John 21:21,22 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” (22) Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain tell I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Romans 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God
Galatians6:4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his brother.
As many of you know, I enjoy gardening. I’m not all that knowledgeable, and truly I mostly see a plant that I like—pretty color or blossoms, thrives good in my area, or something—and with usually no research, I buy, usually two since I want symmetry, and dig a hole, add some gardening soil or dirt from my compost bin, and plop it in and hope it grows. I usually water after, but if weather forecast predicts rain, I won’t. So truly I am not a diligent caretaker of His plants. But I love the blossoms, the colors, the different blooming times, and the fact that it looks like I did something artistic, but it is not my artistry at all. I shop, I find something I like, hope I have a place for it, then come home and wonder if it will look good here…or maybe right here….hmmm, already too crowded. Should we go closer to the road, or does it need a bit more protection so maybe down by the fencing? OK, decision made, find the spade, dig, add good dirt since I am always doubtful the plants will thrive in the sand at the beach; then I say a prayer, plop it in, straighten it out if it looks a tad off kilter, and fill in the hole, adding more good dirt around the top. Say a prayer, and thank Him for the health I have to work it, and for the “harvest” and that’s it.
Because most of the stuff in my garden has been there since we did this design in June of 2008, it is established. It has adapted to hot, dry summer winds, it has made do with the freezing ocean temps and salt spray, as well as my clumsiness. I do week when I see unwanted things popping up—dollar weeds, stringy grass, some fine clover, and wide leaf weeds such as dandelion and so forth. It used to require frequent nurturing, it no longer does. I might have to get out there once monthly. Maybe we have “trained” the weeds and they recognize they are unwanted, so then don’t show, or maybe we have so much planted between my neighbor and myself, the weeds “know” they will die with a rude yank and toss.
I no longer have to work hours at a time weeding and culling and making things better. But God is still weeding, culling things with me, and making me better. Unlike my limited knowledge, He knows precisely how to cut, pull, trim, and remove. And I am so grateful. I might very well be apt to whine and complain as the process is going on, “Is it truly that bad? What about You -know -who? But-but..” He reminds me that my concern should only be for myself and not to worry how He is handling others. Oh yeah, I read that in John 21:21, 22…..none of my business; I have to be concerned just for me. It is just me who faces Jesus on Judgment Day, not so and so.
I probably sigh dramatically, much as I did in high school, and admit I need a good trimming and go forth. Usually, I change my tune once I realize I have the Master Gardener at work. Whether I am ready or not, here it comes. One of the things I did learn dealing with those difficult teen years, if I complained about the discipline, it lasted longer. If I went in my room, was well behaved, with no WHINING, the sentence of being grounded was lifted sooner. It was extended the more I complained and argued.
I certainly don’t know if I look better once the weeds are yanked, and the plants are trimmed and fertilized and nurtured, but I know some of the many faults and sinful things attached to my nature have been dealt with, and I present better. Certainly, I look better to the Master Gardener, and that’s the best way my garden can look.
I am so glad the Gardener knows exactly how to weed me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
I don’t think most women are good about asking for help in many areas of their lives. Often we pretend there are no great concerns, and emotional baggage. There seems to be a purveyance of ‘my life is smooth and everything goes forward without a hitch.’ Or perhaps it is not that life goes on with no problems, but problems should be kept at home, private, amongst the family members. Women will confide in close friends or family members, but only when they have exhausted all their own ideas to fix a situation. They hope there is no judgment from the other. There must be a lot of trust, and one will hopes the feedback will not be judgmental. I think judgment is a fear we wonder about and since we judge ourselves so harshly, we don’t want to risk hearing that perhaps others will judge us the same. (‘Oh, even more shame as I am as awful as I think!’) But we ALL know the Lord says that judgment is HIS, and He has given us a way to be free from the dark hold of sin….when we confess and remember that Jesus died on the cross for our freedom.
We all want to hope and think we are doing a fairly good job in life. For the most part, I would guess that persons who do not know Jesus intimately, may think they are doing a good job of juggling kids, spouse, house and work. They may have no clue that they are angry and rude to the children, ignore the husband and then complain about him behind his back to co-workers, acquaintances or even in front of the kids. They may whine about the job, the lack of help around the house and so forth. And possibly these same women who are getting help from the spouses around the house, then criticize the help as not to their standards, and cause hurt and anger to build.
Yet, at church or with other believers, they might just smile and say how great life is, ‘no worries, no issues’ and yet not feel even loved, never mind like life is good. We are often unwilling to ask for help. And help could be meeting a friend, a Christian sister for a cup of coffee, a distance-sharing on a deck or porch, a walk on the beach or around a neighborhood, or whatever. Women need supportive, Jesus loving women in their lives to mentor, guide, encourage, and to love them.
Why do women feel they have to put on a happy face? It is not just ‘putting on my face’ and applying some makeup before a public appearance, but they put on the happy face, when they feel burdened, discouraged, and or maybe worried and fearful. We hide in plain sight. We think we are weak, whiny, needy if we say we are not managing well. But all need help sometimes, and it is so much better to ask early rather than when you are about to burst or shatter with the pressure of whatever issues. Women are usually very supportive. We are the chief caregivers the Lord created after he made Adam. We are the helpmate. But women listen well, are supportive, usually empathetic, and will volunteer to help “lift” the load. Maybe it is making a meal, sharing picking up the children, and often it is just listening, offering a hug and a shoulder, and feeling heard.
The more negative, hurt, angry our thoughts, the further we slink from God. He already knows your burdens, worries, hurts, angers, disappointments, and so forth. If you won’t chat with Him–and He knows anyway,– you are burying yourself under. God has given us “sisters” in life who love us, encourage us, and teach us–women who help, listen, offer support, and encouragement, and steer you to place your burdens with Him–and trust that He has this. Women need women to share emotional ups, downs, worries, and joys. With good friends we have a wonderfully strong and supportive network, a network of confidence and trust and love.
You know that person(s) has/have your back. Our Christian friends will give honest, loving support, help, and advice. They can remind you of bible verses, stories, and that Jesus is waiting to guide one through. They will pray for you, your issue and your family and concerns. We sometimes just mire ourselves so deeply that we need to be reminded to take the ‘yoke off’ as you don’t see oxen resting at day’s end with a yoke binding them together when they need to be refreshing for the next day. Isaiah 10:27
Don’t let pride hold you from sharing, confessing and reaching out to your sister in Christ. You never know, but you may be reaching out and they are having burdens too. Jesus wants us to walk together…if one falls down the other can help him up.
Certainly, I hope I am a friend considered to be trustworthy, confidential, and without condemnation. I have been blessed with many such friends, so thank You for them.
Lord, You know how often and how much the friends You have given me have helped and molded me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 6:5,6, 14, 18 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart…. “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.” … “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark–you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”
1Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite was a prophet from the settlers in Gilead. “I serve the Lord, the God of Israel,” Elijah said to Ahab. “As surely as the Lord lives, no rain or dew will fall during the next few years unless I command it.”
1Kings 18:1,2,22- 24 During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: “Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain.” So Elijah went to meet Ahab. By this time there was no food in Samaria….. Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Lord here, but there are four hundred fifty prophets here prophets of Baal. Bring two bulls, Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull and kill it and cut it into pieces. Then let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. You prophets of Baal, pray to your god, and I will pray to the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to his wood is the true God.”
Elijah goaded, teased, mocked as they all waited for the prophets of Baal to cause a fire to burn the sacrificial bull…..it’s a comical read, 1Kings 18:1-35, then picks up with God’s answering Elijah immediately….
1Kings 18:36-41, 44 45 At the time of the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah went near the altar. “Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,” he prayed. “Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things. Lord, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you will change their minds.” Then fire from the Lord came down and burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the ground around the altar. It also dried up the water in the ditch. When all the people saw this, they fell down to the ground, crying, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” … The seventh time, the servant said, “I see a small cloud, the size of a human fist, coming from the sea.” .. After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. The wind bean to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall.
Examples of some strange years, and all the time, God was in charge.
This has been a strange year. The media are reporting ‘scary’ tales of illness, death, and so forth. We have been told to hunker down, avoid other people, take precautions, and doom and gloom. It has interfered with business owners being able to retain their staff and continue their business in many cases. Fear and anxiety have been running rampant for many people. And I understand if you listen to this repeatedly, it can tend to cause your own tension to escalate. For me, I know my destination when my walk here is over; and although I have read and listened and seen what Hollywood envisions as heaven, I believe it is going to be more SPECTACULAR than my limited brain can imagine. I guess I can add it to my bucket list, and be can guaranteed that that destination will be reached!
I have been a nurse for several decades, and COVID in many ways is similar to the different flus that have attacked for most winters. People have died from the flu each winter, and this year we are hearing none of those deaths. Each winter many folks across our country die from pneumonia, the flu, complications of the flu, and this year COVID. The statistics and death toll is high, and I am not arguing that, but when you do the numbers it is between 1-2% of the population that is dying. Yet the media would lead you to believe that this is a mass killer, and the death total is astronomically high. All life is important. None of us will live here forever. And this virus has been given more power through the media. Some people are very, very ill with it. But it is NOT each person who gets it. The majority are healing, recovering, resuming their lives.
We need to remember His commands of ‘fear not;’ ‘have courage.’ I know I use these verses frequently on this blog, but I think we let our fears, those worldly emotions run rampant. No one wants to get sick, and when you hear those big numbers, it is frightening. But the info needs to be put in perspective. And we need to keep in mind, God’s got this, and if you believe in Him, know Him as your savior, your path is secured. You are His.
Although I am careful, I am not neurotic about this virus. I have several auto-immune diseases, so I don’t go tempting fate, but neither have I resigned myself to the house. I go to the grocery store, wear my mask and continue to do whatever errands I can; I check in with neighbors, and because many of us have segregated here, we see each other a couple times a week in the evenings, and just catch up, share company, and then go on our way. It has been different, and I understand many are frustrated with the limitations, but I don’t care for the scare tactics. The people who are sick, are very, very sick, but the majority are recovering after a week or so of feeling crummy. Much like the flu. You are ill for several days, feel terrible, recover, and hope to not get it again…ever.
I pray that you are aware, take precautions, wash hands frequently, maintain healthy distances, and know that God has this.
Father, You already knew this upheaval in our lives was going to occur and how it would progress. I thank You that I have every confidence that Your plan for me will be as You have planned.
Thank You for my health and ‘mybellaviews.’
Ecclesiastes 3:11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end
Bloomsbury-International.com Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Margaret Wolfe Hungerford “Molly Brown” 1878
Our church has one of the school age teacher/leaders come and give a 5-10 minute chat with the youngsters before they go to the play and education area. This is always a time of cuteness for me. Their demonstrations are practical and I appreciate them, the women are awesome at the presentations, and they kids responses are adorable.
Today, one of the women presented, and her story was about how she and a friend like to collect shells while on the beach. Her friend picks up on the perfect, unbroken, unblemished ones, while the ministry educator picks up the pretty and different ones that catch her eyes. Yes, they may have a piece broken off, but the colors are rich and lovely, one was white but had a lovely rim of various shades of purple around the edge, another was broken, but had been the home of a snail, and the outer shell showed high gloss of brown and cream mixture of stripes, and there are so many others. Gorgeous white colors with pearl like effervescence, oyster shells which look like footprints…for the times God is carrying us when we are unable to walk because of our burdens and needing a rest. There were lovely gold shells, or the ones with a raspberry and cream blend running over its top, or the pure high gloss black or white stone you find. There are treasures God places on the beach for us to find.
She then went on to say that she is so glad and relieved that God does not pick just the perfect ones. (And thank goodness, since there is no perfect person, except for Jesus, our Savior). But each holds its own beauty. Part of the message to me, was notice and truly see the beauty in other things; nothing has to be perfect to be beautiful. And the other part reminded me of a bible study I am currently taking.
We are studying the Book of James, and the initial chapters concern how people tend to judge people, find them wanting for some reason and then issue a snub, a disdain toward them, and then the attitude spreads. People tend to be so quick to see negative, and feel (hope) they (we) are better than someone else. We see ourselves as being more worthy than someone else to have more…better. It might be clothing, hair style, complexion, weight, there seems to be something we can envy of others, or feel we have better, and therefore must somehow be better, more worthy. How shallow the ponds of our minds!
The children’s ministry leader reminded me in a simpler way, a child loving and presenting way, that we are NOT perfect, we are broken, but our Savior and Creator can make us new, fix us, make the broken areas better, and healed. This was an excellent example to remind us not to compare, but to see the beauty. Beauty can be found and enjoyed in something not perfect. There is a large vista all around us of beauty; kind people, lovely sky, the moods of the ocean, the sunshine, flowers, birds, and so very much more.
God is extremely generous giving us objects of beauty and blessings. Look for the beauty, even within the broken, and realize the broken can be mended by God in all manner.
I am so thankful I enjoy blessings daily, and like to share them on ‘mybellaviews.’
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Hosea 12:6 Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.
Micah 7:7 but as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
I just listened to my pastor’s sermon this morning, and it was funny how similar our childhoods sounded. We would go to vacation to the mountains, having relatives who lived there with children our ages, and folks my parents had a long and fun history with. While traveling we would whine about ‘how much longer?’ ‘Can we stop for a break?’ But we loved the anticipation. It was just the process which was harder. I so envied Belinda Montgomery being able to twitch her nose and BE THERE.
But, as time has passed, those times, even the rides are remember as fun. My father would go over a winding, narrow, slightly hilly road fast enough to make our stomachs lurch, and we would giggle like that was the best thing, and beg for more. But as part of my pastor’s message, we were on a journey, and we had faith we would have a great time when we arrived, we would arrive safely, and we knew we were loved and all was right with the world. We loved the anticipation of the adventure.
So the message evoked a lot of pleasant memories, which is always good to remember. But the message was also about the faith he had as a child, excited and full of anticipation for the trip. They rarely knew where they would land when they were going on the mountain vacation, but it didn’t matter; it was an adventure and he had faith it would be a good family time. He then reminded us that we walk with God, and we have faith to follow. And for many of us, it’s exciting to think about what our eternity will be. I don’t think it can be fully described in words, although I know John and Daniel have tried to describe it, as well as Hollywood trying to depict it. I believe it’s better.
I like anticipation. Oh boy, the day is finally here! I’ve waited and eagerly looked forward to this day, experience, adventure…. Sometimes, it has been a little disappointing as I built it up more in my mind than what actually occurred, but usually it comes out fine.
But of the anticipation when we were kids going on these adventures were seeing and experiencing parents without work responsibilities, no time crunches or schedules, they were having fun and laughing and giggling like children, and that was a relaxing and novel time.
My parents worked hard, were loving to us and each other, but they were on schedules, and one worked early days to late afternoon, while the other worked midafternoon until midnight, so it was wonderful to see them enjoying other adults, laughing, joking, teasing, remembering their former times together when something had happened. To just listen to the stories and realize these adults could giggle and guffaw and tease was pretty unique. Wow, our parents were not just rule makers, loving caretakers, people who had to work most days, but people who could have a great time!
So, the sermon was special to me today. Actually I got two urgings to write blogs because of the children’s ministry presentation and the pastor’s sermon.
Remember the good times when you had others who showed you love, care, and fun. But have a good journey while walking this path with God. Anticipate! He’s prepared an awesome place for you. His word tells you so, so carry on in faith…anticipate.
Thank You God for the memories that have so touched me and ‘mybellaviews’ today.
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!