How Does Your Garden Grow?

While pulling out of my driveway I look across my yard and see a beautiful array of greens and purples accented with hot pink and yellow. The sight is a delight to my eyes and soul. The greens include my short lime ground cover, the variegated longer ground cover with tiny purple flowers, grass and then flowers waiting to bloom. There are different colors of purple from straight arms of deep purple to dainty magenta blooms, to spikes of lavender. The knockout roses accent it all with profuse hot pinks and bright yellows.

I planted all these perennials in the past ten years and now, each year without any effort on my part, they appear in all of their shades and textures of beauty and glory for my pleasure.

The thought immediately hit me that this is like our investment into the garden of our family and friends. There are some investments that keep bringing results consistently like my perennials. A one time investment of time, planning, energy in planting, weeding and watering has yielded a beautiful garden to enjoy.

However, each year I invest in some annuals because they add more consistent color from spring through the fall. That means that every year I spend money and take the time to plant and care for these flowers knowing they will not return next year. But, because of their constant blooming and the color they add to my garden, they are worth the effort.

I’m not sure what applications you could get from this but it brings me great comfort to know that my investment of time, energy and love in my children and friends bring repeated results in their lives. Some things they have learned and integrated into their lives forever. The love shared has been food to their souls and they have bloomed and thrived.

However, like annuals, we always need to keep planting some love with the water of attention, the fertilizer of prayer, the sunshine of a cheerful heart and the pruning of tactful honesty. Of course, there’s always the constant weeding of negativity from our speech and the need for watering with positive words of encouragement.

Gardening takes time, money and energy but it’s well worth the results not only for us but for others.

How is your garden growing? Does it need some attention?

Galatians 6:7 “…a woman reaps what she sows.”

The Desert Song

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:14

I’ve never actually been to a physical desert but I’ve certainly experienced a spiritual desert. It’s not a comfortable place to be. Dryness of soul plagues your spirit as the winds of adversity beat against your faith. You wonder “where is God” in the midst of the sand storms and dry, scorching heat.

It feels like you’re wandering in circles and getting no where. You don’t have the energy to pray or praise – it seems like God is a thousand miles away. Disillusionment can set in as real as the desert allusions. But God!

God uses the desert experiences to lure us back to Himself. In desperation we cry out and to our amazement when all of our complaining and analyzing has come to an end, there is His voice speaking tenderly to us. “Come, I am here. Come swim in the river of my grace.”

I think we could learn something from Hillsong’s “The Desert Song.”

This is my prayer in the desert when all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me, My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire. In weakness or trial or pain.
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold.
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life, In every season You are still God.
I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship.


No matter what our season or the circumstances God is still God, He is still on the throne. There is a reason to sing. There is a reason to Worship.
Rejoice, declare Who He is, bring praise and see your desert turned into a beautiful valley of flowing waters, wild flowers and blue skies.