The Lone Sunflower
Going a couple weeks with no post deserves a few to get going again. Things have been blooming wonderfully, so I’ll post a few “blooms and Scripture”.
A few days of Psalms 25 – one of my favorites!
“Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed , let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed : let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.” Pslams 25:1-3
Budding Pecan Tree – Sure Sign of Spring
Want a sure sign that Spring is here? Then, look for the budding pecan trees. They seem to be the last large trees around here (south Georgia) that bud out.
Want a sure sign of faith? Then look for the huge pecan trees and oak trees around the homesteads in the country. I don’t know how old this tree is, but it’s on the edge of our property and has obviously been there many years. And I do know that whoever planted it is not around to enjoy the fruits of their labor. But, they had the faith to plant it anyway.
That’s even more evident with slow growing live oaks. You can see one oak tree large enough to shade an entire house. Yet, the planters knew they wouldn’t be around when the tree reached that point. Again, they had the faith to plant it anyway – not necessarily for themselves but for generations to come.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is sometimes called the “faith” chapter because it speaks of the faith of a number of saints from Biblical times. Their acts exceeded the simple planting of a tree, but the concepts can be compared. Much of what we do, in faith today, will not have an effect until sometime in the future – whether it be tomorrow, next week, next year – or in a lifetime following ours. Chapter 12 refers to these witnesses (showing faith) and gives us instructions on how to join them as witnesses for the future generations.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Flower Bed Before Mulch
The flower beds were a mess. Some still are since it’s a work in progress. I didn’t add any mulch in the fall, so the weeds were free to multiply and the warm winter helped them along.
But, thankfully, I’ve had some time and been able to work on the beds. Here’s what they’re starting to look like.
Flower Bed with Pine Straw Mulch
My favorite mulch (and the favorite of many folks around here in south Georgia) is pine straw. It’s abundant and relatively inexpensive. I like the way it looks, too – makes things nice and neat.
But, although it does look good, the main purposes of the mulch aren’t aesthetic. Mulch is used to stop the weeds from growing – hopefully to keep the ground dark enough that the weed seeds don’t even sprout. And, it’s used to retain the moisture when the summer gets hot and dry.
In my pondering as I put out the pine straw, I wondered if there was such a thing as spiritual mulch. We certainly need something to keep the spiritual weeds from growing – those thoughts or actions that begin siphoning off our nourishment that God provides. Those things that begin to shade our heart and mind from God’s presence.
We also need ways to keep the living water around us during times of spiritual drought.
I decided that prayer and Bible study are two necessary components of spiritual mulch. Consistent prayer (with the right attitude) keeps us close to God. Bible study continually reminds us who God is, who we are in relation to Him, and what He has done for us.
Those ingredients will keep the spiritual weeds from growing (and having worked hard at getting rid of weeds in the flower bed, I can say it’s much easier to keep them from growing than to remove them later) and they will keep the living water flowing from Jesus.
“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37 ESV
Dogwood, Cardinal and Springtime
Some of our Winter days were more like Spring than the days since Spring began last week – it’s been wet and a bit cool (though,nowhere near as cold as some of you were). But, there are definitely signs of the change in seasons – with trees and azaleas blooming everywhere. God’s faithfulness continues (Great is Thy Faithfulness!).
Sharon pointed this shot out to me – the dogwood blooms, bird feeder, fence and pump house. “And wouldn’t it be great to get a cardinal in it!”. So, when I went outside to take the shot, the cardinal and the Lord blessed it.
It made me think of how the Lord blesses us even when we’re not expecting it. All the little (and big) surprises He gives us if we just pay attention. What a wonderful God we have!
“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 117 KJV
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 