Seeing the garden through children's eyes

Potato creatures rescued from undergound huddle together to decide what to do next.

In September, I sent in a proposal for a children's book, so my focus is from the eyes of children.

Here are some images that I smile at. Hope you do as well.

Celebration

Nahant Massachusetts, 40 Steps

In High School I drew this picture with pastels because I loved going to this place and dove off the rocks into the Atlantic sea. Many years later my husband to be brought me to this very spot and proposed.

Hooked rug wedding present from husband's step grandmother.

We married December 18,1965

Eddie's Jewel the focal point of June.

Very often it takes 3 (the Trinity) to tackle us into submission. The problem here is not with the climbing rose, but us. The story of this rose brings to mind that when we are in the wrong place or doing the wrong thing, we will have difficulties and need to be pruned back into submission.

see scripture

Along the fence in front of the long border struts the focal point of the early June garden, an immense climbing rose.

Rosa Eddie's Jewel

We spent a day, three of us, three years ago trying to tackle it into submission*, cutting canes, untangling them and tying them into submission. We cut hose with rope through it, tied it to the fence. This last week two of us cut more canes that were blocking the pathway to the gate and tied back more canes by putting heavy rope through garden hose and tying the hose to the fence behind the rose.

Pruned and tied back, rose petals waiting for a wedding.

Here it is a few years ago in its glory, when we called it Paul's Scarlet by mistake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCFzN2y4-s 
* Very often it takes 3 (the Trinity) to tackle us into submission. The problem here is not with the climbing rose, but us. The story of this rose brings to mind that when we are in the wrong place or doing the wrong thing, we will have difficulties and need to be pruned back into submission.

Lock the Gates

Lock the Gates

Garden gate 

I have had a hard time writing anything lately, so a friend brought a writer friend Cyndy Crowner, a writer's coach,  to stay at our home for a few days in hopes of encouraging me and get me back on track. 

She made some suggestions such as:

• Just write anything to get you started. (I could hardly even do that!)
• Overcome obstacles by praying for safety and diligence.
•  Plan what is important and what is not.
• Have someone help with chores.
• Know that God is sovereign and that He allows all things for His purposes.
• Clear your desk so you can write without distractions.

As we walked out into the garden after breakfast, we heard the crashing and banging of a huge buck who must have found an open garden gate.  When he saw us, he charged full speed forward tearing a sized hole in the fence. It was disturbing.

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Antler sized hole in the fence where buck escaped 

After our guests left, I went up to my office to clear my desk of everything except my Bible, computer, lamp, jump drives. As I cleared the pile of long forgotten papers, this came to the surface: 

“Lock the gates so nothing will get in to distract from writing.”

Lord, I thank you for your sovereignty that visually keeps me on track.

Thank you all for praying.

The sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

Unfruitfulness exposed

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Mark 4:7 NIV

Thorns and thistles

 The thistle seed caught by the wind on our land has no problem finding a bare spot where it can sprout and bear fruit.  I watch the fluff that bears the seed winging its way in the wind over the meadow and am reminded of my so called "thistles" that land on my bare ground choking out what God is calling me to do me.

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:19 NKJV

Bare ground distractions when writing:

•  my anxieties about writing
•  the cares and concerns of the day.  
•  trips to the refrigerator looking for something to munch on.  
•  phone calls or knocks on the door.
•  my own mind caught up in unfocused thought.

           Solutions:

• Don't leave any bare ground. Have a place, time and purpose to write
• Someone else can help me remove the thistles. Ask people to hold me accountable.
• Pray for God's wisdom and direction to slow down obligations, set schedules, and pray for daily wisdom and stamina.
• Ask people to help pray for guidance, wisdom and protection to write the book. God help me  remove the "thistles" so there may be  fruit to this endeavor.

Where are the 'thistles' in your life and the bare ground where they take root?
What will you plant in that bare ground to keep the 'thistles' out?

Keep Pressing On

I stopped blogging, writing, and gave up hope of ever publishing a book that I thought God called me to write.  He had been encouraging me for over 40 years. Did He give up on me because of my disobedience?  So I asked Him if He was willing, would He help me again. The next week our Pastor encouraged us to follow up on what God has been saying to each of us, " Go the next step."

So the following weekend I learned of and attended the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal Conference in Bellevue Washington, at Westminster Chapel, a book proposal in hand to find some encouragement once again.

"We don't do devotionals," was the answer from major publishers.  It seemed that everywhere I went there was a block. My mind stopped working even though I was asking God for guidance. I drove home discouraged. What are you trying to show me Lord?

Sulking Tree Peony in the Rain the Day after I Returned

The next day, while walking in the garden, I thought I heard the LORD say to me:

• Look up at the clematis' glory instead of the wilted peony
• I encourage you to engage more with those around you.
• I, God, put people beside you so you can have My compassion not your agenda.
• I put the blocks there to steer you in a different direction. 

A day later, the Lord woke me up at 3:00 am and encouraged me to open the folder from the conference. and read again my notes from the main speaker was Bill Meyers : 

In dark moments of the soul, some get stuck on the wrong side of the cross where Jesus sees them powerful and He paid for it. Stop beating yourself for what Jesus paid for....Get over yourself!...God thinks as highly of failure as success. Keep abiding, and leaning into what He calls. ...Let God drive. You stay in the car!...Excuses are lies rapped in reason.  When God calls, always say 'Yes'... to believe and obey is our responsibility.

                       

           The next day of encouragement

Early that morning I went through the flyers from the conference packet and found a publishing company, Redemption Press, Athena Dean Holtz, publisher.  That same morning a friend who was praying for me called to see how the conference went. She then mentioned Athena on KCIS AM 630 Fridays 1 pm, and that I might contact her. I followed through and she said "send me your stuff".  It is amazing how you work Lord. I am preparing my proposal again to hopefully ship out tomorrow.

No matter what, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

When obstacles get in the way, press on, pray, open your eyes, reach out.
Tell me your obstacles so I can pray for you?

Preparing for the Storm

" 2 Chronicles 7:14   "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We seek God with all our heart and pray he calms the storms in our world and nation."

The forecast of severe storm warnings with 60-100 mph gusts, remnants of a typhoon off Japan, caused us to scurry and put away all that would be damaged from the wind.

Crab apple in the orchard

We picked a bushel to lighten branches and

make future crab apple jelly.

We moved the echeveria from the sundeck to the sun room,

 along with benches, chairs, pots and plants.

The sun porch before the storm

   More brought into the sun room

We prepared and prayed that the storm would be calmed.

There is a new and bigger storm brewing in this nation. Our country seems to forget we are one nation under God." Let us humble ourselves, confess our sins, pray, seek God's face.