Contest

Life Is a Garden Party

Annual Contest

Submit name to my facebook private message account.

Winner announced January 19th.

Winner receives:

sunflower calendar

Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II e-card

perennial seeds from my garden

butterfly cross stitch

New Year

Christmas is over,
the New Year hovers.
At the store Christmas merchandise is reduced
and there is something else that does seduce.

In January you'll find displayed
something that will induce in you play.
There are peat pots and soil displayed
next to seed packets on display.

A gardener's heart
quickens at the start
of this promise of a new year
as to this aisle they steer.

There's tomatoes, peppers,
corn, peas, cucumbers,
carrots, beets, green beans,
eggplant, yellow beans...

green and yellow summer squash,
pumpkins and winter squash,
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower,
next to an array of bright flowers.

There's annuals
and perennials
in a rainbow of colors.
Each seed waiting to flower.

Cone flowers and pansies,
impatiens and daisies,
foxglove, zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks -
happy gardeners come away with lots.

A gardener is seen with a smile
as in the seed display aisle
they pick and choose seed packets
that promise a new year in it.

For each new year a gardener has a dream
of growing the best garden they had ever seen.
They temporarily forget about what makes one want to scream -
Japanese beetles, slugs, aphids, black spot, which destroy anything green.

They just know that in each seed a miracle
patiently waiting to be let out and then grow
into something beautiful -
rather flower or vegetable.

Each January a new year has begun
as every gardener dreams and searches among
the seed packets in their rotating bins,
each containing a miracle within.

* * * * *

For many, a new year brings resolutions
with the hope of a new found solution.
If only we could adhere to our self-promises
and everyday keep this resolution/promise.

But humans are fallible,
sometimes quite unreliable.
Prone to fail,
quickly bail...

when times are tough
and the going's rough.
Humans may become unstable
forgetting that prayer enables.

Forgetting that with God for them and with them, anything is possible.
As you study the scriptures, you'll find the Bible is full of examples.
With God, impossible
spells "I'm possible".

Next time try prayer instead of quitting.
Your resolution you'll be keeping
for prayer enables one to remain strong
when faced with the thought to quit, which is wrong.

Don't give up.
Keep looking up
for with God, what you think might be impossible
strengthens you resolution, becoming doable.

Have faith.
God's grace
will always strengthen and enable
making your resolution possible.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,11

Matthew 19:26

Mark 10:27

Luke 1:37

Luke 18:27

Hebrews 11:6

Missing these pots of gold here at Rainbow Ends, though enjoying the fruits of my labor this winter.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon, B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Dance

Spinning, swirling,
twisting, twirling.
Floating, drifting
while fluttering.

Lovely, quite ethereal
sent from the celestrials.
One by one more appear
dancing together near.

These gossamer to-tos
catch ones attention, they do.
Light as a feather
they now gather.

Performing their art
in mute, soundless parts
for no music is heard,
not even a chord.

Spinning, swirling,
twisting, twirling.
Floating, drifting
while fluttering.

As if chased, they run
in a waltz of fun
graceful, poised
bringing joy

Not one misstep
for each step
is orchestrated
and conducted.

Who is it that dances away
yesterday and again today?
Fluttering down from the heavens
are dancing snowflakes from heaven.

* * * * *

May your spirit dance
despite your circumstance.
My joy abide
whatever betides.
May there be a song on your lips
that will cause a smile to lift.
May thankfulness be a part
of every beat of your heart.

You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Psalm 130:1-12

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.

The Most Amazing Story

The announcement of a baby, C Christ the Lord,
      was heralded by angels or H heavenly hosts at the time of Caesar Augustus
      who issued a decree that a R registration or census be taken in Bethlehem.  This was after another
    angel told Mary "nothing is I impossible with God".  This announcement was
                          proclaimed to S shepherds who then hurried to Bethlehem
                                  and later T testified that they did
                      find a baby, in a M manger, with his mother Mary
             and Joseph just as the A angel said.
                                          The S Savior was indeed born!

For nothing is impossible with God.
Luke 1:27

Luke 2:1-20

Merry Christmas to all the readers of this blog.  

You are encouragers and so appreciated.

May the joy of Christmas,

which is God among us,

remain with you

the whole year through.

Focus on the 'with you'  today - Immanuel "God With Us".

The Lord your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

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 we love, you see.

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.

There are those we haven't seen in a while.
Just the thought of them today brings a smile.
Some live far away.
We'll write a note today.

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.

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 I'm thankful.

When this year's Christmas card 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.
Philippines 1:3

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.

Immanuel

In the Old Testament God showed himself to his people,
sometimes in a cloud, sometimes through visitations from angels.
When the Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness
God presided over them, leading, guiding through every test.

But the sinful nature causes us to rebel
and ignoring God's directives causes trouble.
History is shown to repeat this cause and effect
of either praying for help - or of willful neglect.

So God's blessed people chose to follow their own, selfish will
only to be led on a continual spiral downhill.
Will humanity ever learn
that God is waiting for their return?

Later a promise was made to Isaiah, fortunately,
for it seemed like there was no hope for humanity.
This promise was the coming of Immanuel
though hundreds of year before His coming would befall.

Years pass.  The new Testament begins
with a reminder of this promise again.
An angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary would have a son.
He would be named Immanuel.  God's solution for the world had come!

Today we commemorate this first Christmas
with celebrations and decorations in mass
often forgetting the reason
we celebrate this season.

We forget that God's solution
to the world's many problems
came that night as "God with us" or Immanuel
when Jesus comes into our heart to dwell.

"God with us" replaces the restlessness,
the searching to fill the emptiness,
to fill the void, to make us complete.
"God with us" is what our soul seeks.

* * * * *

December - a month of fa, la, la, la, la,
of festive gathering of those near and far.
With twinkling lights and decorated trees,
of gifts that delight you and me.

Then suddenly Christmas is over
without a thought of whatever
is the reason
for the season.

Matthew records why Jesus came.
The reason is found in His names.
Jesus means the Lord saves.
Christmas Day that way was paved.

As promised long ago,
the name Immanuel
means God with us
when we simply trust.

His name Messiah means The Christ,
the Annointed One, despite the price
that would be paid on Calvary's tree
when Jesus died for you and me.

Died to save us from our sins
when we believe in Him.
So that's what Christmas is all about -
when the birth of Jesus came about.

God's Christmas gift to us
is His beloved son Jesus.
So this year when Christmas is over and done
can you say you made room for God's Son?

Exodus 13:21

Isaiah 52:12

Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:22-23

Great Things

A miracle:  a great and good work that only the one true God can do - a miracle for sure.
Mary glorified God with rejoicing for the great things God was doing through her.
Not only for choosing her to be the Mother
of Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Savior,
but for God's mercy to all generations,
God's forbearance seen everyday in action.

What a great thing God's gift of mercy is!
Undeserved for sure.  How gracious God is!
Compassionate.
Faithful. Patient.
Abounding in loving-kindness which endures forever.
And thankfully hearing and, in His time, answering prayers.

Consider what a great thing God's mighty deeds are.
Speaking forth night and day, the sun, the moon, the stars,
vegetation,
animals, humans...
starting with creation
then bringing salvation!

Great things - lifting up the humble,
causing the proud in heart to stumble.
Great things - filling our hungry souls
while mindful to bring others low
for God desires the best for us
loving bestowed through faith and trust.

What great things God has done for us!
What great things God has planned for us!
What great things are available when we, like Mary,
rejoice in God, our Savior, and bring God glory.
I know you can say with me, God has done great things.
That God should love you and I, what a great thing!

* * * * *

How God desires that we be like Mary -
that our soul and spirit give God glory!
To be so in tune with God's will for us
that our words and thoughts glorify Jesus!

We all can say like Mary, God has done great things for us.
May we use God's blessings to us to glorify Jesus.
One blessing is God's mercy, God's love for us despite our actions.
That is one blessing that God extends toward all generations.

Every day God performs mighty works, miracles,
when prayer is answered for something that seems quite impossible.
What great thing has God granted you recently?
Like Mary, are you praising and giving God glory?

God will bless you when you worship Him
with words of praise and thanksgiving.
May giving God glory
be your life's story.

And Mary said:
My soul glorifies the Lord
and may spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty one has done great things for me -
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55

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

Be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things.
Joel 2:21