Obedience

Obedience

Not much is recorded in the Bible about Joseph,

Jesus' stepfather, other than he loved his wife

and he was quick to be obedient to his God

who spoke to him in dreams through an angel of the Lord.

Just as Mary was chosen to be Jesus' mother,

Joseph was also chosen to be his earthly father.

Was Joseph chosen because God knew he would be obedient

to follow God's instructions whenever and wherever sent.

We do know Joseph was quick to obey

as we read he got up right away

to do what the angel had said

through a dream as he slept on his bed.

Not just once but four or more times.

Joseph obeyed time-after-time.

Willingly, with a heart of faith,

in whatever challenges he faced.

We don't know if Joseph ever questioned God

perhaps thinking the request was too hard.

It seems as if Joseph had learned to trust God

and was willing to embark with a “yes, Lord” nod.

Surely it must have been difficult to move

but Joseph's willing obedience proved

that he knew God's plan was best

so he set out on each quest.

Joseph, a man of few words,

yet chosen by Holy God

perhaps for his willing obedience

in turn changing the universe's essence.

For this obedient man

played a part for all humans

passed down to countless generations

in the Christmas story rendition.

* * * * *

Have you ever felt nudged in your spirit by God

to do something contrary, a bit hard?

Was it something easy to obey?

Or did you grudgingly obey?

Will generations be affected by

whatever it is you were asked to try?

Perhaps you need to pray that your testimony will be bold

for there are millions all over the earth waiting to be told.

Your legacy that you pass down may be

obedience that others will see

that may change the course of a nation

now and through future generations.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife...”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him

and took Mary home as his wife.

Matthew 1:20, 24

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

“Get up,” he said,“Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt...”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt....

Matthew 2:13-14

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,

“Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel...”

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

Matthew 2:19-21

Having been warned in a dream,

he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.

Matthew 2:22-23

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Luke 2:39

We will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:4

Let this be written for a future generation,

that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.

Psalm 102:18

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards

It’s time to address Christmas cards

though sometimes it seems to be hard.

With each name on the list we see

we remember those loved, you see.

There are friends we love - young and old.

Their acquaintance never grows old.

Friends, we know, are a gift

and help to lift our spirits.

There are those we haven’t seen in awhile.

Just the thought of them today brings a smile.

Some live far away.

We’ll write a note today.

Then there is family - each year more added

for the kids soon grow up and get married.

Uncles and aunts and cousins

all receive a card this season.

There are those we know through life’s journey.

They, too, make a special memory.

And those that have been kind and helpful

must receive a card to say we're thankful.

There are others who are no longer with us.

What joy they now live in heaven with Jesus!

It seems each year more are subtracted from the list.

Though their memory is sweet, their presence is missed.

When this year's Christmas cards are done

I realize the chore was quite fun

for each name on the list brings to mind

the blessing of you to me one more time.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Philippians 1:3

Pinecone/milkweed seedpod angel.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.

Through the month of December I'll be posting Christmas stories.

Gathering

Gathering

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing

as friends and family join in one big union

around the table abundantly laden

with the garden's yearly colorful offerings.

But before we partake by dining

we'll offer up heartfelt thanksgiving

by coming together with a connecting

of everyone's hands around the table joining.

There's the large calloused hands of those who labor -

rather fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers,

co-joined with the frail, soft hands of one's great grandmother

who may join hands with a pudgy-fisted toddler.

There's the hands of the ones who prepared dinner,

perhaps roughened and red from cold weather,

linked with antsy teenagers

who can't wait to eat dinner.

Hands that create

and others that bake

something for dinner tonight

which brings diners delight.

Other times two loving hands connect

though this merging is often too quick.

Fingers wearing rings engraved with "together forever"

and other fingers with scars and stains worn forever.

There are hands dotted with age spots,

lined hands that have seen a lot

of sorrows and joys

as their hands employed.

If only these hands could talk

they'd tell tales that you'd never thought.

Sometimes this familiar joining

is meant to stop fidgeting.

Hands with short fingers still growing,

slender fingers of one blossoming

wearing nail polish expressing

one's individuality often.

Hands that lovingly care,

hands that often share,

hands that burdens bear,

hands daily pressed in prayer.

Hands in all shapes and sizes, eight fingers, two thumbs,

in various shades, belonging to a loved one,

held together for a moment in time -

a familiar tie in which love binds.

Hands joined together with thankful hearts

that one day will no longer park

around this table any longer

replaced by hands of a stranger.

Yet this stranger one day invited in

becomes family now known as kin.

This gathering around the table becomes

to new family members a heartfelt welcome.

May tonight as you gather together to eat

become a time when hands reach out to greet,

to connect with a loving heart

before dining begins to start.

Holding hands in prayer,

thanking God for His care,

then God's goodness share

through abundant fare.

* * * * *

Have you ever thought about God's hands?

Every day they uphold men and women

and care for His little children

for in God's hands there is a saving plan

to sustain and protect all humans

across all countries and distant lands.

He's got the whole world in His hands...

He's got you and me brother in His hands...

He's got you and me sister in His hands...

He's got the little tiny babies His hands...

He's got the whole world in His hands...

Here's some selected verses from Psalms

on which to quietly reflect on

about God's awesome hands.

Hands which fill us with songs

with grateful thanksgiving on our tongues

giving praise to God to whom we belong.

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

You give me your shield of victory,

and your right hand sustains me;

you stoop down to make me great.

Psalm 18:35

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he answers him from his holy heaven

with the saving power of his right hand.

Psalm 20:6

Into your hands I commit my spirit.

Psalm 31:5

My times are in your hands.

Psalm 31:15

If the Lord delights in a man's way,

he makes his steps firm;

though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

In your majesty ride forth victoriously

in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;

let your right hand display awesome deeds.

Psalm 45:4

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8

You hold me by your right hand.

You guide me with you counsel...

Psalm 73:23-24

Your arm is endued with power;

your hand is strong,

your right hand exalted.

Psalm 89:13

For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The seas is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:3-5

Help me, O Lord my God;

save me in accordance with your love.

Let them know that it is your hand,

that you, O Lord, have done it.

Psalm 109:26-27

The Lord's right hand is lifted high;

the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!

Psalm 118:16

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:12

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,

with your right hand you save me.

Psalm 138:7

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your love, O Lord, endures forever -

do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Chinese Lanterns

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.

Raking

Raking

Raked yesterday.

Rain late today

makes for more raking another day.

Actually for several more days

for more leafs fall everyday

to be raked one sunny day.

This morning there was a freeze.

Plop, plop, plop, plop, plop more leaves

join the pile of fallen leaves

of golds, rusts, and browns which please.

Listen: the skyward honking V's

of south-going geese tends to please.

Something we can count on

every spring and autumn

are the geese honking - heard overhead, then gone

as they wing their way to greener pastures - so long.

Talking about colors, do notice the sky is the bluest blue

this time of the year (orange opposite blue on the color wheel) it's true.

It feels good to stretch when raking these fallen leaves

though the pile is disturbed if there's a breeze.

This afternoon's breeze

is just a tease

as one rolls up their sleeves.

A-choo!!! is often sneezed.

Before you know it the afternoon is over

for daylight savings time on the calendar

makes nighttime come earlier

and fortunately bedtime earlier

for many gardeners go to bed earlier

as they can't wait to get up earlier.

Not just because raking waits

but because it seemingly takes

much longer to do less when awake -

every gardener seems to contemplate.

So early they rise every morning so they're not late

for much work awaits for them beyond the garden gate.

* * * * *

After much raking

comes Thanksgiving -

a time to recount our blessings

with thankful hearts we're celebrating.

A time to give thanks to the Lord,

for Whom without we cannot afford,

for His faithfulness to us each day.

"Thank you, Lord," we should often pray.

For God's unconditional love to us

despite our lack of faith and waning trust

for His love never, ever wavers.

That's why He sent us a Savior.

For His grace that enables

when it seems we're unable

to remain strong

in the face of wrong.

For God's comfort in trials,

troubles, and physical ails

while learning that God can use our troubles

to encourage someone that God is able.

For His forgiveness

when we confess

we've chosen wrong

and made the wrong turn.

For God's patience with us time after time

for God knows we often have fearful minds

yet waits for us to come to the end of our self

then finally call on Him for needed help.

For His continual mercy though undeserved,

knowing there's nothing we can do to deserve

which teaches us to be merciful to others

as God reminds us to “bear with one another.”

For God's compassion

new every morning

ensuring us we are loved

and teaching us how to love.

For these and so many more,

Dear Lord, we are thankful for

our abundant blessings

new every morning.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

Because of his great love for us,

God who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions -

it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4

My grace is sufficient for you.

II Corinthians 12:9

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion

and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort

we ourselves have received from God.

II Corinthians 1:3-4

You are a forgiving God,

gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger

and abounding in love.

Nehemiah 9:17

He is patient with you,

not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.

II Peter 3:9

Who is a God like you,

who pardons sin...

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

Micah 7:19

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.

Crunch

Crunch

Snap, crackle, pop, crunch -

not popcorn for lunch.

Outdoors underfoot

when a stroll you took

snap, crackle, pop, crunch heard

on the earth's carpeted floor.

Carpeted in red, orange, gold

before turning into a brown load

to be raked one sunny afternoon -

autumn's last bouquet of blooms are doomed.

Snap, crackle, pop, crunch -

into a pile a bunch

of leaves raked

then relocate.

Leaves recycled into free mulch

put on the garden to produce much

for over the winter they'll decay.

You'll find composting does well pay.

Late summer you'll hear snap, crackle, pop, crunch

when green beans are prepared for lunch

or snow peas eaten under the sun -

a snack straight from the garden.

For autumn's dead leaves became

nutrients for the garden's gain.

Snap, crackle, pop, crunch -

decomposed leaves add a punch.

Snap, crackle, pop, crunch!

Rather raking leaves into a bunch

or fresh vegetables for lunch,

enjoy today as you crunch.

* * * * *

There is no waste in God's economy.

He planned earth to renew itself, you see.

Leaves are given new birth

when decompose into the earth.

These nutrients are then fed

to grow our daily bread.

There's a more wonderful new birth

waiting for all humans on earth.

We have the opportunity to be born again

when we believe Jesus came to die for our sins.

This new birth becomes our eternal salvation

that God provided for all men and women.

Just believe

then receive

God's plan of salvation.

It's our regeneration.

Your new birth awaits. Just pray.

Don't delay. Do so today.

Dear Heavenly Father, I believe

and right now I pray to receive

your gift of salvation that's free

because you died on Calvary for me.

You made a way

for me that day.

Thank you. Guide me to live your way

as I seek to live for you everyday.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Follow Life Is a Garden Party on facebook.