THEY'RE HERE!

 

Here!

"They're here!"

we cheer.

Each year

we peer

for these dears

far and near.

Their chirps cheer

as spring draws near.

Loud and clear

across frontiers

these pioneers

reappear.

To our ears

their song cheers

year after year

so sincere.

We're always cheered

by these dears.

Who are these dears

that persevere

year after year?

Who sings songs that cheer?

Who is now here?

It's the robins - they're here!

* * * * *

Although robins are not known to sing at night,

the Bible talks about songs in the night.

Praise songs give comfort in distress.

For certain, praise songs will bless.

Heartfelt songs of prayer and praise

to the Creator of all our days.

Have you experienced “songs in the night,”

seeking God through difficult times, needing light?

Consider finding comfort by singing psalms

as psalms means praise; praise might be via a hymn.

Or do your “songs in the night” express your daily confidence in the Lord.

Confidence grows through abiding trust. Trust becomes your eternal reward.

By day (and night) the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me -

a prayer (and praise) to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:8

(Italics from an NIV note.)

I remembered my songs in the night...

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will meditate on all your works

and consider all your mighty deeds.

Psalm 77:6, 11-12

(If distress interrupts your sleep, recall God’s past faithfulness -

remember, meditate, consider.)

I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Psalm 3:5

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

He grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:2

Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth

and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?

Job 35:10-11

Life Is a Garden Party

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Flower Garden Reminders:

 

This accidental photo caught my attention when I posted it on the Life Is a Garden Party facebook page earlier.

I took the photo as Ladies Mantel collects raindrops. Reminded me of the Scripture that God collects our tears in a bottle.

When I posted the photo I noticed the tiny forget-me-nots. How apropo - as we are not forgotten by God. 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

I John 3:1

EMPTY NEST

 

Empty Nest

Someone's growing up too fast.

Ready to leave home at last.

Their heads peek out the door.

They can't wait to explore.

Their parents are busy this morn

feeding their big babies worms.

And how they talk up a storm!

Their babies have lots to learn.

Are these parents saying "stay"

or encouraging "go play"?

Will today

be the day?

One leans too far out.

Suddenly he's out.

Or was he pushed

for two more heads push...

out the door

to explore

the great outdoors

where fun allures.

The first one

air born

spreads his wings

in the wind.

He's free! He's free!

There's much to see.

He calls "follow me"

to his siblings with glee.

There they go

down low

then up high as the breeze

blows in the trees leaves.

Spreading their wings

they glide on the wind.

Free!

Free!

Are their parents happy or sad?

Are the fledglings glad?

Their parents did their best.

All too soon there's an empty nest.

* * * * *

Do you feel empty, void, useless?

Do you feel you've lost your purpose?

A job ended unexpectedly.

Maybe illness came suddenly.

Perhaps the loss of your beloved spouse

leading to foreclosure on your house.

Life the way you know it has changed.

Your time is now rearranged.

Sometimes this rearranging

is God's way of arranging -

opening the door for a new opportunity,

turning a dream into a possibility.

Instead of dwelling on the past

get busy and have a blast.

Turn your negatives

into positives.

An adventure awaits.

You won't want to be late.

From the day of your birth

God assigned a purpose on earth

for you

to do

that will assist in God’s plan

designed from creation.

All the ups and down of life

shape your character in spite

of your good attempts

as life contains bumps.

Those bumps may lead you to your optimum occupation.

You may learn empathy is part of your disposition.

So many avenues to discover

as you mature and recover.

Throughout life there will be many opportunities posed.

Some you may have never imagined or supposed.

Consider, life is an adventure

just waiting to be discovered.

Many, O Lord my God,

are the wonders you have done.

The things you planned for us no one can recount to you,

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40:5

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

Psalm 139:17-18

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

I John 3:1

Life Is a Garden Party

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Cottage Cheese Dill Bread with herbed butter

 

When chives are in bloom, dill weed is ready to harvest also.

Perhaps you’ll make Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

with herb butter for your celebration.

Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup cottage cheese

2 eggs

¼ cup plus 2 Tablespoons milk

2 Tablespoons sugar or honey

¼ cup melted butter

3 Tablespoons minced dill, or more

2 Tablespoons dried onions, or more

or ¼ cup fresh chive blossoms, separated, or more

½ teaspoon garlic powder, or more

Bake 50 minutes at 350 in buttered loaf pan.

Herb Butter

To room temperature butter, add any washed and dried fresh herbs

including blossoms such as chive blossoms.

Store in refrigerator or freezer until ready to use.

Cottage Cheese Dill bread is also good toasted.

GARDEN BAND

 

Garden Band

On a sunny day

the band comes out to play.

Who joins the garden band?

Come. See. You'll be a fan.

This morning the band is heard warming up.

Look. It's the bees in the borage. Yep!

Come listen. It's free.

They never sound off key.

Then a loud hum joins in.

Look quick. It's hummingbird wings.

He's a welcome addition

as he stops to audition.

He's directed to the string section

where there's a lot of vibrating action.

Someone imitates a violin

and there's the twang of banjo strings.

Another new member sits in the woodwind section

where everyone harmonizes in collaboration.

There are piccolo chirps.

Others imitate a flute.

Tweets

so sweet

that humans take note

of the song being wrote.

Tunes from oboes, saxophones,

clarinets, and trombones

are heard in this symphony

sung by visiting birds and bees.

A mockingbird joins the garden band.

His song is heard throughout the land.

He imitates trumpets, tubas, french horns

for mockingbirds fool from the day they were born.

Soon the bandleader's baton will point

to keynote speakers which do not disappoint.

Who is it that joins the band?

It's the crickets. A lively clan.

They sit in the percussion section

strumming louder for attention.

Rhythmic they strum

having so much fun.

Now a soloist joins the orchestra.

Who is it that whistles loudly just for show?

It's the caw caw of a crow.

He has the loudest voice, you know.

The garden band has many members.

They practice from April through October

then many members go on tour

as in October southward they soar.

Take time to listen to the free concert today

for soon the band members will be on their way

to entertain the senior citizens

in their Floridian winter homes.

* * * * *

When God's Word states “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”

someone literally took God at His Word – it's the birds.

But God's Word was written for you and I.

Are the songs we sing joyful or filled with why?

Do we daily thank and praise God with joyful hearts

or do we doubt God's faithfulness as each day starts?

Our words are our recorded music.

Words can be therapeutic.

Words like: “you’re a blessing” or “thanking God for you,”

“God is good,” “praise the Lord” or “to God be the glory.”

Let these words praising God or edifying others replace words

that curse, fight, slander, ridicule. Words that cannot be unheard.

What do you want to be remembered for?

An encourager, through your words and more.

Or will the legacy you make

leave behind only heartache?

Make music in your heart. Shout for joy.

Everyone around you will enjoy.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn -

shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 98:4-6

What she has done (said)

will also be told in memory of her.

Matthew 26:13

Life Is a Garden Party

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LARKS

 

Larks

Hark!

A lark

in the park

when spring starts

across hills and parks

with a song in its heart.

Spring

sings

as larks take wing

and their songs bring

a cheerful welcoming

to announce "it's spring!"

Concertos -

some high, others low,

sopranos,

or altos -

from larks and swallows,

and bluebirds and sparrows.

Songs

strummed,

sung out strong

all day long

from songbirds their life long,

somehow righting wrongs.

Teachers

these creatures

that feature

musical lectures

as unpaid preachers

making life richer.

Quiet

at night,

but morning quite

loud and blatant

thanking their Maker, that's right,

with a song from their spirit.

Grateful. Offering,

yes, daily praising

before receiving

their daily feeding.

A lesson they're teaching

those who are listening.

Who are these larks?

Robins start

by setting spring apart

from winter cold and dark.

Red-winged black birds and sparrows dart.

Be sure to watch for meadowlarks.

These larks

that dart

from hills and parks

wearing feathers dark

daily teach us grumbling humans to always start

each day with a song of gratitude in our hearts.

* * * * *

Do you have a song in your heart?

It's never too late to start.

Focus on what's right.

Your spirit will be light.

Focusing on what's wrong

quenches your heart's song,

zapping any joy or happiness

so peace of heart and mind will not last.

Focusing on what's right

will bring lasting delight

and you'll find there's a grateful song

bubbling up inside all day long.

So take a lesson from the birds

as each morning they are heard

thanking God before receiving

with a song of thanksgiving.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:3

Sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:1-3

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music.

Psalm 98:4

My friend, Karen, taught me to thank God BEFORE receiving and again AFTER receiving. It seems that is what birds do when they welcome daybreak with a song in their heart before receiving their daily blessings. Then again at twilight they thank God after receiving when they say goodnight.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3

Shout for joy, O heavens;

rejoice, O earth;

burst into song, O mountains!

Isaiah 49:13

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:19-20

Is anyone happy?

Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:13

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

SONGS

 

SONGS

A tweet

sounds sweet.

A chirp,

like syrup.

Unless it's 4:30 in the morning

when young ones start practicing their singing!

These young ones are not even on key -

sounding quite off key, according to me.

Eventually they will harmonize.

Eventually they wait until sunrise.

Eventually...but not today.

Today they can't wait to play.

They sound like a ruckus,

not a pretty chorus.

One is always louder than the rest.

One who probably thinks he sounds the best.

They call back and forth

as "good mornings" are versed

with each tweet, twitter, peep, and chirp,

thankful for another day on earth.

It's not the sound but the spirit of which they start each day,

this joyful spirit that we should emulate everyday -

happy to be alive,

knowing that God will supply!

It's an internal knowing -

like faith indwelling.

Knowing that God who is faithful today

will be faithful throughout all their days.

Now that's something to sing about!

Definitely something to get excited about!

And God will supply

for both you and I.

* * * * *

Do you awaken each morning

like the birds who start their day singing?

Even though they don't know what their day may bring

they start each day with a happy song to sing.

If each morning birds sing a new song of thankfulness to God,

then we, too, should sing songs of joy – in good times and in hard.

Singing will change our attitude

and erase any dour mood.

Turn on some music

and sing along with it.

Feel better? You'll find, if the truth be told,

this daily practice will lighten any load.

Wake up, wake up, break out in song!

Judges 5:12

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalm 40:3

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music.

Psalm 98:4

Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:13

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.