gardening

I’m Tired, but God is Still Here

/ Bill Jones / 10 Comments

Oak with Sunflowers

It’s been a busy few weeks here and I’m tired. But, thankfully, I finished one of the major projects I was working on and hope to get a little breathing room (But not too much – if you’re a contractor these days, you don’t hope for much breathing room.)

As always, the Lord has been there during the busy time. He gave me the work to do, the strength to work, safety in travels, and especially gave me Sharon to encourage me along. And, as you see in the photos, he gave me a neighbor down the road that planted a patch of sunflowers. I get to say “Wow, that’s beautiful” each time I pass by.

Sunflower Patch

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

Revive us again, Oh Lord.

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

God’s Blessings, and Continuous Thanks

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Angel Trumpet Plant

As with much in life, God has blessed this blog more than I expected. “I Was Thinking the Other Day About…” reached a couple of milestones over the weekend. It passed 50 followers (now at 53 – the number given in the right top of this screen includes Twitter and Facebook, not just specific blog followers) and has had over 3,000 views (3,039 so far). (Views don’t necessarily mean someone read something, but it does mean they were at least here).

I want to send a special thanks to all of you who follow the blog. It is humbling to think you went out of your way to sign up, and I greatly appreciate your continued support. I thank you all for your comments and input. They’ve helped me learn and think of different things, and from my standpoint I can say I’ve made some good friends. Hope you have too. I hope especially that you have had a few good thoughts about God from the reading.

And I send out those same thanks to all who visit but haven’t followed the blog. The blessings of you being here are true to me, and I hope you are blessed at times in stopping by.

Our God is truly an awesome God. He blesses us in so many ways to learn and grow in Christ. I thank you all for allowing me to be a small part in your life – and I thank our God for the wonderful opportunities.

Thanks and God Bless, Bill

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!