Garden Lessons: Control

There are many things our garden has taught us this year.  From the early days of trying to start the plants to the times of putting them out to the small harvest gleaned, we've gained knowledge.  However, the one thing that stands out to me right now about our garden is control.

My awesome husband put a sprinkler system in so that the garden would always have water.  That has worked really well.  It "rains" on our garden every other day for about 30 minutes early in the morning.  Has that helped our plants produce?  Do we have an overflowing abundant crop of tomatoes?  Are the squash coming out our ears?  Are we leaving corn on everyone's porch?  Are we selling our peppers to the local restaurants?  I don't think so.

Our part of the country is gripped in a massive heat wave.  It is oppressive.  The temperatures are in excess of 100 degrees early in the day and continue that way through the night.  It is tiresome.  The grass is dry and crispy so that our dog can hardly walk on it.  It is severe.  We eagerly look to the skies for some indication that there might be some rain.  It is relentless.  It hurts us.  It hurts our garden.

So, even with the sprinkler system running regularly, the garden shows the stress of being in the drought and heat.  Grasshoppers have decimated the corn.  Squash bugs are on everything.  Potato bugs are on the eggplant.  There aren't any bugs on the hot pepper plants, nor are there many peppers.  Honeybees are rare visitors to our garden.

Ultimately, it has shown me that even when I think I can control things, I cannot.  I still HAVE to rely on God for the increase.  I can do my part to till the earth (prepare my heart), to plant the seed (read His Word), to water the plants (read His Word and pray), and to care for the plants (watch my tongue, etc) but the increase comes from Him.  I can be doing everything right but still not have a good harvest.

(Father God, I thank you for the harvest that has come.  It is an abundant bounty from you but may seem small in the eyes of the world.  Lord, it is more than we had and that makes it abundant.  I pray for relief from this gripping heat.  Thank you.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Encouraging Words: Joyful

Let's use an encouraging word today.  Share it with someone you love, with a co-worker, with a friend, with a clerk at the store, or with a complete stranger anywhere.

Joyful - expressing or feeling intense happiness or pleasure.

Try these also... glad, happy, thrilled, joyous, lighthearted, buoyant, effervescent, expansive, pleasured, ecstatic, sparkling, bubbling

Encouraging Words

I've decided I want to have more encouraging words in my vocabulary.  I know there are a bunch already there but I may have forgotten one or two along the way of living.  So, for Saturday entries in my blog, I'm going to have "Encouraging Words."

I found these words on a set of scrapbooking cards by Autumn Leaves.  There is an encouraging word for each letter of the alphabet.  The only problem is that I couldn't find the ones for A-I.  I've only got the ones for J-Z.  :(

But that's okay, I have another list that I can use to cover those letters. :)  The definitions come from my Webster's Quick Reference Dictionary Notebook.

(Father God, thank you for the encouraging words that you provide in scripture.  I pray that you will use these words to bless others.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Gravel Road, Paved Road

My husband and I live in the city.  It's not a huge city and it's close to the country but it is still "in town."  We have a small garden spot about 12 miles from our house because our lot is too small to have a garden on it.  In order to get to the garden, we travel on paved roads and gravel roads.

Several days ago as we were happily traveling along, the gravel road shook us.  Now, our little Ford Escape has been a tremendous blessing and we appreciate the job that it does for us.  As we traveled down the gravel road, our Escape groaned and worked and squeaked and rattled and labored.  The noise filled our ears like the roar of much rushing water.  We gritted our teeth and finally reached our destination.

We quickly checked the squash plants for bugs.  Ugh.  We harvested a few tomatoes.  We observed the jalapeno peppers developing.  We lamented the lack of blooms on our okra.  We were surprised by the sunflower that had blossomed.  We dusted the corn in an effort to cut down on worms and fertilized everything for the first time this season.  We labored.  No, it was not intensive labor but we worked.  Then, it was time to head back home.

We gritted our teeth as the Escape groaned, worked, squeaked, rattled and labored back down the gravel road.  Again, the noise filled our ears nearly drowning out everything else.  Then one final section of rough gravel and we were on the pavement.  And the silence was deafening.  No more groaning, no more squeaking, no more rattle, there was just the quiet hum of the tires.

As we traveled I reflected on it all.  When our lives are on a gravel, bumpy, washed-out path, do we squeak and rattle and groan to God?  Then, when our lives are on the smooth path, are we silent?  Sadly, I could only answer the questions with, "Yes."  When trials and tests come our way, we spend many hours in prayer telling God what we want and asking Him to fix everything.  But when things are going the way we want, we don't take the time to talk with Him at all.

(Father God, please forgive me when I forget that you are the provider of the smooth path.  Help me to remember you in the good times and to thank you for them during them.  In the name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.)

Bumpy Monday - Speeding Along (04/07/08)

During this weekend's travels I found myself speeding along the highway. I was convicted. Wow, it seems like such a small thing just a couple of miles over the speed limit - 67 in a 65. Yet, God used that to speak to me. It is rebellion. Rebellion against the governing laws. If I'm comfortable speeding along in defiance of the country's laws, am I also willing to continue on sinning in defiance of God's laws? Am I speeding along in my little sin ignoring God's call to obedience and repentance? That sin could be a continual lie, not providing all my tithe, gossip, undermining the authority of the scripture, drinking alcohol, cursing, or any number of things just barely over the speed limit. I slowed down those two miles per hour and set my cruise control. Now, I'm seeking to slow down the sneaky sin and let God be my cruise control. I love the way God shares with us when we are open to hear His voice.

(Lord God, I pray that you will reveal the speeding sin in my life. Help me to turn to You for my cruise control. I thank you for being the govenor that keeps me from running away crazily. In Jesus name, Amen.)

Life Writing: Dodge Polara

I have a few assorted early childhood “pictures” in my mind.  Some are of Head Start.  One is having the cots ready for our naps and another is riding in the 1972 Dodge Polara with Mom driving and going down the really big dip in the road.  The time I busted out my top four front teeth while climbing in the dirty clothes pile really was A or T's fault.  One of them left the number five washtub in the mound of clothes Mom was getting ready to take to the laundry mat.  When I started up the pile and pushed down on one side of the tub, the other side came up and busted me right in the chops.  Two of my teeth were already loose but two weren’t quite ready to come out.  They did anyway.  Yeah, that's a pretty "picture".

Ninth grade, T and I both attended the new Broken Bow High School.  T is in the first class to graduate from the new building.  I am in the first class to complete all four high school years in it.  This was the year that I read the “Count of Monte Cristo”.  I have never forgotten that story. (Shiver)

Along somewhere around this time, Dad began building a house primarily by himself.  It is a beautiful log home with 3 bedrooms and an outhouse.  It has no electricity, is heated by wood, and the remaining utilities are run off gas.  At 16 years old I thought this was horrible.  We were moving back to a time in the "old" days.  After we moved in, I became an expert at running over to Grandma's house each morning to take a shower and get ready for school.  At least she had indoor plumbing and a place for me to use my hair dryer.  Those are critical things to a teenager in the '80's.  It took a long time but I finally realized that it was an incredible thing my parents did.  They sacrificed so that they could have their own home and land.  

During tenth grade, we moved to the boonies.  Yes, the real boonies.  It’s just a mile past the end of the earth which is conveniently located in McCurtain County.  I got my driver’s license, barely, that year and started driving to school each day.  Yup, I was driving the same 1972 Dodge Polara that Mom used to take me to Head Start way back when.  I took Drivers Ed and Drafting this year.  Mr. Rick Banta was our drafting teacher.  His wife had been my third grade teacher.  Ah, the joy of small towns.

Mercy, Mercy

Reading:  Psalm 136

"... For His mercy endures forever."

Every single verse in Psalm 136 ends with the same phrase.  I wonder if some One is trying to tell us some thing.  How incredible and awesome to know that God's mercy goes on eternally.  It has, does, and will last.  Mercy is a defining trait of the one true God.  It is mercy that doesn't fail, doesn't change, doesn't sway.  Constant, enduring mercy comes from God alone.

Our mercy may depend upon the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  For instance, on a good day we may extend mercy quickly and completely to a child that offends us.  But, tomorrow when we have a headache we offer only a limited version of mercy to the bleep-bleep that can't drive properly.

What is mercy?  The number one definition carries the meaning of compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender or adversary.  Synonyms include forgiveness, indulgence, leniency, tenderness, among others.  I've heard it said that mercy is not getting the punishment or consequences we deserve when we break the law or err in conduct.  Oh, wow!  I am so thankful and appreciate when some one shows mercy to me.  Have I shown mercy today?

(Father God, Thank you for the great mercy you show me hour by hour.  Please help me to show mercy to others.  Help me to show true mercy and not a watered-down version which causes me to hold the error over another.  Help me to forgive insults or offenses and give mercy freely.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)