Of Thorns and Roses

Was reminded of this story this morning.

OF THORNS AND ROSES

Every rose wears a thorn

for thorns roses adorn.

Just as in life, good times born

are adorned with many storms.

We moan, are worn, and forlorn.

Storms leave us alone and torn.

For good times we yearn.

A shelter in the storm.

There is a purpose in thorns

for patience and hope is formed.

Hope is a confidence being born.

Out of it blooms roses despite the thorns.

Every thorn bears a rose.

That’s just the way it grows.

Just as in life, every sorrow

can bear a joyful tomorrow.

So next time life sows woes

and you’re feeling quite low

remember the rose –

with thorns it does grow.

Your lows and woes

will someday sow

a lovely rose.

Beauty grows.

Half of the beauty from life’s roses

comes from thorns we’ve endured along the road

for thorns are what shape us into who we are.

In the end, we’re much better for it by far.

Instead of concentrating on the thorn,

look beyond it to the rose being born

for from thorns beauty is formed.

We are being transformed.

Being transformed through difficulties.

That’s what thorns are meant to do, you see.

Being made into a rose

where beauty is seen and glows.

It’s only norm

that every thorn

will one day grow

a lovely rose.

Growing beauty

is its duty.

Just as our trials teach us

patience and to learn to trust –

growing our inner beauty

so we will turn out lovely.

From lows and woes

a rose arose.

* * * * *

Right now, today, are you going through a storm?

Does it feel like a festering thorn?

Concentrate on the word “through”

as your storm will come to pass, too.

Though you may temporarily mourn,

in the end, beauty if being born

as patience

or kindness.

One day we'll see that Sovereign God

worked all things together for your good.

His holy purposes

were worked out through us.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze...

since you are precious and honored in my sight,

and because I love you.

Isaiah 43:2,4

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

God intended it for good

to accomplish what is now being done.

Genesis 50:20

And we know that in all things

God works for the good

of those who love him,

who have been called

according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

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Plowing

Saw farmers are being to prepare their fields here in the northern states.
After sharing this poem this morning, read Isaiah 28:24-29.

When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil?
When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?
His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a stick.
Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it,
his horses do not grind it.
All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

Plowing

The sharp edge of the plow

cuts through the sod now

as it will be time to plant soon

according to the phase of the moon.

The plow turns under the earth

as songbirds sing with mirth.

They know a free dinner awaits.

Or fisherman might collect bait.

The turned back sod does expose

earthworms from their quiet repose.

Assisting the gardener by irrigating,

they're a welcome sight to see this spring morning.

A myriad of stones are also exposed

from the bowels of the earth while winter dozed

silently heaving, like contractions,

giving birth to more stone picking.

Back and forth,

north to south,

each year the plow makes neat rows

followed by the gardeners toes.

Brown furrows are the plow's accomplishment

welcoming a spring-fresh earthy scent.

Fertile.

Fruitful.

The plow prepares the earth

to get ready to give birth

while aerating the soil

to make for less toil.

As the warm sun

warms the loam

seedlings will start to root

before you see their shoots.

Weed seeds, that is, for these seeds live on and on,

seemingly for many generations.

Hopefully the hot sun will nuke

many of these weed seeds that sprout.

Once the hardened earth is prepared

the plow is cleaned from its wear and tear

before being put away, then the gardener takes time to survey his work -

finding satisfaction in his little piece of heaven on earth.

* * * * *

I'm sure you'll agree with me

you're as happy as can be

when your work is satisfying.

A creative way of playing.

When the plowman plows and the thresher threshes,

they ought to do so in the hope of sharing

in the harvest.

I Corinthians 9:10

That everyone may eat and drink,

and find satisfaction in all is toil -

this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Proverbs 13:4

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your fame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

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Sunshines

Sunshines

Sunday I saw the very first one.

I did think to myself, “how fun!”

It reminded me of being young.

Monday I did not see a one

as we had an all-day rain storm.

We needed the rain more than sun.

Tuesday I saw a few. I could count one plus one.

They looked like little smiley faces – little suns.

I told someone about them when I talked on the phone.

Wednesday I wasn’t at home.

Didn’t pay any attention.

I had spent the day on the run.

Thursday I thought, “where did they all come from?”

They were seen in the grass, the beds, the garden.

I needed to start removing one by one.

Friday more yellow than green did abound.

How come one was fun, but more was wrong?

It looks like they’ll add up to a ton.

Saturday they were finally mowed to the ground.

Green grass appeared for a few minutes when done

before they popped up again, these little yellow suns.

Little yellow sunshines in the grass are dandelions.

Irregardless of what you might think, they can be fun.

What are your thoughts about dandelions? Work or fun?

* * * * *

Perhaps we should view dandelions as our blessings.

We can never have too many of God’s blessings.

For each dandelion write down a blessing

to put in a glass jar you’ve labeled “blessings.”

It will be a reminder when life is confusing

and you are prone to give in to stressing from testings.

The reminder jar will keep you from stressing

during the times you’re experiencing testings.

Instead of living in much strife and guessing,

you can review your blessings and be resting

in God’s promises – His many blessings,

for everyday we receive more blessings.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,

and he adds no trouble to it.

Proverbs 10:22

First dandelion seen here at Rainbow's End 2016.

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Field of Dreams

 Field of Dreams

Swaying in the breeze

just waiting to tease

a field of dreams awaits

pronouncing someone's fate.

Snow white, always innocent

without a flowery fragrance,

every summer a field of dreams

decorates hill's and meadow scenes.

According to tradition

while applying subtraction

one-by-one each plucked petal

seals the fate of earthly mortals.

Have you ever played this game?

A game of innocence, not vain.

He loves me, he loves me not.

Of course he does, how could he not!

Daisy happens to mean innocence.

This game is played by many a lass

while all over the world innocent lads

don't know if they should be mad or quite glad.

* * * * *

Never doubt that the Lord God loves you

for the Bible tells us through and through.

Not because of what you did or didn't do

but because of who God is, yes, it's true.

Unconditional love

from heaven above

always freely given to His children

though beyond our human comprehension.

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power

through his Spirit in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all the saints,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

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Between Storms

 Between Storms

There goes another storm...

heard when thunder roams

across the hills

then raindrops spill.

Passing through

the air cools

then humidity rises

when the sun surprises.

What does the sun bring with it today?

A burst of spring flowers in a bouquet.

Pinks and purples and whites

always bring much delight.

Each flower adds to the bouquet

emitting springtime fragrance today.

Daffodils which smell spring-fresh

or spicy scented hyacinths.

Today the hardy magnolia burst into bloom

as the morning's sun warmed the earth before noon.

Unfortunately this week's forecasted rains

will cause its snowflake blooms to downward rain.

Can't wait to see pink bleeding hearts on a stem

intermingled with purple globe-shaped alliums

in the same bed with white lily of the valley

identified by their tiny bells so wee.

The dogwood will bloom soon.

Can't wait to see its pink blooms.

Will two robins build a nest here this year?

If so, I'll be awakened with morning cheer.

Soon the white crab apple will blossom.

Beware! A hive of bees will descend.

Do take a moment to watch them,

a study in pollination.

Should another storm pass through

the dormant grass will change its hue,

while robins search for breakfast

after the storm is past.

In the meantime pictures are taken

for when another thunder storm threatens

many springtime blooms will be seen raining down

while others lose their color, turning brown.

* * * * *

Spring storms bring many welcome changes

though life storms bring life-altering changes.

Yes, life is full of change

so we should not think it strange.

Though change is seldom ever welcomed,

in the end the result is welcomed.

Think of it as one door closing and another opening

or endings giving way to necessary new beginnings.

Life's many surprise storms,

in the form of problems,

will mature us in the end

as they teach us to depend

on God who already has the solution worked out -

to have believing faith and trust, to not give in to doubt.

It's doubt that sees the situation as impossible

forgetting that with faith in God, all things are possible.

So next time the winds of change storm in

remember that God is with you, He's within.

Your storm is not yours alone

but God's time to perfect, to hone.

Change is meant to grow your faith

as you rely on God's grace

and faithfulness

through each test.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

Though now for a little while

you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials,

These have come so that your faith –

of greater worth than gold,

which perishes even though refined by fire -

may be proved genuine and my result in praise, glory and honor

when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I Peter 1:6-7

He must believe and not doubt,

because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,

blown and tossed by the wind...

he is a double-minded man and

unstable in all he does.

James 1:6-8

All things are possible with God.

Mark 10:27

 Daffodil

 Hardy Magnolia

Weeping Cherry

 Bleeding Hearts

 Red Crabapple

 Pink Dogwood

 White Crabapple

Lily of the Valley

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