Tennessee Memories - A Rich Mallow

Hollyhock

Tennessee Memories - Red and White Stripes

Garden Amaryllis

Tennessee Memories - Brown Iris

The birds upon the tree tops sing their song;

The angels chant their chorus all day long;

The flowers in the garden blend their hue,

So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you praise Him too?

Author unknown

Iris

Tennessee Memories - Pinks and Peaches

Chrysanthemums

The Thousand Word Project - Washed In Dew

 Job 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 

Vinca

Thousand Word Project - Silent Firecrackers

Firebush

Texas Memories - A Neighbor's Penthouse

Red okra

The neighbor. :-)

The Thousand Word Project - Strawberry Parfait

 

Dianthus

Tennessee Memories - Hollyhocks

 

Hollyhocks

The Thousand Word Project - Hopes of Spring

Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 

Tennessee Memories - Mrs. Alexander's Autumn Garden Part 2

The chrysanthemums were popular.

Tennessee Memories - Mrs. Alexander's Autumn Garden Part 1

 

When you grow flowers you give to others far more than you will ever know.
- Anonymous -

Chrysanthemums

Mrs. Alexander and her husband were sweet neighbors of my family when we lived in Tennessee. She is with the Lord now, but it was a blessing and privilege to be have been able to know them.

October, 2005

The Thousand Word Project - Colors On A Summer Day

The Thousand Word Project - What the Plants Were Dewing

Psalm 110:1-3 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 

The Thousand Word Project - Pretty Pansies

By cooling streams, and softening showers,

The vegetable race are fed,

And trees, and plants, and herbs, and flowers,

Their Maker’s bounty smiling spread.

The flowery tribes, all blooming, rise,

Above the faint attempts of art,

Their bright, inimitable dyes,

Speak sweet conviction to the heart.

Ye curious minds who roam abroad,

And trace creation’s wonders o’er,

Confess the footsteps of the God,

And bow before Him, and adore.

Excerpt from poem by

Anne Steele

The Lord Tends His Garden - Guest Post

Note: For anyone wondering why there isn't a resurrection post this weekend, please know that we look to the Jewish calendar, rather than the Roman Catholic, one to determine when Resurrection Sunday should be observed. Passover is not until April 22nd, so my resurrection posts will be on the weekend of April 28th. :-)

John 15:1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The Lord Tends His Garden

The vine of impatience is overgrown,
The weed of self will is making shown,
Poison leaves of distraction tempting and fair
Choking fruit of my heart, and leaving spots bare,

Come and tend Your garden...

Continue Reading.

Texas Memories - Autumn Garden Gems

Dianthus

Red Star

Basil

Firebush

The Thousand Word Project - Summer Brights

Zinnias

Creatures Great and Small - Love that Yarrow

 

Yarrow. Tennessee

Guest Post - The Parable of the Lavender

The Parable of the Lavender

By an Anonymous friend
2023

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Editor's note: Sometimes one of the hardest things we have to deal with in life is being content where we're planted. It is so easy to look back at some place in the past where we think life was better, or to look at someone else's life and think that it is better. It can be a real temptation to imagine, when things are hard, that we would do better in a different situation, a different location, different circumstances than where God has us.

 

A friend of mine was struggling with just such discontent when the Lord prompted her to think about this parable. She is not a gardening expert, so some of the flowers don't necessarily grow together normally, but I think you can still get the message.

 

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

   

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Once upon a time, God planted lavender in a garden and she thrived. She grew and flourished and loved her neighbors - the beautiful smelling rosemary and the hydrangea with her giant purple blooms, much larger than her own. Each morning their master would come smell lavender and hydrangea and pick a few sprigs from rosemary for his meals. Daily, lavender, rosemary and hydrangea would talk of the ways of God and encourage each other to stand up tall, soak up the sun and be the best they could be to delight the God who planted them there and bring their master joy.

As lavender settled into this routine, she began to notice the plants in the field across the way.  It was much greener over there - a far contrast the the browns that surrounded her. The papyrus, marigold and blue iris were surrounded by deep greens and tall horsetail. What diverse colors they had! Surely she could plant herself in that field and serve God there - after all, they were all once together and so close. They were family whom she dearly missed each day of her life. She remembered vividly their beginnings long ago in the greenhouse and did not understand why God separated them.

Continue Reading here.

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More Lessons from the Garden.