Garden

Different From the World Can Be a Good Thing

/ Bill Jones / 10 Comments
Shrimp Plant

Shrimp Plant

Here’s a Shrimp Plant Sharon and I bought at a Flea Market a few years ago. I don’t know what the scientific name is, but the colors and curl do resemble a shrimp. Something different, at least around here.

And different can be a good thing, especially if it means different from the world around us. Caleb demonstrated that when he and Joshua were the only spies who came back from the Promised Land with faith that they could succeed because God was with them.

“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”  Numbers 14:24

God Blesses Us With Peppers… and So Much More

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Last Harvest of Peppers This Year

I had a pleasant surprise when I checked the peppers Saturday. There were a lot  more than I expected and all good size and weight.  There are a few small ones still on the plants but I’ll figure this as the last “big” harvest of the year.  More everyday blessings from God in the garden!

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of theLORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 28:2 KJV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3 KJV

Our Sins – Like Overgrown Zucchini?

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Overgrown Zucchini

Here’s what happens if you neglect checking on your zucchini for a few days.  The two largest ones had been “hiding” down deep in the plant so they were more neglected than the others. They’re not good for much except the compost pile at this point (which is where they went).

Their hiding and growing made me think of what happens with our sin. If we don’t see them, acknowledge them and confess them, they continue to grow and get out of hand. God’s Spirit and Word will help us avoid that.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them, there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:9-14 NKJV

By God’s Power, We Live

/ Bill Jones / 7 Comments

Hibiscus Plant

This Hibiscus plant is one of our favorites every year. It continues to put out blooms all summer long. During the winter it dies back to the ground and leaves a skeleton of dead branches. But, in early spring, the new shoots begin to show above the ground and by the end of spring it’s grown back to this size. Amazing how God brings life back to it!

It reminds me of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, as God gave us a picture of His power to give life to the dead – such as with us sinners who were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), but now live through Jesus’ sacrifice.

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones…he said to me, “son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD… So I prophesied as I was commanded…and the bones came together…and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them…and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army” Ezekiel 37:1-10 ESV

By the power of God, we live!