My day began a little worn feeling. I had a question or two for the Master Gardener. As we worked the water from a pond in the Center of my garden caught my eye. A glint of light danced in one corner. The Master Gardener told me I could go take a look, so I set down my tools and went to the edge. He stirred the water and let me see, if I dared, my own reflection. I began to look and then see. He told me I would need to face what I saw there, if I really want to be free. For you see footholds remained in me, that had to be shunned and turned from. Things in me had to be faced in order to be free. So I looked, I faced myself, then Him- The Truth. I let go, I repented. Things in me were wrong. Not just things done to me. He helped me forgive myself and others and now I must go for He is beckoning me into the water to baptize me a fresh in his love and I must go!
Tag: faithfulness
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The Applecart Overturned!
A storm blew through my (our) lives, and toppled everything remaining. Is that a bad thing? No. Has there been loss and great pain? Yes. However, on this Monday I am here to say that it has been worth the cost! You see, there were important places in my (our) lives that were not in their (there) proper places. Yet seeing them fully and then knowing what to do, had not been clear. Now that the applecart has been overturned, visibility and clarity are here. Today, by faith, I walked out of the stronghold and fully into my garden with the King. Yes, this is how it should have been from the beginning, but He restores so beautifully! I am sure there are surprises ahead, finally I am free!
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Pausing
I have headed into the Center place of my garden today, to just sit and be with the Lord, the Master Gardener. The weather has grown hotter and today is a cooler day. It is a perfect time to remember what this garden is all about and get back to the core. It is Him and me and two hearts entwined. The outer parts of the garden can have some attention, but today, I remember to come here daily and just be. For I have nothing apart from this love Jesus gives and His life. The heat has caused the blossoms to be beautifully full and fragrant! I think I will ask Him to help build me a canopy for refuge to shelter me from the heat this summer will bring. I have been dealing with the heat and those trying to get into the inner part of my garden, but the Master gardener knows how to teach me to catch the little foxes and so I shall!
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For Purpose!
There is a lot to do in my garden this week. I want to sit and enjoy, but first the work must begin. Sowing seeds for a fall harvest today, this means i need to work the ground and ready my soil and I am seeking the help of the Master gardener to help me in this stage. I sometimes mistake weeds for plants and plants for weeds. There may be a few plants to keep and place in another part of the garden. I also have a lot of learning to do today. It is wonderful to be alive and to begin to be more intentional in my garden. Even the pain takes on new meaning and at the end of even today, I will be able to sit and reflect and enjoy some of the fruits of my labour! I am not labouring alone, I found this doesn’t work, Jesus is hear guiding and providing for me. I am in a season where maybe one or two others step into this garden, but I have areas now only for me and Him. It is becoming a larger part of my garden too, but I see now that this is by design and not to punish me or others, it is for purpose! I pray you ask and yield to the guiding and help of Jesus in your own life! He loves you and so do I!!!
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Stand Your Ground
I came into the garden early this morning. As I set out to accomplish my tasks and enjoy the day I was met with the usual challenges. The usual challenges were not ready for me! I however, saw them and carried on. I stood through each uncomfortable moment and they passed. As they passed the reality that I am no longer the same hit, and it is sweet. I overcame and I am still standing! A quiet day of reflecting and a new me! God is good, the sun is sweet and Life is good!!!
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Hard graft and Bitterness
Hard graft and bitterness is how my day began in this garden. There was some sweetness added in as the day progressed and then pow, more bitterness. And then I found that it was about me. It was about me growing stronger in my boundaries. It was about me facing the truth, maybe another is to blame, but it isn’t about them. I must not hold to any people pleasing ways and must grow. I have tolerated too much for too long and taught the improper treatment of myself, but I did the best to rise above out of narcissistic abuse and my own codependency. I found it was about me, and not another. So I am growing and I yield to God’s working these out of my life. Standing looking at this garden at the end of the day, the work is worth it and I chose the work, the surprises, the pain, and the beauty!
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Improvise!
There was a task in my garden that I was working on today. I ran into problems with my equipment. No matter what I did, the fix did not come. I did not feel at peace with just hanging up the hat today either, so I rested and prayed. In the end I had to improvise to accomplish the task. Rest, guidance, perseverance and one step forward in faith, this worked for me today. In the garden of your life, I pray you find the insight you need to walk into all that God has for you! Happy Gardening friend!!
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More Surprises!
I have been planting seeds the last couple of days, in the spot that had been neglected and in another’s garden. I am very happy that I have gotten to this stage. There was a bit of an interruption, and it was rough. I found after clearing the land and getting the boundaries reestablished that one of the main corner trees had to come down. Oh my, at any other time I think the removal of this tree could have broke me, but it happened so suddenly and when the rot was exposed I realized I had prepared for this removal, eventually. With not much thought we pulled that tree out, and then the next day my emotions had to catch up. I almost regretted it, but I gave a few more minutes to the distress and loss and quickly moved past into the new. Now this tree was a part of the boundary and a staple, but to my surprise I found the head gardener had been working on the boundary behind the scenes to help me. Jesus is so good. Everything is ok and another new stage of life and this garden have begun and I am back to planting! So many twists and turns, and it is all progress!
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Healing My Garden
Yesterday, I reestablished the fence and borders in a neglected part of my garden. Now it is time to till the soil of that cleared ground. Today I am focused on removing the stones and leveling the ground. The gentle rain that fell through the night has revealed the uneven places and bitter places (stones). These both are a natural part of the process, but not to be the final outcome in my garden. Every step in order and at the proper time. And who knows, maybe tomorrow it will be time to sow! Lord help me on this step and the next too!!
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Resistance Training
Resistance training greatly increased today! In it I saw the work God has done in me and my family. I am in awe of the strength, perseverance, and more that showed today in our lives. It wasn’t easy! It wasn’t all fun, but we are smiling and laughing now. We overcame and faced the circumstances around and in us. To God be the Glory for the things he has done!!! Today is evidence of sonship and the goodness of God. Friend, as you face challenges I want to encourage you to be still from time to time, your eyes will be opened to so much right around you that busyness seems to blind us to, and continue on, (don’t give up)! Turn to God often during the day and night, you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. He is faithful!
Butterfly Vuela 