GARDENING

It is my favorite time of the year--and I am back out in my yard.  The first thing which has to be done is clean out all of the beds and pull all of the weeds before planting spring/summer annuals.  I have been as high the the highest step of the ladder trimming limbs and as low as on my hands and knees pulling out those hated weeds.  If I planted all the new annuals without pulling the weeds and preparing the beds, I would end up with weeds choking out the desired annuals in a very short time. Weeds can be very deceptive since they often have blooms--but they always end up ugly.   It is a day to day struggle keeping those weeds at bay allowing the beauty of the flowers to crown  a well groomed garden.

My next door neighbor has a lush and thick crop of bamboo in her backyard.  I don't know if you realize---you do NOT want bamboo in your yard.  The bamboo will send out runners under the fence and send a shoot up in my beds.  It takes constant vigilance and a love of spraying round up to keep the dreaded bamboo from getting a start in my yard.  Bamboo is extremely invasive and will take over the entire yard in one season if you are not careful.

I have a high fence at the back of my lot which hides the alley running behind the houses on this block.  After finishing my walk recently, I happened to look down the alley and discovered a tall covering of weeds.  It is time to get the mower and weed eater and attack the jungle--before it also encroaches upon my yard.

Long hours of tending my yard will all prove for naught, if I do not keep the weeds under control.  They must be pulled up by the roots, sprayed with weed killer, or cut back into submission or the beautiful garden and lawn will begin to look like a cluttered-unkept-unloved jungle-devoid of the beautiful flowers and filled with the thick mesh of unwanted weeds.

Our hearts are the gardens of our souls.  They also require careful tending and weeding out of the junk so that the beautiful can thrive.  If we allow the shoots of sin to begin to invade our garden, in no time it will be a mesh of the ugliness of sin allowed to grow wild.  There is no more important garden and the Master Gardener stands ready to remove the weeds of sin and restore the beauty of the bloom.  We only have to allow Him entry---into our Secret Garden of our hearts

."And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. - 

Isaiah 58:11

LESSONS FROM THE LITTLE MAN

The sweet look of innocence we all have while sleeping-

Have I ever mentioned The Little Man is two---YES--TWO---I know it all--have discovered a mind of my own---want to try it all--do not understand the word, "NO!"--been here a full two years independent man-child.

His very favorite word these days-----WHIIIIEEE???? (Why for those who do not speak two year old).  Do not run out into that road-----WHIIEE?  Do not throw hard things in the house----WHIIEE?  Do not climb on the top of those shelves----WHIIEE?  Put that entire bag of chocolate kisses back into the cabinet-----WHIIEE?  Do not knock the other children on the playground down---WHIIEE?  Do not pick up that live snake--WHIIEE? Don't grab that bumblebee---WHIIEE?  The day is filled with a long list of instructions--which is always followed by his question---WHIIEE?

I must admit I have to bite the end of my tongue to not say, "Because I said so."  After all that was the reply I raised my children on--perhaps better than the fear  to ever question my parents.  The explanation if I had questioned their directives would have been  more physical than verbal.  So perhaps with generations we are improving our parenting, we can only hope.  When he questions, WHIIEE--I explain why---the danger of the traffic, the harm caused by hard objects hurled at great speeds, the danger of the shelves turning over on you, the sick stomach an entire bag of chocolate will create, how we would hurt someone if we knocked them down, how the snake might bite, and the bumblebee might sting.  A lesson in cause and effect which hopefully is sinking into the stubborn two year old brain.  

Sadly I find my mature brain also asking the question---WHY?  When I look around me and see the suffering and pain so many are enduring; when I see the homeless--poor--destitute standing with empty stomachs;, when mothers loose children; when children loose mothers;, when entire families-towns-counties are destroyed in fire or storm; when nations rage against nation; when citizen attacks citizen; when there seems no end to the suffering---WHY?  

I have no answer to my "Why?".  I do have God---and know who God is--know His character--and that He loves us individually--limitlessly--eternally.  Obedience to His directives by doing my part--whether in service or prayer and most important trusting---having faith--believing it is not without cause and He has a good purpose.  I must learn to obey and trust and turn my whys into "Thy Will"--not mine.  

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

THE SAME GOD

The Same God

Who created this vast universe we live within

Who created the sun to light the skies

And the moon and stars in the vastness of space

Who threw the planets into their orbits

Marked by precision and predictability

Never lost over the ages

The Same God

Who created the earth and the water

The vast oceans in between

Who made the highest mountain and

The deep unexplored recesses of the deepest ocean

Who created every climate and environment

And all the uncountable intricacies of life within each one

The Same God

Who created all life in all forms

From the smartest and strongest to the tiny one cell

Who knew the hierarchy of species

And the dependence of one upon another

Who understood the need for a food chain

Before the first pang of hunger began

The Same God

Who created life in a such a manner

To allow for the continuation of life through pro-creation

Who knew the need for male and female

And the miracle of the two being joined

Who witnessed the first birth

And every one since and knew it was good

The Same God

Who created man and woman

And the intricate body systems within

Who knew the interaction required to sustain life

And what it would take to make it all work

Who knit us together in His own image

And for His good pleasure

The Same God

Who watches over a world filled with souls

And yet still knows our every thought

Who counts our tears and holds them in his hand

And desires our laughter and joy as we delight in Him

Who protects us with angels and sends us saints

And desires to fill the God sized holes in our souls

The Same God

Who watches over this vast universe second by second

And knows long before it happens all that will occur

Who created us for His own good purpose

And will take what man intends for evil and turn it to right

Who is all powerful, all mighty, all knowing

And beyond our mind's ability to comprehend

The Same God

Has a perfect plan for each and every soul

Who are called according to His purpose

He is the fountain of life eternal and

The living water for today

He has us in the palm of his hand

And He is our hope for tomorrow

The Same God

Loves us beyond our mind's comprehension

Provides a way to live with Him eternally

Bears our sorrow and our pain

Watches over us every moment

May the will of This Same God

Be done in all those who call Him by name.

SILENCE

Might I dare to assume, I am not the only one who experiences the "Silence of God"?  When I am met with days when questions hurled toward the heavens fly back into my own face with no answers?  When attempts at prayer seem endless exercises in the futility of no connection in my Wi-Fi system?

Adding to this frustration are the legions of those on the WWW who seem to have a hot line direct to The Throne.  Woman and men, who exude confidence as they communicate via the WWW and any other form of mass communication all the wisdom and answers God has showered upon them.  Those icons of the faith who are so well grounded and so close to the hand of God that they never seem to cry out in anguish and question.  As I read the poetic words of truth and encouragement gushing from their pens, I am left with the reminder of how far away I have strayed from the holy presence I so desperately need.

During these times of no "Feeling" of God's presence, I return to the vital "Head Knowledge" of who He is.  My heart may question, but my head knows the truth.  I do not have to "Feel It' for it to be so.  I am returning to the basics--to the lessons in The Book--to the promises--He gave us.  God is no liar---it is His character to only tell the truth.  So--I am holding on to the truth--remembering examples of even great men and women of the Book crying out in question--and knowing He IS a loving God---who is teaching me--because He loves me.

And when I cannot utter a prayer beyond, "Oh, God," I resort back to the prayer He taught us and utter those ancient words to Bless and Honor Him who is worthy of all praise.  Even in these moments of His silence--He is speaking loud and clear for all who have ears to hear.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 

2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Psalms 130 1-2

STUCK IN THE DARK AGES

In a world that has managed to take samples of the planet Mars which is a mere 140,000,000 miles from your back door and not only find but recover relics from the Titanic buried two and one third miles below the surface of the ocean, we still have not found a cure or even an effective temporary remedy for the common cold.  In this day and time of instantaneous messaging to thousands if not millions across the WWW, we are unable to come up with an immunization to prevent the misery of 10 days of rhino virus symptoms.  OH I KNOW--there are many types and mutations of the rhino virus, etc etc--but I would seriously be content with the mere relief from the symptoms. 

Banned from the pharmacy after found walking up and down the cold relief aisle muttering to myself while reading the labels of countless remedies, I resorted to hiding in the over the counter aisles in my local grocery.  When those passing by began to avoid coming down the aisle where I glared with impatience at all the pharmaceutical promises, I crawled home in defeat.  The only thing worse than this cold would be being locked in a padded cell with no kleenex in sight.

The worst hours are those middle of the night hours--when the tissue inside and outside my nose are so swollen and irritated from hour upon hour of blowing, I am gasping for air.  Discomfort is a mild explanation of what I am feeling and becoming more down heartened by the moment over.  SURELY there is relief somewhere???

While once again foraging the available drugs, I find something which seems to promise relief.  Containing the drug phenyleohrine HCI-which if you google is a decongestant, I found this promising remedy in my own cabinet.  Why it promised relief of external and internal discomfort and protection of irritated tissue--all of which I was suffering from--so WHY NOT try this one more remedy?  What could I possibly have to loose?

Rubbing this cream on and in my nose did not work quite the way I had planned.  I have heard of beauty queens using this trick to get the swelling down under their eyes, but perhaps the application of Preparation H on the nose is not well advised.  OH--the swollen tissue immediately had some relief and then promptly closed in a tight death grip allowing no more drainage.  So now I still have my body in mucus producing overdrive--but the outlet is now effectively dammed with the shrinking of the swollen tissue.  WHAT WAS I THINKING????  Well in my defense, I am desperate for relief, it was the middle of the night, it DID SAY it contained a decongestant!  I suppose my next question is why does a cream to relieve hemorrhoid tissue have a decongestant as its active ingredient????

DISCLAIMER--NO I DID NOT---A MOMENT OF LEVITY IN THE MIDST OF MISERY!

LESSONS FROM THE LITTLE MAN

All of the little grands LOVE to play Hide & Seek.   I enjoy being the seeker--all you need do is make noises as if you are seeking while pretty much whistling "Dixie".  SHAME ON ME!  In my defense, I learned that trick from their mother!  It is a win-win,  they think they have hidden so well I cannot find them and I have a couple of moments of breathing time.

Recently the Little Man came for a stay and I missed him--in my tiny house--how could that happen?  Having given him a flashlight, he had crawled into the hamper and was hiding.  He loved thinking he had pulled the wool over Lulu's eyes.  

His hiding can be as innocent as putting his chubby little hands over his eyes.  He thinks if I can't see you--then you must now see me.  He delights in pulling those hands away and crying, "BOO!"  As any good grandmother, I always squeal in surprise.

We adults are good game players as well.  Somehow we get the mistaken notion we are hiding and not seen when the only one we are fooling is yourself.  If no one sees us, then did we sin?  It is the old tree falling in the forest riddle.  Was there a noise if no one was there to hear it.  CERTAINLY there was a noise--and yes all the trees in the path of the fall as well as the underbrush in the fall zone were impacted with the fall.  The path of destruction is wide and far reaching and the absence of a pair of eyes to see or a set of ears to hear does not lessen that destruction.  We cannot hide from the consequences of our hidden sin.

There are NO secrets from God--only from man.  We cannot think a hidden sin has no consequences.  There are always consequences--some current earthly consequences and always eternal consequences.  The practice of confession by the Catholics is a good thing--NAME IT AND CLAIM IT!  You must verbally put a name to your sin and then ask for forgiveness.  No broad strokes of "all my sins"---state exactly what it is, make it right with those who have suffered, and then ask forgiveness.  The one, two, three of being forgiven and unless I forget--GO AND SIN NO MORE--turn from your sin.

God does not play games--He is a righteous judge.  There is no hiding from Him and He is always seeking to draw us nearer.  God desires a closer relationship with us and that means--NO GAMES---only truth.

“Can a man hide himself in hiding places

So I do not see him?” declares the Lord.

“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord. 

Jeremiah 23:24

CONNECTIONS

NO-I did not fall off the face of the earth.  YES--I have been sick--for over a week now.  I keep thinking I have turned the corner to the Road to Wellness to only find myself stuck in the spiral of ill health.  My only forays into the world have been pilgrimages to the local pharmacy in a futile search for a miracle drug.  I slowly walk the drug aisle searching for the holy grail of relief--walking away with hands filled with hope-which is quickly dashed after only one dose.  I cannot even find the temporary relief  promised on each and every vial.  Dr. Son-In-Law finally wrote me that first script after 5 days of illness.  They miss their baby sitter---OH and the fact that one of the Child Wonders shared this with me.  I LIVE IN A PETRI DISH!

My body has turned on me!  I am under attack from within! I have become a mucus producing machine--with the clear intent of smothering me to death.  From the top of my head to the upper regions of my bronchial tube, a constant onslaught of attack leaving me gasping for breath or bent over in a wracking fit of coughing. The combined power of all my nose blowing alone could generate enough wind derived power to light a small city.  THIS IS NO FUN!

While tossing and turning in my bed of agony, I began to put all the clues together of how this happened.  When was the last time I was sick like this? Why am I not able to kick this off and return to the Land of the Living?  There is a common thread through each of the occurrences similar to this---Grief.  When my mother left us after an agonizing illness, I had this very same thing occur within two weeks, in the middle of trying to celebrate my precious niece's wedding. Several years pass and I am left alone, I dismantled my family's home and sold it and moved, I then spent the next nine months having this same reoccurring illness.  On a first name basis with all the staff at the nearest urgent care, they used my rear for target practice the entire time and became quite proficient at pin the tail on the donkey at the same time.  Now, I find myself in another period of intense grief, and SURPRISE--I am sick again.  WHY would I be surprised?  There seems to be a pattern forming here.  Intense grief brings intense illness.  My body refuses to fight and throws up the white kleenex of surrender as it allows the ravages of illness to have the upper hand.

What is the connection between the body and the soul?  There is no division between soul and body while in earthly form.  J.I. Packer says we are embodied souls and ensouled bodies.  When my soul sings with joy, so my body leaps with happiness.  When my soul is wrapped in the cloak of mourning, my body weeps in poor health.  Until our crossing the line into the realms of eternity, there is an mysterious and invisible cable connecting our bodies to our very being--our soul. The state of being is reflected from one to the other--a perfect mirror image of the good or bad.  

The question now becomes--How do I regain the state of wholeness in body and soul?  My only answer is prayer---and I am asking for healing and joy to reign in my soul AND body!

He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

Psalms 107:20