Metaphor in Winter Snow

Rose after snow storm still blooming

Palm fared well

Bird bath frozen for now

Bench in front of the cottage temorarily unuseful

Porch where we sit in summer now with drifting snow

Potager in winter wait

A year and a half fighting cancer with chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy and radiation, our daughter-in-law was pronounced cancer free according to the CAT scan taken this month.. All who have been praying and even those who haven't are praising God!

About halfway into her treatment, seeing her suffer and our son and grandson's concern, I asked Jesus, "What would it take for Tomoko to be healed?' It was like He said, "How much are you willing to do on your part?" I said, "Whatever it takes, I am willing, Lord."
I only remembered this after I was diagnosed with breast cancer maybe 9 months after that. The diagnosis based on the biopsy and mammogram showed it to be similar to what our daughter-in-law was initially diagnosed with. Trusting God's sovereignty,I had peace. Nothing happens without His knowledge. Are we willing to be with the suffering, take on suffering, take up the burden for others, to walk with them in the valleys? Are we willing to become like those we pray for? If this is the only way and God calls us why not?

Jesus became human to dwell among us, suffering all things in our behalf so that we, tainted as we are, might be set free and finally be able to connect to a Holy God. Might He call us to do the same, dwell and suffer with others, wait in the winter wait in love, so they might be set free?

It may seem like a huge winter storm in your life where everything is put on hold for a while, but hope comes in the morning and we look at life in a new way.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." I Peter 3:15

Triumph over struggles

January ornamental pear branch triumph after November leader limb loss

 

This week with “el Niño” temperatures rising into the 60’s, I decided to get outside to push the plants’ and my own boundaries, inspired also by a short 20 minute movie sent via RSS from Michael Hyatt, “The Butterfly Circus.”

1.Cleaning up garden: The sunny, spring-like day shows off a host of problems: windows streaked and dirty, twigs and branches scattered on ground from storms, plastic parts and garbage spewed around from workers. I cleaned up the former and cut dead plants to the ground, placing plant debris in a compost bin, hired some window washers.

Clean me: Jesus, show me my blind spots that only your light can make visible. By your grace let me see those around me that need your words of truth and hope spoken to them.

”Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:15-16

2.Pruning: I usually leave spent flowers with seeds on the plants through the winter for the birds, but since I am feeding them more regularly this winter, I tidied up the garden, pruning plants that the frost killed.
Prune me: I ask you Lord to take from me anything that is dead wood, spent blossoms, unproductive time-taking activities so I may be of use to you. So instead of social media we did the real social and invited influential people who have never been to our home before (another reason to clean up the garden)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2

3.Moving out of the box: We moved a windmill palm from the walkway to the hot border to fill in for the cut back melianthus major.

 Move me: I pray that the Lord might take me out of the box, my safe place. No matter how stuck I feel, God has a different plan.

 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God…” Ephesians 6:12-13a

 One line in the movie stands out, “The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.” I hope you take the time to view it, bookmark it, or download to watch it later.

 

 Are you willing to go to the places where God seems missing and to see with His eyes those without hope and speak His truth?

 

Can you trust God’s plan for you is closer than ever in the struggles?

What is the next step to where God wants you? I will pray for you.