Have I not commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted….a time to break down, a time to build up…..and a time to lose, and a time to keep…. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I like to garden and tend plants, weed out nasty things detracting from them. There is a quietness to the work, my hands get dirty, yet I have the satisfaction of a job that shows. The grounds are a bit neater, there is less crowding and everything looks a bit fresher. And the plants seem so appreciative. They stand fuller, blossom with bright buds and seem to be thankful for the attention.
Presently, temperatures here have been in the high 80’s to mid 90’s. My plants and flowers are DROOPING, and look SAD. There are no vibrant colors and some have actually died, despite watering. There is a dismal look to the plants—some are leggy, limbs are browned with little leaves. With this heat, the plants don’t have enough to thrive. The conditions are too hot, the sun too bright and strong. So although the plants are striving to survive, they are not thriving. The extra high temps have lasted too long for the plants to flourish.
I miss the satisfaction of seeing my plants hardy and pretty, but I know when the weather breaks, all will return to robust life. This is the awkward stage when nurturing and caring are still important, and I wonder if I should cut all back. But the steadiness and continued care will get us through this stage.
But it reminds me as I look with a touch of sadness, that this can also look like our lives sometimes. we hit a rough patch–illness, worrisome children or parents who need care, a troubled marriage, or maybe a job that causes stress and angst. Troubles come at various times, and we can feel beaten down like the abused plants in front of me. But if we get nurturing from first our Father and creator, then our friends or family, we are able to better maintain the course and “Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. We can continue the march with less stress, less worry.
And if there are times when the torment of worry tries to invade you walk, life and thoughts, remember that Satan is always trying to knock you from your path and cause you upset. Continue to be courageous and not dismayed. God’s got this…and you.
Be patient with the different stages of life. Continued care and nurture get us through to the other side, and better times.
For now, I wait, water, and wonder about cutting back. Wait patiently. For now, I wait a little uncertain about the flowers, but also can be with life’s trials. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14.
I pray I’ll always walk courageously and remembering to push Satan from ‘mybellaviews.’
n he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.” Judges 6:17
So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—loo, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung out a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. Judges 6:36-40
Judges 6:36-40 was preached the day I accepted the Lord as my savior. I had found a bible teaching church which was a wonderful and exciting time for me. But I had my doubts, and found I would be unclear as to the direction I should take at times. So since I learned all about fleeces and finding God’s will through those, I sought most of my answers through signs. That is not the best way to seek God’s will for yourself and your path. Folks who knew me knew I depended strongly on answers to fleeces I sent forward to Him. I frequently would not move in a direction I was unsure of without a discerning sign. However, that was NOT the way God wanted to interact with me. He wanted closer.
Later, as I became a slightly more studied bible student, I learned God doesn’t like to be tested. “It is said, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” which is written in both Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12, and in Deuteronomy 6:16 ‘You shall not test the Lord your God as you tested Him at Massah.’
Oops! I certainly had never intended to test Him, but I also had not delved further into the studies to develop a RELATIONSHIP with him. I stopped sending up fleeces and began reading, studying and developing a relationship, learning to hear the ‘still and small voice.’
Now I no longer test God every moment. I will sometimes ask if He really is directing me a certain way. If I have an uneasy spirit, I know that is not God, but the liar who has tried to whisper quietly, trying to trick me into believing it was God’s voice.
I am so glad I learned of fleeces and now no longer need to test God to communicate.
He and I walk and ‘chat’ with mybellaviews.
There are some flowers and shrubs, albeit not many, that I just don’t like the smell of. I know most people love the smell of gardenias, but for me the scent is just too strong and cloying, causes a headache within seconds; but I love to see the flowers budding and bursting forth.
I also love the camellias which bloom in winter with their vibrant colors of fuchsia and red, which are my favorites. There are so many varieties of exquisite flowers. Have you looked at a hibiscus bush? There are so many gorgeous shades of reds, pinks, yellows, and when I spot a variegated which has a different colored throat, I feel so blessed with the beauty He’s created. How lovely. My favorite is the peach with red throat, and I am sure it has a specific scientific name, but I call it sunset since it reminds me of a gorgeous one. My neighbor has a bush bursting with this colorful blossom and since I love it so, thought I would share it with you all.
Isn’t it a reminder of a sunset?
My irises are bursting forth; as are geraniums, coreopsis, violas, and African daisies. I even have some amaryllis dancing in full blossom. So today, since I am so touched by the flowers and colors of this glorious day, I thought I’d share some photos from my gardens and a couple of my neighbors. Think we’re in competition? We aren’t really. We just go to one another’s and admire the plants that we place in the ground and the good Lord allows to pop up and bring forth a colorful view!
Enjoy some of my bellaviews. Blessings!
Please check below and enjoy some of the flower photos I’ve caught.
James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its work…
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, not sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night.
I love to walk, and find when I walk alone, I pray and chit-chat with God. Sometimes, I notice some of the blessings—birds, flowers, or some other blessings He’s put in my path. Other times, I am honed in on a particular worry or concern, or am praying for a need for a family member or friend. Some needs are long term and require keeping the needs in my prayers for a long while; others seem to be answered quickly. Sometimes, His help may require an alteration in the prayer since circumstances may have changed– now there is a loss and the person needs comfort dealing with the sadness associated with it, or something else alters the circumstance.
But I find I walk more as I commune with my Father and I believe God answers prayers. I tend to listen better when I am away from distractions, and enjoying Him and the blessings around me.
There are times it takes longer for some prayers to be answered than others. Sometimes, I wonder if God is ignoring a plea or His timing is just not my timing; or perhaps my prayer is not to be answered according to my will, but as He wills it. When He deems it is right, the prayer will be answered.
It seems I have a bit more patience when I am waiting for a personal answer than when I am waiting for an answer for someone else. I guess because I have realized how selfish I can be, and strive to not be, and also I have learned God does not work on my timeframe. (I’ve also prayed for an increase in my patience…and it seems He has given me a modicum more!)
But when I am concerned for someone else, my old sinful nature of impatience surges forth, and I want the prayer answered now.
Regardless, I appreciate my time spent with Him, whether walking or studying the word. I feel better having regular prayer time, reading His word and peeling back the layers and how they apply to me. It is amazing to see how a verse I’ve read repeatedly, sometimes seems as though it was just added to His word. Suddenly, to my mind as it is specifically applying to my life and faults at THAT time. It brings me peace and comfort, and reminds me to slow…go with the flow…and wait for His perfect timing. Patience leads to peace, and I find great comfort in that peace.
God, thank you for reminding me it is best to wait on your perfect time for all ‘mybellaviews.’
For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision not uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. Galatians 5:6
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope. Romans 15:13
Therefore, we conclude that apart from the deeds of the law a man is justified by faith. Romans 3:38 (Bold script for faith my addition)
Faith is the belief, hope, knowledge of something we have no control over. We believe the sun will rise each day, the world will spin on its axis, after rains the sky will brighten and the waters will recede. We believe. We hope. That’s faith.
If we believe Jesus walked on earth as a man, but was the son of God, and then died for US, for our sinful beings, we will be saved. It takes faith to believe Jesus came as the son of God. So many say he was “just” a man, albeit a good man. That just does not make enough sense to me; maybe because I have faith. For me it is a KNOWING that Jesus is the son of God, the way to heaven’s eternity, and praying in His name is powerful. I know that. It is my faith.
Trust and faith can be shaken, but if you choose to hold on, continue to pray and believe things will turn out for your good, as God’s words promise, you will get through. And you will come through difficulties stronger. I do understand questioning when you are walking a difficult or uncertain path, and keep questioning and not being reassured your path is correct. I’ve been there. But I now realize those times were a way to further build the faith, to test my mettle, my intentions, and to reassure me, even when silent He walks with me.
I think it must be so lonely and upsetting to not have faith in anything other than your own skills and abilities. Then what happens when severe illness or some other heartache strikes and you are left with a broken, sick body? It may be then your own skills will not see you through.
Our Lord came to earth and walked and lived among people, as a man, although He was God. He chose to take our sins on himself, and die an agonizing death on a cross, to ensure a way for us to reach heaven through faith. He did this so all the sacrifices of the rules (the Old Testament) were done, finished. He was the last sacrifice; the perfect, unblemished first born “animal” which the old rules had declared be offered for sin.
With Jesus willing to come and live as a man and be the sacrifice for us, the gates to heaven were opened to us. Claim Him as God who came and lived as a human, then took the sins of all of us onto himself. We only have to believe He came and sacrificed himself, died for us, to offer a means to have a relationship with God, and to spend eternity in heaven.
I wonder why for some it is so difficult to believe. Is it the belief r questioning He was God’s son? Are you unable to believe this carpenter was more than a human? It is difficult to believe anyone could or would take all sin for all eternity upon Himself for any of us. But Jesus is not anyone. He is the One. He is the Son of God.
If we might believe in Him, study and follow Him and learn to love others as we love ourselves we find our way to spend eternity in heaven. Recognizing and feeling His love for us, helps us want to be better. This then leads many to deny our own selfish manner, and instead give of ourselves, our possessions and our time for the benefit of others. Believing in Him through faith gives us everything we need.
Believing does not mean you never make a mistake, that you are a good, loving, kind, and patient person always. It does not imply that you never make a mistake, or hurt another, or say something you shouldn’t….because it is a process to become better. The expectation is NOT to be perfect. We will never be perfect, be sinless, but we can strive to be better, more loving.
There is only the One who is perfect. And that One took all our sin, died for us, to open the way for us to heaven.
That’s absolutely perfect in mybellaviews!
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!