God’s glory echoes each morning as the birds sing beautiful songs. I Soak in every living word He breathes in scripture. As I meditate on His words all day, I see Him more clearly as I walk hand in hand with Jesus. Gardening cultivates new habits like getting up earlier in the morning to water the garden. Sometimes we need physical reminders of our need spiritually as we thirst for a glass of water first thing in the morning. Just like it’s so important to water the plants each day. Before you begin your day, it’s so valuable to start praying, listening and reading the Bible. It’s so necessary for your spiritual walk with Jesus! He is our very best friend who will be with you no matter what circumstance you’re in. We have a loving father who we can talk to about everything. Real relationships means sharing from your heart.
As I soak the garden early in the morning, I watch the thirsty plants take in every drop! The hummingbird comes swooping in like little helicopters taking drinks in mid air! Everything comes alive all at once! We need a good soaking from God to handle the heart and pressures of the day. Summer can get scorching hot with a snap of my fingers! Mud will turn to dust in the air before you know it. I love how we can see what God means when you seek Him first and His righteousness, because He has what is best for your life in His plan since the beginning. (Psalm 139) When I pray first before doing something, even through the struggles, things will go into place! It might not be what I expected or in the time frame I had in mind, but it will always work out for my good! It will be for you too. Romans 8:28 (NIV), “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The struggles may come but peace and joy remain in you while waiting on the Lord. If you don’t start the day with God by praying and reading the Bible, you will feel weary and burdened when hard situations come your way. You will chase your own way leaving God out. You might be quick to be angry instead of quick to listen. James 1:19 (NIV), “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”
When you lean on God, He will support you and lead you down the right path! Psalms 23:3 (KJV) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” As I water the garden, It’s evident how all of us need Him. We need to be surrounded by the right support systems in our life! Romans 15:30 (NIV), “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” When we are tender hearted by sitting with someone and listen to their struggles, without judgement or guessing, you are pouring kindness into them! In the garden, I noticed how desperate the peas reached up to grab and to cling onto anything near them after the rain storm. They were desperate for anything that would hold them up. Jesus says my burdens are light and my yoke it easy. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus is tender hearted full of love, compassion and Mercy for everyone. He will bring sisters and brothers in your life to strengthen and support you.
The cares of the world cause people to reach and grab for anything they can for support when hard times come. Just like the little pea plants clinging to a weed, in time of trouble, people can cling to the wrong influences. The peas fell to the ground with the weeds and were trampled in the storm! It’s important where we get our help, because the world’s definition of wisdom is different from Godly wisdom. James 3:17-18 (NIV), “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” When you put your hope and faith in God, you will be filled with joy and peace. You will be carried, held, comforted, supported, and strengthened under God’s mighty right hand. You will be surrounded by sisters and brothers who will encourage and support you along the way. Romans 15:13 (NIV), “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
It reminds me of David’s prayer in Psalm 23:4 (KJV), “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” When I was pregnant,I was driving with six of my children on an extremely hot summer day. The only air conditioning we had was rolling down our windows. It would let in enough hot air to fill a hot air balloon that would lift us up into the sky! Our drinking water was hot, so I looked for a way to escape the heat! I went to visit my mother-in-law but found no relief there from the extreme heat! It was over 100 degrees outside that day and hotter in the van. I called my sister to let her know I wasn’t feeling well, and that I was on my way.
However, while I was driving, I started feeling very weird! I know I had been praying the whole time before I found myself parked on the side of the road! I got out to find help, but I fell to the ground! All my kids were in the van, and I couldn’t get up! I refused to pass out! I could see people driving their cars and even riding their bikes right passed me and the kids. Finally, a few people came up to me and asked if I was alright! I said, “No, I’m pregnant and can’t get up.” They called 911! I found out I was in danger and so was my unborn son! My sister ended up picking up my children, and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. I was extremely dehydrated and my blood pressure was dangerously high! Both of us were ok, because of God’s protection over all of us! I later found out I parked in front of the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane! The people living at the mission took the time to see if I was ok when everyone else drove or rode by! Psalms 94:18-19 (NIV), “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
The overflow of God’s kindness and goodness is how I handle the heat of each day and when life gets hard. He gives us everything we need! 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV), “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” It’s His strength in me that keeps me going knowing that even in the toughest situations, he will rescue me. I will keep living for God and move toward the goal instead of depending on my own strength! As I water my garden early in the morning before the scorching sun reaches its peak of the day, I’m reminded of my desperate need of God’s cool refreshing words to wash over me, as He encourages and supports me during the heat of the day. Matthew 5:6-7 (NIV), “Blessed are who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” I’m thankful for His overflow of love, Mercy and Grace over me and my family! We were not alone that day! My children were covered and safe and both me and my unborn son got the help we needed! I never had the chance to thank the people who came to help us! God knows who they are because he sent them to help!
No matter where you are in life you don’t have to be stuck and you can trust God cares for you more than we can ever know! God wants you to grow in him where you are as he walks with us and even carries us through the storms in life. Jesus is your best friend because he will never leave you or forsake you! God deeply loves you! John 7:38 (NIV) “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 94:18-19 (NIV)
“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ;and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied.
“Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied,
“The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him,
“Go and do likewise.”
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles I will sing the praises of your name.”
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peaceas you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Romans 15:30-32 (NIV)
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.
