have a women's study in our church that meets once a month and it is part of our larger denomination's group.  The theme this year was "Tell Your Story."  We had our last meeting for the s...

Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV) ~ But I trust in your unfailing love;      my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord ’s praise,      for he has been good to me. God is good to me!  All the time.  And for that I am so very happy.  I'm learning to recognize this even when I'm going through a difficult time because even in the difficulties, I have lessons to learn.  They are not easy but I know that ultimately it is for my benefit. So today I want to sing His praises! This week I'm thankful for blessings #2501 - 2510. 2501.  A friend who loves us enough to help Dan & I work through some rough emotions from a past church experience that holds us back at times. 2502.  Fresh fruit.   2503.  Emily is officially a junior in high school!   2504.  My bee swarm is gone, taken away by a local bee keeper. 2505.  A steaming cup of coffee and time in God...