Simply Be His Child

When it rains, the rainwater washes down our driveway, bringing a fine layer of soil with it. When our children were younger, this smooth dirt was enticing to them. They loved to run their fingers through the cool silt. They said it was "fairy dust" and would throw this dirt up in the air and throw the dirt on each other's heads. It was funny to watch how completely dirty they would get, and how simple their fun was. I let them play because they were my youngest, and I knew this magic would fade as they grew. I thought that we must all look like dirty toddlers to our Heavenly Father, all in need of a good bath and cleaning. We like to point fingers at how dirty our brothers and sisters might be, but we're not much cleaner if any at all. 

I'm always catching judgmental thoughts in my head and tossing them out, but they keep coming! One time I felt frustrated, seeing some mistakes others were making, and feeling judgmental of them. Yet I could see some of those same mistakes and problems in my own life. I asked the Lord, "Don't you ever get tired of the MESS that we all are? How do you have it in you to show love to us all the time? How did you show love at the cross when you were so tired and had gone through so much suffering?" He told me that he had given and shown love so many times before, that it had become who He is. Kind of like when electricity flows through a channel for a long time- it retains the memory in its cells. Maybe over time love will become automatic if I keep choosing to see others with love instead of judgment, it's a daily struggle for sure. 

While we want to avoid judging others unfairly, some judgment is necessary to know who we can trust, and to decide how to spend our limited time and energy.  A little while ago someone who I considered a friend came over, but this time I wasn't sure if they were sincerely a friend or if there was something else going on. After they left, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me understand their heart, and what their intent was. The Lord answered by asking me a question, "How do they speak about those closest to them in their family?" Unfortunately, it wasn't good. Another time some of our friends were talking about Zion, and Edward prayed and asked the Lord about Zion. The Lord's response was a question, "What makes you think you can build Zion with other people, if you haven't built Zion in your own home? Worry about building Zion in your own home before you worry about building Zion with anyone else." This isn't a reflection of Edward, he gives being a father and husband everything he has, and is adored by our children. That's just the Lord's speaking plainly. The work of living what Jesus taught- loving and forgiving each other, is first practiced in our home. It is easy to maintain appearances publicly, but actually living Jesus' teachings of forgiveness, humility, kindness is most genuine and  real at home.  "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 When Jesus tells us to judge a righteous judgement, part of it is honestly looking at ourselves and recognizing we have repenting and work to do in the relationships that matter most- our families. Jesus is the only righteous one.  

Recently I had an interaction that made me think. A friend who has been kind in the past, expressed concern because I am not attending church. She said that some outside of the "covenant path" of church might make it to the tree of life, but that they would come crawling on their hands and knees. I didn't know if she was referring to our family's challenges, it felt like she was. In her view, the right way is to stay on the church path, and we aren't there. We all have moments where we feel like we're crawling on our hands and knees- in or out of the church. That interaction reminded me that I also judge others without knowing their hearts. Maybe we are trying to analyze what we don't understand in our mortal, flawed, human way, instead of allowing each other to be held in the Lord's capable hands. 

A few days later, I read John 9 about the blind man being healed by Jesus. The disciples asked the Lord, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents that he was born blind?" In the question of the disciples is a huge assumption. The disciples assumed that sin is the cause of this man's challenge. 

I am so thankful that the disciples didn't omit their very human questions in the records they made. Many of our own questions are found in what the disciples asked Jesus. Why do I struggle so much with what seems so easy for others? Is there something I have done wrong? Who sinned here? When I hear about others' difficulties, I am tempted to think of their faults too. Assuming challenges are a result of sin is ignorant of how the Lord tutors and teaches all of us. It is ignorant of God's mercy and incredible love for his children. How easily we ascribe personal trials to God purifying the righteous (we all think that's us!). Yet we see others challenges as their merited, just reward for their sins. How little we know and see of Jesus' mercy, love and grace for all of us, and how willing the Lord is to talk to us and help us! We are all blind in many ways to the majesty and miracles Jesus places around us every day. We are all beggars before God, and yet he loves us and sees something worth saving in us.

Jesus answered his disciple's question about the blind man, as always with astonishing truth and love. "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

What a contrast between how we see each other and how Jesus sees us! When Jesus saw the blind man, Jesus saw someone in whom God's works were waiting to be made manifest in. For many of us, when we see others struggling, it is easier to assume that sin is the cause. Jesus saw in the blind man someone that would bring glory to God, because he was in need of God. We are all in need of God! We can try to see each other with grace and love, looking for God's hand in each other's lives, instead of looking for sin and blame. When we hear about others challenges, we may be tempted to feel justified because we don't have their particular challenge. I hope we can respond more like Jesus would, waiting for God to show his miracles and His glory in their life and praying for them. The God we worship meets us in our challenges, that is where His miracles come to help us! We all need the Lord to perform his amazing work in our lives.  Praise God for being willing to love and help us in our unworthy state! 

I mentioned this to Edward, and he commented that after Jesus healed the blind man, the Pharisees were unbelieving. They accused and questioned the blind man about the miracle that had changed his life. Their unbelief didn't allow them to see the miracle and feel joyful that this man's life was forever made better. I hope I don't let others rob me of the joy of being loved and perfectly cared for by the Lord, even in my trials. I hope I don't take the unbelieving Pharisees' approach with friends, diminishing their miracles and the Lord's sustenance to them in their trials.

One time I was praying, asking for one particularly big trial to be taken away, the Lord told me that we are in His care, and that being held in His hands, is a much more stable and secure place to be than anywhere else in the world. I feel so thankful the Lord has taken care of us in every way! Whatever your trial, let Him lead you through it and transform the difficulty into something beautiful. That is what Jesus does, He takes a mess and makes it beautiful. 

My friend with the gift of blunt honesty referred to an important point. Is salvation, or exaltation dependent on belonging to an organized church, and covenants made in that church? The scriptures define church differently than our modern definition. 

"Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." D&C 10:67-69.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6 "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 Do we really believe those words? Do we need someone other than  Jesus to be saved?

It's between you and the Lord. It's about having a relationship, where you can speak to Him and know Him personally. Learning to speak with the Lord, distinguish his voice and follow Him is the most important thing we can do. Having a relationship with Him doesn't require joining an organization, there is no money required to speak to Him, there is no special clothing you can buy that makes you more worthy, or special building you must gain access to for worship. No middlemen are needed. Just your humble and repentant heart turned to only Jesus. Your heart is where true worship happens. 

You can hear His voice. It is not reserved for those that deserve it, the Lord even spoke to Cain after he had killed his brother. In the church, sometimes we think that Jesus doesn't speak to us, that privilege is reserved for prophets. But we believe the Holy Ghost may speak to us. The Holy Ghost IS Jesus' voice, it is the mind and will of the Lord speaking to you. We might think- "No, I haven't heard Him, I only occasionally hear the Holy Spirit." The Lord has been speaking to you all along. 

Is organized religion helping you hear the Lord's voice and know Him personally? When you go to church, is Jesus the main focus or a side note? Maybe the answer is different for each of us. 

When I was listening to Christmas songs, the song "Joseph's Lullaby" came on. In the song, it is as if Joseph is speaking to baby Jesus, telling him to rest, "I believe the glory of Heaven is lying in my arms tonight. But Lord, I ask that He for just this moment, Simply be my child." The line "Simply be my child" stayed in my mind, like it was on repeat. It felt like the Lord's message to me. With so many things calling our attention, and the increasing chaos in the world, "simply be my child" gave my heart peace. In many ways I'm falling short, but "Simply be His child" is reachable. The Lord wants me to remember that He is my Father and I can rest in his care. He is a good Father that takes care of his children. How He loves us!

The phrase, "Simply be my child" still echoes in my mind. Be the child of Heavenly Mother and Father who love you more than you understand. They have held you, covered you with their love and protection like a blanket, cherishing every smile and moment holding and being with you, and have given a great sacrifice, Jesus, to have you come back to them.

Song "Joseph's Lullaby"

  

Silk Threads

Have you spied silky spiderwebs looking like golden threads in the sunlight? If you look for them, they are everywhere! This summer we spotted hundreds of caterpillars dropping from maple trees, also by using silk threads. We were close to a shallow river, shaded by nearby maple trees. The sunshine reflecting off the water as it trickled over smooth rocks gave me a reason to pause and notice. In the grassy field next to the river, hundreds of little silk threads were falling from the trees. It was like a film of fine silk threads veiling everything.

Some of the threads were made by caterpillars coming down from leaves, and others were from spiders. Someone walking by might miss the silk threads if they weren't looking towards the sunlight. Both types of silks were thinly covering a lot of the trees, grass, and were floating in the air. The different purposes of the threads made me think.

Silk threads from spiders are woven to catch things- flying insects. They are part of a trap meant to take away freedom. Some spiders spin webs in the shape of domes, they look like upside-down bowls. They catch insects as they begin to fly upwards. If you were a small insect on the ground, using the sun for navigation, looking up you might mistake the golden shimmer of the spider web threads for the sun, and fly towards them. Once caught, the insects have to struggle to get free, and some never make it to freedom. The success of the web is being almost imperceptible. The nature of webs is to take flight away, trapping and leading to the death of the insects caught. 

Other silk threads are part of a caterpillar's transformation into a winged insect, a flying moth, or a butterfly. They are part of giving a caterpillar wings to fly. Seeing a leaf-munching caterpillar, we never think how many thousands of miles that slow little caterpillar may travel once it has wings. 

Some butterflies like monarch butterflies fly 3,000 miles in their migration paths. Interestingly, it takes monarch butterflies 4 generations to complete a migration circle. Each generation has a different role to play in the migration pattern than the one before it. What an amazing plan for such a little insect! Four generations is also a phrase used in the scriptures, also referring to a cycle. The silk threads of butterflies and moths lead to greater vistas and freedom than a little caterpillar could ever imagine.

Some silk threads will lead to entrapment, other silk threads will lead to freedom. Both are invisible unless they are seen in the sunshine, and both are much more abundant than is noticed at first glance.

There are a couple scriptures that mention worms: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 41:14. David in the Psalms also talks about a worm, "But I, a worm, am loved of no man; a reproach of man, despised of the people. . . . I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. . . . They pierced my hands and my feet." Psalm 22: 6,14,16. This is in reference to Jesus, and his crucifixion. This link is to an interesting article on the meaning of "worm" in the Bible.

What about the invisible threads in my life? What threads are pulling on me, and what do they lead to- freedom or entrapment? 

We can feel cords of influence, things that invisibly pull on us, from people, from traditions of how we grew up, from our cell phones, entertainment, or other things- pulling us towards good or evil. Removing ourselves from webs is not easy. The Lord helps us to untangle as we ask for his help. We can ask the Lord to help us see what is His truth and light.

As I was organizing my thoughts, I wrote about the webs in my life. The Lord cautioned me, what is a web for me might not be a web for someone else. He told me not to despise what He uses to bring his children to Him. How many times I've misjudged people and situations! The Lord is working with all of us as we seek Him, and it will look different for each of us. I think we can agree that what distances us from the Lord is a web. If something is depleting your ability to take care of yourself, spouse or children, we should also ask ourselves and ask the Lord if it is acting like a web. 

The devil will try to take what is meant for good and turn it for evil. Things that are supposed to be good- family, church, service to others, all of these the devil tries to claim for himself, and uses them to manipulate people and distance them from God and each other. The Lord takes what is evil and transforms it into something good and beautiful. How wonderful is our God!

Webs come in different shapes. Some webs might be lies we grew up believing. Maybe we believed we had nothing to contribute, and shouldn't speak up, or rock the boat. Maybe we believed we weren't loved, or smart, or that in some way we are beyond hope. Other webs might be of our own making,  destructive patterns like anger or impatience or trying to control others. We all are caught in more webs than we realize! 

When an insect is in a spider's web, the movement of the insect is felt by the spider. When we move, we also cause movements in the invisible threads around us. Don't be discouraged if you are trying to overcome a web or lie, and all of a sudden it gets harder. Light overcomes darkness.

A few days ago I went on a walk with my kids. We noticed many more webs. I asked, how do you tell the difference between a silk thread that is a trap, or a silk thread that leads to more freedom? 

The Lord always respects our ability to choose. We don't feel trapped or manipulated when we are following the Lord, we feel freedom. If you feel that you have no choice in a matter, or that you are forced to do what doesn't seem right, that isn't how the Lord works. He always respects our ability to choose. He makes a way where there is no way!  

I was on a walk thinking about these connections and silk threads. I asked the Lord, "What connects me to you?" He answered, "My love for you." As the answer "My love for you " came into my mind, the next thing in my path was a maple tree. The stems connecting the leaves to the branches stood out to me because they were red. I knew the red stems were part of my answer.

I had seen red stems on a quaking aspen, just a couple weeks earlier. The red stems remind me that Jesus' connection and love for me is marked by his sacrifice, he gave his life for me. The scripture about Jesus being the vine came to mind, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." John 15:5. The verse before states, "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." John 15:4.

 

This was a different tree a couple years ago, also with red stems connecting the leaves to the branches. 

A few feet away from the first tree, was another maple tree with helicopter seeds- the seeds that spin like helicopters in the wind. The seeds look like wings to fly. The Lord gives us wings to fly! He gives us freedom.

I looked up the scripture about Jesus being the truth, the truth that sets us free. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32. Later in that chapter, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. I love those words about Jesus, he is the light that makes darkness scatter. It isn't anything we do, it's Him. 

Interestingly, the chapter where Jesus says he is the truth that sets us free is the same chapter where the woman is caught in adultery and brought to Jesus. She was definitely caught in a trap, one that might have gotten her killed. 

"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst of the people, [it sounds like they were trying to make her an example. What a horrible position for her to be in!] they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. [Where was the man involved in this? It is interesting that only she is made an example.] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned; but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out of the temple one by one. beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman was standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised up himself, and saw none of her accusers, and the woman standing, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more. And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name." John 8:4-11

Jesus is so quick to forgive! He didn't rehash what she already knew, he just forgave her. That last sentence caught my attention. She glorified God from that hour. What a beautiful statement about how forgiveness makes you feel and how it changes you. How quickly her life changed! I wish I could have heard her story, and heard how she glorified God. Someday maybe we will.

Do I appreciate Jesus' love and sacrifice for me?  Do I ask Jesus for help in getting out of the webs that I am in? Have you felt Jesus freeing you from burdens? How has He changed your life? I hope these are the conversations we have with each other- how has Jesus changed your life?

How has Jesus changed my life? Jesus helps me to be better than I am, forgiving me so many times! Jesus gives me peace when I feel anxious or troubled. He helps me understand what is confusing and counsels me when I don't know how to handle challenges and relationships. Jesus' advice is wise and loving, He really is a Wonderful Counselor! When fitting a pattern is something I push against, Jesus tells me it's OK, and He works with me wherever I am. Knowing Jesus loves me and that He sees me means everything to me. Jesus created so many things to teach me about Him, the trees, the sun, the clouds, they all testify of Jesus and his love for us. It has been liberating to learn that I don't need to run faster and do more and more to earn his love and blessings. He loves me not because I have earned it, but because that is who He is, He is a loving God that loves to bless his children.

Song: Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Jesus by Anne Wilson

Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Jesus   Lyrics

… Are you past the point of weary?

Is your burden weighin' heavy?

Is it all too much to carry?

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

Do you feel that empty feeling?

'Cause shame's done all its stealin'

And you're desperate for some healin'

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Amen

Amen

… Who can wipe away the tears

From broken dreams and wasted years

And tell the past to disappear? Oh

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And all the wrong turns that you would

Go and undo if you could

Who can work it all for your good

Let me tell you about my Jesus

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Amen

Amen, Amen

… Who would take my cross to Calvary?

Pay the price for all my guilty?

Who would care that much about me?

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus, oh

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, amen

Amen

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Let my Jesus change your life

A testimony of Jesus in Seeds

 With spring coming, we have been learning about how to grow different seeds. All of nature testifies of our Creator. The seeds testify of Jesus, and what He went through for us, and also teach us about our growth. 

Jesus said He is the seed that fell to bring new life. In Matthew 13 Jesus gives 3 parables about seeds. I love how Jesus uses simple things in nature to teach us. This is NLT version of the parables. I grew up with the KJV, but the slight change in wording helps it become fresh and makes me think more.

The Sower and the Seeds

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."

We automatically assume that we are the good, fertile soil and that other people are the hard, rocky, thorny soil. If we can see that we can be hardened, rocky, shallow, and filled with thorns- we are more likely to want to change and allow our trials to tutor us. We hope that our heart's soil becomes less hard, less rocky, less filled with thorns and less shallow, and more fertile ground for faith in Jesus to grow. 

The Wheat and the Tares 

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?' "An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked. "No',  he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn."

The Mustard Seed

"Here is another illustration Jesus used, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."

The night of the Passover dinner before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me." John 12:24-26 NLT

Jesus is the seed that we plant in our hearts. Let me tell you a little about seeds, and how they testify of Jesus. Seeds teach us about what Jesus went through for us, and also some of what we go through in following Him.

We have been learning about how to grow microgreens- plants grown in shallow trays with soil. For a time, they are covered, light is blocked and they are weighed down. "The weight forces the tiny seedling to anchor itself in the soil. This produces a stronger and better-rooted plant." (link to quote). This hit me as truth. Do our trials force us to anchor ourselves? To anchor to truth, to Him that is truth, to Jesus?

Another reason microgreens are covered with weight is that it helps the plant to discard the seed's tough shell- the necessary protective covering that has kept the seed from spoiling. There are different methods of applying pressure to the seeds. Some growers use other flats filled with soil and seeds as the weight to encourage growth- they stack seed trays on top of each other. Another method is to put heavy bricks on the seedlings. One grower said they stack growing trays and also put a 15 lb brick on top of the stacks of seed trays. Wow, that's a lot of weight for a tiny seed, it's amazing that they are strong enough to grow and push back under that pressure! You have probably seen a plant growing in a tiny crack of concrete, or in the cracks between rocks. It is amazing plant roots can crack rocks and boulders. 

The darkness causes the seeds to push upward and reach for light. Without the darkness, the seeds wouldn't have to stretch, discard their shells and push through the dirt to reach the light. The darkness of the world causes us to reach for Jesus and the light He is to us. The worse the world becomes, the brighter Jesus' light and love is to us. Our heart is where Jesus' love is meant to grow deep roots. The trials we go through are removing some of the hardness, rockiness, and thorns in our hearts. We may be weighed down at times by the choices of people around us. Most of us have hard shells to shed, our unbelief, our worries about what others think, and our attachment to worldly things. Maybe our shell is our set expectations, and we are learning to trust more in God's plan. 

Not all seeds have tough shells to discard though. Jesus was perfect, humble, honest and direct, yet forgiving and loving. He always directed any praise to Heavenly Father. Like the seeds are weighed down, Jesus bore the weight of all of our sins. Our sins were his weight, we each were part of the pains he suffered. He spared us the crushing effects of our sins by taking on himself our transgressions.

One plant that I collected seeds from last fall was angelica.  I will tell you about how I came across angelica at the end of this post, but it is a special, medicinal plant with tall majestic white flowers. Angelica seeds need to be placed in winter-like conditions before they will sprout.  A month is the minimum time needed for the seeds to sit in a winter climate- if not a real winter, a fridge may work. Many wildflowers have this protective mechanism to prevent the plants from germinating too soon. Even after the cold period, the seeds might take months to sprout. Waiting, nurturing the seed, hoping and wondering if they will grow at all, is how some very special plants grow. Having children teaches us a lot about the waiting, hoping, and wondering that is a key part of the faith. 

Jesus was at peace in His Father's timing. He waited for the timing to be right for his mission and for the miracles he performed. I wonder what led his mother, Mary, to ask Jesus to intervene at the wedding in Cana, when the wine ran out. It was Jesus' first public miracle. It is interesting that Jesus turned the water to wine after the man-made supply had run out.  Had Mary seen Jesus do miracles in their home? Jesus grew in learning and wisdom, waiting for the right time to begin his mission. For us, timing for answered prayers or waited blessings is something we wrestle with. Patience with the uncertainty of our trials, and being at peace in God's care and His timetable is a critical key to following the Lord. Jesus' words in the Lord's prayer, asking for daily bread, are a reminder to ask the Lord for strength to get through today, to trust God for daily support, just as the little birds trust God.  

Some seeds, like nasturtiums, sweet peas and others, are put through scarification, they are scarred, before they are planted. Growers will get sandpaper and scar the seeds so that they will sprout. Wow, this really reminds me of Jesus and his scars for us. Isaiah says "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5. 

Some seeds are unlocked with intense heat, like forest fires. Evergreen trees of certain kinds have pine cones that are covered with a protective waxy resin, they are known as serotinous cones. The fires and intense heat melt the protective resin and open the pinecones where the seeds are stored. 

When we had forest fires close to us, after gathering up our families, we anxiously watched news of the fires from a safe distance. When Jesus faced his last few days, his trial, terrible scourging, and crucifixion, most of his disciples fled, like we flee from forest fires. They watched anxiously from a safer distance, as Jesus went through fire for all of us. Jesus had the ability to leave, but he stayed to bear our sins. Like the pine cone opened up for seeds and new life to grow, Jesus was stretched open on the cross to give us new life. When someone is suffering intensely, a natural instinct is to curl up tightly in fetal position. If you have ever seen someone you love like that, you can't ever forget. All other comforts gone, every means of reassurance exhausted except for the ability to feel arms hugging knees, protectively pressed into a tearful face. How painful it must have been for Jesus after being scourged and whipped, then to be stretched wide open, nailed to a cross. When we are in pain, most of us turn inward, focusing on ourselves. Jesus was focused on others, being open and aware of those around him, loving and forgiving as he was suffering. It is significant that it is evergreen trees who have pinecones that are opened up with fire to bring forth new life. Evergreen trees remind us of Jesus love- these trees don't lose their leaves with the seasons, they are always green. Jesus loves is like that.

Jesus is the seed that went through fire for us to give us new life. How thankful we are that he overcame all things, even death, and resurrected for each one of us. 

Jesus also stays with us in our personal trials, he is in the fire with us, like he was for Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (Daniel 3). Maybe you feel like you are in the fire. Ask the Lord in prayer how He is helping you, I bet He can't wait to show you that He is with you, carrying you when you need it. Trust that something new and good will come. Knowing He is with us makes the hard things lose their bitterness. 

Some seeds of flowers require the heat, smoke and the charred alkaline remains of a forest fire to grow, like fire poppies, mountain mallows, fireweed, arnica. These flowers are so colorful and beautiful, their petals look like fair wings healing the forest. These seeds can wait for decades before the conditions are right to sprout. That is a really long time to wait! Interestingly, some of the flowers that grow after fires are cooling, soothing medicinal plants you could apply to a burn. God always provides healing and help! His help is always on time. The Lord is faithful to his promises, and out of the ashes he brings forth beauty. 

Mountain mallows by Heidi Brinkerhoff Rohner

Fireweed

Some seeds grow best in disturbed soil.  Sunflowers love to grow in areas that are disturbed. In our area, after the forest fires, there was danger of flooding. Machinery was brought in to create berms and ditches to contain flooding runoff. Where bulldozers came through, those areas grew a wide path or field of sunflowers the following year. For Jesus, his friends and family, surely it seemed like his death was the end, Jesus had been removed from the land of the living in the most painful way possible. But Jesus resurrection was only a few days away from his crucifixion. Tears were turned to joy that he lives! Does it seem your soil has been bulldozed? There is something special in the works, God turns all things for our good.

Let me finish telling you about the angelica seeds that I mentioned earlier. It is interesting that the Lord loves us and knows what touches our hearts! At the right moments for us individually, He gives us reminders of his love. A couple years ago for my birthday, we walked around a mountain lake, the kids skipped rocks, we enjoyed the sunset, and it was a wonderful evening. With a large family it is hard to get everyone together, and usually at least one or two people are having a rough or grumpy time. It was a rare moment for us to be together, happy, and in a beautiful place. There were some delicate white flowers that were on one side of the lake, they were tall and beautiful, I had to take a few pictures. When I got home and looked them up, I couldn't tell if the white blossoms were angelica or their poisonous look-alike. I forgot about our walk around the lake, and the white flowers as other things came up. The following year, a friend was giving an herb walk at this same lake. I went, and she stopped at the same spot I had taken pictures of the year before to point out the white flowers. She taught us how to tell the difference between the amazing angelica plant and the look-alike- poison hemlock. They were growing close to each other. She pointed out the features that tell them apart- shape of leaves, smell, hair on leaves, color of the stalks. During the Black Plague, a Benedictine monk was given a dream where an angel told him to use this plant to help people with the plague. That is why the plant was named Angelica Archangelica. In Europe, angelica is candied and used to flavor pastries and flavor alcohol, and it is also used medicinally by many. I had completely forgotten about our family's walk around the lake a year before and my desire to learn about the white flowers, until I went back through my pictures, and found the angelica flowers from the year before. The Lord knew the desire of my heart to know about these flowers, and a year later gave me that gift. I was amazed at the Lord's love and goodness to me. I had forgotten, but He hadn't, He remembered me. It spoke right to my heart. He knows our interests and speaks each of our love languages. He speaks your love language. I hope you can see the Lord's individual love for you, and how He knows you so well. He knows every thought, every worry. Even every hair on our heads and every tiny ridge in our fingerprint is loved and known by Him. 

Angelica Archangelica

When you are going through a trial, remember the seeds. They teach us how darkness and uncertainty are needed to grow strong roots. The darkness helps us reach for light, for Jesus that is our Light. The seeds teach us about being patient, and having hope and faith when we are in the dark, and discarding the tough shells that keep us from growing. Seeds teach us that Jesus made small things strong, we can grow under pressure. Most important though, seeds remind us of what Jesus went through for each of us. Jesus was scarred for us, went through fire at his crucifixion for us, and resurrected to overcome death for us. All of nature testifies of Christ and praises him! 

Trees and Chickadees

Little birds are amazing in their resilience. It is always mind-boggling to me that they can survive winter storms, where do they go? How did the Lord make them so that warm blood flows in their tiny toothpick legs when everything else is frozen? My feet are always cold, I wonder how the little birds feet stay warm. One day I was walking, I had been asking the Lord to help me, I need his reassurance, peace, and help so often. On this walk, I noticed that every time I came closer to small birds, they flew up to a higher place, like a pine tree. The Lord told me he wants me to be like the little birds that are always returning to their tree for safety. He wants to be my safe place, and where I constantly return when I need peace and reassurance. Like the pine trees, with branches that are green all year, his love is always there for me. 

Another time I went on a walk, as a strong wind was ushering in a heavy winter storm.  Tiny balls of ice and snow had begun to pelt the ground. Being outside while wind and clouds are gathering for a storm is awesome if you are dressed warm. I passed a wide and towering evergreen tree with snow and icicles on its thick branches. Close to the trunk of the tree, out of the wind, was a little black and white chickadee. This little bird was chirping insistently, and looking right at me. It kept chirping as if it had a message for me. It seemed to say, "I'm OK, I'm safe, here by my tree." Jesus is our safe place, our shelter, our hiding place, especially in the trials we go through. 

Chickadees are small, and might seem insignificant, but they are hopeful, joyful, and resilient. It is amazing to me that they can survive the cold temperatures and winter snow. How do they keep warm when they are smaller than the palm of my hand? God made them to survive the winters. They glorify God just by being themselves- the joy and trust in God they convey, is hopeful.

Wherever you are, know that Jesus wants to be with you through the storm and in the sunshine too. He paid the ultimate price so that he could do that for you and me. 

He wants to be our shelter and safety, because He's the only way we'll get through life OK. He is the Way and the Truth. He is the Wonderful Counselor who wants to lead you through your trials. Others might not understand, but He does.

After big snowstorms, it is interesting to watch the snow melt from the snowbanks on the hills and mountains. The water runs down the streets and in the gutters, in small rippling waves that just keep coming, all hours of the day and night.  Just as the snow can't help running down the mountain, the Lord's love can't be stopped from flowing toward his children. We are never far from his love, because his love is the very force that gives us breath and life.

God's Love and Snow

My husband's father passed away due to the effects of a stroke earlier this winter. We were all heartbroken, it felt sudden and way too soon. On the day of his funeral, a heavy snowstorm covered everything with a foot and a half of snow. The next day, we went out to shovel the snow off of our driveway. Every twig, every branch of every tree was outlined by white snow. It hadn't melted yet, or been blown away by the snow. Normally snow does not stay more than a few hours undisturbed on the oak trees' twigs and branches. Temperatures change quickly and the wind comes up, or the sun comes out and melts the snow off the twigs and branches, even though the snow stays on the ground much longer. But this snow stayed on every twig of every tree, for 2-3 days. It was beautiful and unusual. It reminded me that just as the snow covered every detail, God's love for us is over every detail in our lives. Because of what we had just been through, we felt loved and felt hope in seeing the snow.

I had seen snow like this before, it was meaningful to me. It was several years ago, a few days before our daughter's biggest surgery. The surgery ahead of her at that time would be complicated and long, and the details of how it could be done were unclear to me. I was worried about so many things- the surgery and complications, leaving our kids at home, staying at the hospital for an extended time.  A few days before the surgery, it snowed heavily. Every detail of every branch was covered with beautiful white snow, and the snow didn't melt for a couple days, which is rare. I felt that in the snow was a personal message for me. Every detail of our daughter's surgery and the next few weeks would be covered by the Lord's love for us, just like the snow was covering every twig of every tree. I hung on to that hope and love because I needed it! And it was true, the surgery went well. Everything that we could have thought of and more was taken care of by the Lord. There were difficult moments, but we could feel the Lord helping us and blessing us.

Snow several years ago, a few days before our daughter's surgery

When I saw the snow on the day of my father-in-law's funeral, especially how it stayed on the branches like it did just before our daughter's surgery, I knew that there was something special about the snow. It was reminding us that Heavenly Father's love covers every detail in our lives. He knows.

Jesus compared himself to a grain of wheat, a seed, that had to die to give others life. "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives." John 12:20 NLT.  It is interesting to see the different translations of this verse, other translations say a grain falls to the ground and dies. The NLT translates it as a kernel of wheat is "planted". This shows our Heavenly Parents and Jesus' loving intentions for us, in his sacrifice. 

It is easy to think of Jesus when we see seeds on trees and flowers. I especially love to see how the birds are provided for by the seeds. There is a tree with little red berries in our yard, the berries are the seeds of the tree. The day of the funeral, when it snowed so heavily, the red berries were weighed down with heavy snow that looked like snow cones. Small icicles that looked like teardrops were forming on the berries. The berries reminded me that Jesus carries our burdens, weeps with us, and also offers himself to give us life. 

My friend shared this about icicles: In symbolism, icicles remind one to be still - they count the passage of time with each drop of water they emit. Be still and know that I am God. 

A few weeks later, I was still processing everything that happened when Grandpa passed away, and was out on a walk. I passed some dried-out sunflowers. I thought of the beautiful sunflowers and the changes they had gone through since summer. The bright yellow petals of the sunflowers had fallen off, the stems and leaves had lost their green vibrance, the stems had dried out, and they were standing in 2 feet of snow.  It's too bad that the days of summer glory are past for the sunflower, I thought. Then it seemed that the flowers replied, "These are my glory days, I get to feed the little birds in winter!" It surprised me, and made me think of the small and big things we do to take care of each other, it is an honor to do what we can to help others. It also made me think of Jesus, and the price he paid suffering for our sins. 

Did Jesus feel that way about his suffering for us? Did he look at his sacrifice like that? In Jesus' hardest moments, he was feeding us, giving us life. Maybe it is in our winter times, our personal difficulties, that Jesus' love shines the brightest, and we are most grateful for his unchanging love for us. Those are the times when we realize how much God is caring for us and aware of every detail in our lives. In our times of darkness, his light shines the brightest. Our hope is in Jesus and his promises.

I hope that whatever difficulties you have in your life, you can see God's love shining just for you. And that you find opportunities to pass his love on. 

Fires and Flowers

Three years ago, a huge fire tore through the mountains behind our home. The towns closest to the fires were evacuated as firemen stayed behind to fight the flames. 

After the fires were out and it was safe to come back, people went up the canyons to see the heartbreaking devastation. It was the next summer before we went. Seeing the destruction, we wondered how many decades it would be before the forests we love were healed. Thankfully there are patches that the fires missed. This summer in the same canyons and mountains, wild mallows and wild hollyhocks blossomed in the burnt areas of the forests. These are part of the mallow family. The contrast of burnt, black trees and pink and white mallow blossoms was beautiful. The mallows delicate pink and white flower petals lit up as the sun shone through them. The flower petals looked like fairy wings hovering in the burnt forest.  The flowers felt hopeful. Mother Nature was healing the burn scars with the same herbs we would put on a burn or wound- plants from the mallow family.

What is growing in the mountains is not as coincidental as I once thought. God put his healing and help in the plants for us. One herbalist said that the flowers in the mountains grow specifically for the illnesses that come in the winter. If you see a lot of flowers in the mountains, the flowers might be there to help us overcome the winter illnesses later that year. It is interesting that what we need is provided by God in nature, even before we need it. 

When one of our children was a baby, I was trying to take a video of him. Our 4-year-old jumped up and down with his hand up, yelling, "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" Sometimes when I am walking, a plant will call my attention, seeming to say, "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" I want to tell you about a mallow plant that called my attention like that.  

In late spring, we went to a large cross on a hill overlooking the valley. It was just an activity to get us out of the house, something we all needed. Around the cross, is mostly just dirt and rocks, although there are many plants on the way there. 

Snowy mountain top and hill with a cross

As we were coming back from the cross, the first flower that was on the trail was a reddish-orange flower. This little plant with reddish-orange flowers was calling my attention as plainly as if it were jumping up and down and yelling "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" It had something to tell me, but I didn't know what it was or recognize the plant. 

Scarlet Globemallow

I stooped down and took its picture. When I got home I looked it up on a plant identification app. It was scarlet globemallow. This resilient plant thrives in neglected soil, in dry, harsh conditions. It needs very little water or care to grow, it grows to be less than 1 foot tall. The name scarlet globemallow reminded me of the scripture, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18. The name scarlet globemallow, is very much like the Spanish word for red blood cells. Red blood cells are known as "globulos rojos" in Spanish, meaning red globes.  I couldn't help but think of Jesus' blood that was shed for us, was what the plant was communicating. I grew up speaking Spanish, the Lord was using what is familiar to me- like he does for each of us. This scarlet globemallow flower wanted to be seen and noticed there, it had something to tell me. 

Going through my notes of past herb walks, I came across this information about the mallow family, from Homegrown Herbalist. The mallow family motto is "It's OK, we can get through this." Mallows are added to almost every herbal formula because they have soothing, cooling, and mending properties that make them wonderful healers. The flowers, stems, and leaves are all medicinal and useful, but the strongest medicine is in the mallow roots. It hit me that the message of the scarlet globemallow and mallows in the burnt forests was more than I had first understood. They were testifying of Jesus and forgiveness, and there was a message of hope, "It's OK, we can get through this." I was stunned by the intelligence, love, and testimony of Jesus in the mallow plants God created. Putting the pieces of the scarlet globemallow's message together, "Though your sins are like scarlet, because Jesus gave his blood for us, it will be OK and we can get through this."

Sometimes what's hardest to get through is our own sins and shortcomings. For me the times when I act in anger and impatience, hurting those that matter most to me, are the most discouraging. When Jesus talked about loving others, the real testing and application of love for God is within our homes and families. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34 ESV. Matthews also records Jesus saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40. How humbling it is when we get it wrong with the people that matter most to us. Don't worry, my family is OK. I just wish I didn't lose my temper so often.

When Jesus was on the earth, when he healed people, he also forgave them. "Sins" is what we knowingly do wrong, but also refers to our human, mortal condition. The trying to do what's right but getting it terribly wrong at times, the exhaustion, the doubting, all of what afflicts us in this fallen world. All of those mortal weaknesses will be made right because of Jesus. 

In God's creations are messages of hope for us, like the scarlet globemallow and the mallows in the burnt forest, "Though your sins are like scarlet, because Jesus gave his blood for us, it will be OK and we can get through this." 

Jesus' teachings the Passover night before he was arrested (John12-17) are the most beautiful, profound, and comforting teachings. He told his friends that in the world they would have trials and sorrow, but in him, they would have peace. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus' peace carries you and me through the sorrows and trials of this world. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27. 

On that Passover evening, Jesus talked to his disciples about his coming death, and the suffering they all had ahead of them. He told them it was like when a woman's time has come, and she knows she will experience the pains of labor. She is grieved because of the pain, but when the child is born, she forgets her pain because of joy that a child is born. "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:21-22. The closest women in Jesus' life, like his mother and Mary, would have understood Jesus' explanation about birthing pains and the joy that follows birth. I think the women that were closest to Jesus were also present at the Last Supper, they were witnesses to his crucifixion and resurrection as well. Perhaps Jesus' remarks about women suffering childbirth were to honor his mother. Mary was misunderstood and rejected, and she suffered great pain in giving Jesus life. Jesus was about to suffer great pain to give us life.

Mary and Baby Jesus by Jean Keaton

I wonder how Jesus' friends, his mother and family felt witnessing the terrible events that led to his death. They were close witnesses of Jesus' betrayal and arrest, the scourging, the crown of thorns, watching him carry his cross, and then watching his agonizing crucifixion. How could his mother and friends witness those terrible scenes without going crazy? This article had a good take on it, I highly recommend reading it. Jesus' mother and friends were witnesses to his death, but more importantly, they witnessed his resurrection and triumph for all of us. Yet in those moments of Jesus' suffering, feeling anger, fear, the impulse to fight back, would have been very normal responses. Peter's drawing of his sword to defend Jesus in the olive grove is very understandable. Jesus had his Father's will to do, and he told Peter to put his sword away. I asked the Lord how his friends and family were able to bear watching him suffer. The answer I received was, they kept their eyes and focus on Jesus and what He was doing. They took their cues from Jesus, in how he was handling all of it, he was teaching them in his suffering. He was in control even in those terrible moments, remaining true to his Father and true to us. Remembering Jesus' sacrifice and his life given for us puts any of our trials into perspective. Keeping our eyes on Jesus is critical for us too. What is Jesus doing, what is Jesus working on today, when the world seems like it's going crazy? What work is He doing now in your life? Do I trust that he is still in control? Do I trust that Jesus has overcome the world, and won the victory for us? Teaching us to trust Him more is a big theme for many of us.

How can we keep our focus and attention more on Jesus, and the work he is doing today? What messages of hope do you see that Jesus has placed around us? In what ways have you felt angels lifting and healing influences, like the mallow flowers healing the burnt forests? 

I like this song "Another in the Fire" (link to the song). The author of this song wrote it after receiving a heartbreaking diagnosis for his child. He uses the word "reckoning" to describe that challenge. To me "reckoning" is a good word to describe a challenge, it means facing myself, my beliefs, and my weaknesses. Jesus does not ever leave us alone in the challenges. The phrase "another in the fire" refers to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. They were thrown in the king's furnace for not bowing to and worshipping the king's idol. Jesus saved them from dying in the fiery furnace and stood in the fire with them. The king who had condemned them to death by the fiery furnace saw "another in the fire" with them that looked like the Son of God. 

I hope we can keep our focus on Jesus and what he is doing. Because we believe in Jesus, we trust that incredible joy will follow the birth pains that precede Jesus' return. 

LYRICS:
Verse 1
There's a grace when the heart is under fire 
Another way when the walls are closing in 
And when I look at the space between 
Where I used to be and this reckoning 
I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 1 
There was another in the fire standing next to me 
There was another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding 
Of how I've been set free 
There is a cross that bears the burden 
Where another died for me 
There is another in the fire    

VERSE 2
All my debt left for dead beneath the waters 
I'm no longer a slave to my sin anymore 
And should I fall in the space between 
What remains of me and this reckoning 
Either way I won't bow to the things of this world 
And I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 2 
There is another in the fire standing next to me 
There is another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding
What power set me free 
There is a grave that holds no body 
And now that power lives in me
There is another in the fire    
Tag
There is another in the fire    

BRIDGE
And I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him 
I can hear the roar in the heavens 
As the space between wears thin 
I can feel the ground shake beneath us 
As the prison walls cave in 
Nothing stands between us 
Nothing stands between us 

VERSE 3
There is no other name but the Name that is Jesus 
He who was and still is and will be through it all 
So come what may in the space between 
All the things unseen and this reckoning 
I know I will never be alone 
I know I will never be alone 

CHORUS 3
There'll be another in the fire standing next to me 
There'll be another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding 
How good You've been to me  
I'll count the joy come every battle 
'Cause I know that's where You'll be
Tag 
I'll count the joy come every battle 
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

Hope and Pruning

When I look at the news, it is very discouraging, but in nature, hope is everywhere. Hope is in the waves of yellow flowers that blanket the hillsides from early spring to late fall. Yellow means hope and joy. Maybe the Lord knows we need many reminders to be hopeful and joyful, so he blankets the hillsides many times each year with yellow flowers.

Early spring flowers- arrowleaf balsam root flowers with snowy mountain in background

Dandelion

Spring flowers teach us to draw strength from our roots, they are nourishing and help us wake up and get things moving (dandelion, arrowleaf balsam root). 

Late spring flowers on hillside

Fall flowers teach us to find healing and rest in letting go, releasing what is stagnant or excessive in us (golden rod, gum weed). 

Gumweed, a wonderful medicinal plant

Sunflowers remind me that God feeds his little birds even in winter. The seeds in the sunflowers stand tall in snowstorms, the seeds are food for birds. Sunflowers tell us that God provides for his creations, we can trust his care in the storms of our lives. 

Late summer sunflowers and mountains

When I look at nature, it reminds me we have a wonderful God that thinks of every detail. We can trust in his care. He deserves our trust and love 100%. There is nothing he does not notice, he is our Creator and Savior.

How does the Lord speak to you? What is it that stirs your heart to think of the greatness of the Lord and his promises? For some, it might be music, gardening, yoga or running. I listened to a young woman speak about finding God in competitive boxing. I suspect that where we find God is as diverse as we are as people. For me it is being outside in nature. I walk outside when I am frustrated, can't make sense of something, or just need some fresh air and to connect with our Creator.  I often need the better perspective that being in nature offers. 

I want to tell you about a nectarine tree that we started from a seed, from a fruit we bought at the grocery store, because in some ways I am like the tree. The original nectarine had a floral sweetness, with white flesh and red skin. Our tree has grown from seedling to a mature tree. Despite being very large, our tree will only produce 4-5 fruits that are quite marked with scars. It seems to be plagued by many pests and diseases. Seeing how often we water it and take care of it, it should be producing more. Much smaller trees will give us many gallons of fruit. We had one good harvest many years ago- it was awesome. We have been working towards another good harvest for years. 

We have tried all the natural remedies. We fertilize it in the fall and spring, and deep water it all summer. Every spring we prune it. My dad helped me to spray it and get some of the pests that bother it under control, but it still grew hardly any fruit last year. This spring, standing next to the tree I asked the Lord if we should cut it down. The Lord told me this tree needs more frequent pruning, not the once-a-year spring pruning of the other fruit trees. It sends all of its energy to branches that shoot straight up and don't produce fruit, those need to be cut down more often. It's probably competing with the neighboring trees to be a shade tree instead of a fruit tree. As I was pruning this tree for probably 10th time this season, I wondered if I was done pruning. I heard the nectarine tree tell me "Yes, you're done! That's enough pruning!" It still had many, many fruitless branches shooting straight up all over. I felt bad to break off so many of the shooter branches. As I broke the shooters off the tree, I told it, "You are a fruit tree, not a shade tree. We want to enjoy your fruit, that is why you are planted here, not for shade. I don't want to lose you because you don't have any fruit." The pruned branches are collected and thrown away or saved for a campfire.  This year the tree has given us more fruit, and we have loved the fruit, although it is still heavily scarred. We will keep working with the tree for a better harvest.  

The Lord told me that I am like this tree, he has to remind me often to put my energy toward the fruit, not the leafy but barren branches. What is the fruit that the Lord wants from me? What is the fruit that the Lord wants most from you? Coming to know the Lord and having a close personal relationship with him is the fruit. Coming to taste and know the sweetness of his love. Sharing his love with my husband and children first and then family and friends is also part of the fruit harvest. 

Sometimes it is hard to be the pruned tree, to see branches broken off. If you ask the Lord to show you where you need to change and where you are wrong, he will! One time I was feeling discouraged about some challenges as I was walking. It was a cloudy day, but on a hillside not too far away, I saw the sunlight fall on some peach trees that were blooming with pink flowers. The Lord told me he loves peach trees because they are willing to be pruned. 

When God's plans are different than our own, it can be sobering and humbling. It reminds us that we are always in his hands, the clay that needs molding. I told the Lord that being pruned and shown my weaknesses hurts. He told me that everything he does is out of love for us. I can trust in his care and be at peace in him. 

It is easy to trust in the Lord when everything is going well in our lives. How is our trust in Him when our comfortable, predictable lives are turned upside down? I think about the Christians in Afghanistan, would I have faith in the Lord if it endangered my life or my family?  Having the kind of relationship with God that you trust him in every situation, and you find peace in his love is the goal. He is our comfort, our fortress, our hiding place. There can be hope and peace even in dark times.

Sunset with yellow flowers, trees and mountains

What are we to hope in? Our hope is in Christ. Our faith and hope is that Christ will take us by the hand and lead us through whatever challenges lie ahead. The scriptures tell us that more turmoil lies ahead before the coming of the Lord, but we can be at peace in him and his individual care for us. 

The followers of Jesus that watched him be arrested, scourged, beaten, nailed to a tree and crucified must have felt like their hope had vanished. In the cruel agony of those moments, they didn't realize they had witnessed the most sublime act of love ever. Our Creator and God gave his life willingly for us, not saving his own life, though he had saved others. In the cruel cross was the triumph of Jesus' love and spirit over flesh, the greatest victory earth has known. In the willing gift of his life and blood was birthed hope and new life for us. The moment of earth's greatest loss and pain became the moment of love's greatest victory, Jesus overcame it all. This was followed by his resurrection, where death for all of us was overcome by Jesus. In Jesus and his victory is our hope. 

Moments that to us may feel hopeless and cruel may actually be birthing something greater than we can see in the moment. Surely our faith in the Lord and his return will not be unchallenged or untried. But God is still here for us, he does not lie. His promises are sure. He will uphold those who love him. 

What scriptures give you hope? What in nature gives you hope? I would love to hear!

Last year I compiled a list of scriptures with pictures for homeschool handwriting practice. What comfort is found in God's words and promises!

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken . . . " Isaiah 54:10

"Mightier than the waves of the sea is his love for you." Psalm 93:4

"Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you." Psalm 37:5

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for what He has done . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worth of praise." Philippians 4: 6-8

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1

"The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He'll never desert you. So don't be afraid. Don't lose hope." Deuteronomy 31:8

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

"The battle is not ours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15

"Lord you made the heavens and the earth with your great power, there is nothing too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn't faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and increases the strength of him who has no might." Isaiah 40:28-29

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him." I Corinthians 2:9

"What does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:24-25

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." 2 Peter 1:3

"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8

"Don't let your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me." John 14:1

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

"Lord, renew my energy when I feel tired and weak." Psalm 103:5

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." Psalms 42:11

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." Psalm 37:7

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars: he calls them all by name." Psalm 147:3-4

"Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you." James 4:8

"Look at the birds of the air that they do not sow, neither do they reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they:" Matthew 6:26

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge." Psalm 91:4

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

"Behold I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:16

"Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

"Behold God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

"I love the Lord, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live." Psalm 116:1-2