Round #3 … the Resume of a Sheep taken from Psalm 23. First, we talked about sheep being vulnerable. Our second session: sheep go astray.
This time let’s move to Sheep are Valuable!
Being a curious person, I looked up the definition for the word valuable: having considerable worth, bringing a high price, having qualities worthy of respect, admiration or esteem.
Wow! Our Heavenly Father is speaking about me and about you! You are precious, treasured, cherished and appreciated, my dear sheep-friend.
The next time someone flings you a sarcastic remark or circumstances throw you for a loop—remember that He deems you dear. He respects you beyond all measure.
When you have a few minutes, ponder Psalm 139.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful”
Just so you know up front: I am NOT (nor ever will be) a spider lover, but when I saw this amazingly colorful spider, I couldn’t help but stare. And marvel at the Creator’s handiwork! The web extends from the top of our hanging planter down to a garden of newly popping golden mums on the ground (about four feet). The male builds his web on the outer part of her web. He fashions a web made of an intricate zig-zag of while silk. Almost looks unreal. They’re called a common orb web spider.
photo by Steve Lasher
Again, did I mention I am NOT a spider fan? Saying that, I’ve walked back and forth numerous times noting her position and movement, taking pictures, and just plain being mesmerized. I discovered (from my Facebook friends) that Black & Yellow Garden Argiope is a good type of spider. They’re harmless to people (that’s comforting to know) and do a lot of good. Their diet consists of eating large amounts of insect pests like flies, mosquitoes, and aphids. I do not like mosquitoes and flies can be really annoying.
photo by Steve Lasher
To think that our loving God created these intricate creatures. Boggles my mind, doesn’t it yours?
Makes me want to re-read Charlotte’s Web.[1] Remember that classic children’s literature with a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named, Charlotte? Adults and children alike enjoy this tale. Wilbur’s in danger of being slaughtered and made into bacon by the farmer when Charlotte comes to the rescue. She “hatches a plan to save Wilbur’s life.” And it works.
When I think of spiders in those terms, I guess this black & yellow spider is okay. We can co-exist, as long as they keep to their boundaries outdoors.
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me” — Song of Songs 2:11-13.
In the book of Song of Songs, King Solomon writes of love & carefree days. He speaks of courtship & consummation of love between a man and a woman.
This type of pleasure can also be carried over into our relationship with God. God longs for my companionship. He eagerly awaits me to quiet my body and mind. To still my thoughts & drink in His presence, love, and wisdom. He woos me away from the cares of today. Coaxes me to focus on Him; not on my problems or circumstances.
When life calls me away from contemplation and into disorder, confusion, and strife — I push God further and further from the center of my life. The center of my soul.
Chaos, fear, doubt, depression, and health problems are symptomatic results.
I’m sure your days are filled to the brim … just like mine. I feel there is little time to pause, read scripture, and pray. Or maybe it’s that I’m not allowing for that time in my life. When there’s much to do, that’s the day, I need to spend more time on my knees.
How about you? Did you steal away for some God-time yet?
There it was. My very first baby tomato. I felt almost as if I’d birthed the vegetable myself. Of course, I didn’t. I just planted it and watered it. And God watered it for me too. I saw other yellow flowers which meant more tomatoes grew on the horizon.
I was not always a garden girl. No, when we owned almost an acre of land, I rarely planted anything worthy of eating. The land seemed too vast for me, so I didn’t even tackle the ground. In fact, you could probably hear me grumbling about the magnitude of weeds and yard to maintain.
But now, with just a deck and a few deck planters, the task seemed manageable. I am even excited to be the caretaker (along with my husband) of a two tomato plants, one banana pepper, cilantro, mint, dill weed, sage, rosemary, and lettuce growing from seeds.
Maybe that’s the key to starting any formidable project. Breaking the tasks down into smaller, more manageable sections. Maybe then forward motion can be maintained and I won’t feel overwhelmed and defeated before I begin.
It won’t be long now when I’ll be able to walk out on the deck and pluck some fresh lettuce for an evening garden salad. I can almost taste the freshness!
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
Sometimes I wonder if I ever will grow up. When I repeat the same mistakes over and over again, I begin to doubt my spiritual growth. I realize that maturity is a process, not a one-time event. It takes 52 days to see the harvest from green bean seeds. In the meantime, I need to water and fertilize with proper nutrients and pay attention to the environment. Just like growing green bean seedlings, my faith takes perseverance and patience.
As I read my Bible and learn more of God’s will and way, he speaks contentment and peace to my aching heart.
Dear God, thank you for extending mercy to me when I falter or doubt what’s happening in my life. As your child, I want to please you. I will pray and tell you my heartaches, lay them at the foot of the cross, and not take them up again.
Do you feel defeated as if everyone is against you? I, too, have felt that way. Can you trust God with your whole being? When you do, joy and peace will return to your starved soul.
I heard a tremendous thump, then a crash. What in the world was that? I looked over at my snoring husband. Remembering his alarm was due to ring at 4:00 a.m. so he could catch an early plane flight, I didn’t dare wake him. I could handle this.
I paused to listen for more loud noises. Then bravely made my way to our outside deck glancing at the clock: 1:30 a.m.
Quickly, I set the garden deck planters secure on the deck floor. But where was our patio umbrella? Last night I remembered my husband had opened it to shade our table when we ate dinner outdoors.
The wind howled and swirled as lighting flashed and thunder roared as I peered over the railing. No umbrella. I looked toward the neighbor’s back yard — still no umbrella. I walked around our house and discovered the wind had lifted our umbrella from our back deck. Apparently, it traveled airborne completely over our roof and landed in front of the house almost on our neighbor’s porch. I’m guessing it hit the roof and then the front side of our house. Too bad a video wasn’t running … a sort of Mary Poppins experience.
Oh, the majesty and power of God! I wasn’t happy about the way I was rudely awakened, but thankful it wasn’t a burglar.
This morning an old hymn we used to sing in church came to mind. I allowedthe meaning of the powerful words to permeate deep within my soul.
Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
“What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms … I’m leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”— Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887
Pause and ask yourself:
Is my faith rock-solid like a mountain, dependable and unmovable? Or, am I depending on someone or something that will falter like a flighty umbrella?
I eagerly watch as my first green tomato crop grows heartily on the vine. I can almost taste the juicy, red tomato next to a bacon slice surrounded by leafy lettuce all sandwiched between two pieces of toast.
But patient I must be. The harvest can’t be hurried. However there are things I can do to promote success such as.
*Faithful watering
*Adequate sunshine
*Occasional fertilizing
The sturdy vine connects to the branches that support the tomato. If for some reason, the branch becomes detached from the vine, the growth process stops. Fruit cannot happen without its source of strength.
The apostle John talks about how God is the gardener in John 15:1, 4–5. “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener … remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Just like the sturdy vine connects to the branches supporting the tomato, God is the vine of protection. There are certain things I can do in order to strengthen the vine such as:
*Spending time in prayer and reading the Bible
*Seeking out spiritual mentors and friends
*Regular church attendance with those of like faith
Without a combination of the above, life becomes unbalanced. We need God and each other to survive and thrive.
Do you feel connected to the vine? If so, in what way?
