Garden Words

From the shade of my arbor this garden lends me words.  The other day, when the spring sun was having it's "de-LIGHT-ful" way overhead, I saw some weeds that had seemingly snuck up through the heavy mulch and were greedy, reaching for the sun.   These that were seeded before the covering was laid are the hardest to remove as their root is down deep and established.  How had I missed them before? Now some are a few inches tall.   Maybe it was all of those recent clouds dimming my light.

I reach deep into the mulch to pull them, knowing from experience that if left to grow they would take over and ruin my garden. They would steal from all I had planted, it has happened to me before. I tug for the root but it snaps at the stem and I know that soon it will be back again.  I will keep pulling them, but they will return until they are pulled from the root.

Hebrews 12:15  See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

It rained all day yesterday, the old folks would call it a gully washer. That means I, too, am getting older since I think it was one.  This ground is soaked and saturated.  Like a deep drink that is more than enough, this place overflows into a running brook right in front of my garden.  By the kale, carrots and lilies I can hear its flowing waters.  It empties into the little pond out back;  that little pond that really does nothing more than gives a home to frogs and frog songs, which is plenty enough for me.

Psalms 23:2  He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water...........

Oh yes, back to the weeds.  The next day I found them growing right next to, and among the new seedlings that I had planted. I didn't notice those because I hadn't yet recognized which were those I'd sown. Pulling one by one, I found there were many.   Using my hand so carefully, the seedlings were not disturbed, even those whose stems were touching weeds.  It seemed almost kind how the rain made soft and easy the ground to give them up.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

My hand is worn some with age and as I pulled the little weeds, I noticed them.  It reminds me of my Dad's hands which were known to be giant, sure and strong.  Because of his I can so well imagine a Poppa in Heaven whose hands exact His care over me-- even when His care is correction for me.  And I have felt that tugging of "heart weeds" like the tugging of the weeds in my deep mulch.  And when He has finished pulling them out  I'm like one who's been cleaned free of those invading, choking greens.  And once cleaned and free of them,  a clear path is opened up before me to walk and grow in, except it is very hard to walk;  I want to run.  

Romans 2:4 
....His kindness is guiding our hearts to turn away from distractions and habitual sin to walk a new path....

It rained hard yesterday and today I did a bit more weeding and thinking, too; grateful that my Great Gardener so surely cares.

Psalms 23:3  He makes me whole again, steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name. 

Later today, in the safety of my deep garden mulch I planted tomatoes, fennel and onions.  In ready soil plants and joy will spring up!  We need not dwell on just the weeds.

Psalms 92:13   For they are transplanted to the LORD's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.

And as my eye is keen to watch over my garden, I marvel at HIS over me (and you ♥).  As if I am the only one with needs or weeds, and as if He has no greater duties or desires than to carefully tend to all of them that I so easily and constantly generate.  I bet the forest and the hills quiet down to watch Him and the winds soften their blows as the Master comes with purposeful love to my garden gates.

Psalms 103:12 .........as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Lyrics:

Your will done your way

Your will done your way

Your will done your way

I will not fight You

Take me past the line that my heart draws

I will not fight You

Take me beyond the laziness of my thoughts

I will not fight 

Lead me further than I've gone before

I will not fight You

I'm abandoned to Your call

Do not let there be, any part of me

That’s untouchable, unreachable

Let my delight be, living out Your dreams

Washing dirty feet, and kissing yours

 “Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. I am standing at the door and knocking.  If any of you hear My Voice and open the door, then I will come in and visit with you and share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.  --Revelations 3:19-20 

I Planted a Garden

I’m looking out the window into the south field where I have planted a garden.  I covered it with old hay and wood chips when I learned that the perfect balance and protection would only exist with a covering of all the soil.  I put a fence around it when I realized that the dogs would not see, nor respect the tiny, precious, seedlings emerging. 

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one.................

2 whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

I learned, as I was building my garden, and listening to other more knowing gardeners, that pests attack the plants when they are in distress, and not so much when they are thriving in a balance of moisture, nutrition, and sunlight.   It seems that over time, as this mulch covering decays, it becomes nutritious soil from the bottom upwards.  The health and vitality of the soil grows from year to year as it is left under this lovely, protection where seedlings can thrive.  ♥  It is good to keep planting in the covering.


Psalms 91:4   Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers,
    will protect you under His great wings;
    His faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you.

My family built an arbor for me for my 48^th birthday which has become an entrance to the garden.  It has a double gate that my son, Jack, and I built.  I don’t let in the chickens, nor the dogs.  I wouldn't welcome our cats or goats or any animal through the gate; nothing can come in that does not respect and benefit the garden.  I’m becoming a good gardener.

Psalms 147:13  For His divine power reinforces your city gates, blesses your children in the womb.
14 He establishes peace within your borders, fills your markets with hearty golden wheat.

Once I looked out to find the chickens had flown over the fence and were madly scratching and greedily flinging the covering into the air in search of worms and bugs.  I removed them.  Now my family is building a coop where chickens will have a new home and will soon find that their wing feathers have been clipped.  I've decided to care for my garden well and remove any threats.

 Psalms 3:3 But You, Eternal One, wrap around me like an impenetrable shield. 

The sun is shining on the arbor now as morning grows long.  It glistens off of the fence, and is surely warming the wood chips.  I can see some green plants peeking out from here in my chair by the window.   As I tend this simple patch of ground I'm so perfectly and daily moved by heaven's  kindest metaphors, it's most comforting language.  And in mute remembrance knowing this utterance is heard and seen on every patch of ground, in every imaginable place where there are human eyes and ears who wish to "see" and "hear".

Romans 1:20  From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses.....

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

John 16:13 The Spirit of truth will come and guide you in all truth.

Philippians 4:7  And know that the peace of God will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, The Anointed One.

... Under His covering...