Posts Tagged ‘moment god’
How My Garden Grows
I laid in bed this morning with a blog forming in my mind. I had no idea that God had other plans for me. Ready to capture the day, I planted my feet on the floor, made me a delicious soy latte and headed outside to tend to my garden. I find a sense of comfort in the early morning hours, and I always find enjoyment as I witness the beauty forming in my garden. The realization of what a tiny seed can turn into when it is nurtured and loved…amazes me. While I hadn’t ignored it completely, my garden did plummet on my priority list, along with other things, during the time I was dealing with the reality of my special friend. Joyfully, from the moment God armed me with the truth, I have been equipped and ready to get my life and my priorities back in order. I’m thankful it didn’t take long and I accept the consequences of my actions. I refuse to look at anything in a negative light. That would get me nowhere. I would rather see the good. It was what I had to do, it was what I had to experience in order to grow; I don’t see it as a tragedy. I learned a valuable lesson in the midst of it and I am no longer in the grips of the despairing darkness. I can forgive and move forward, knowing who I want to be…who God wants me to be. Praise God! As watered and plucked vegetables today I discovered a special appreciation for God and all He does, for all He is. I saw myself, I saw us, God’s children, in that garden today.
Living in the heart of the city, I have a very small backyard and a big country heart. For years my garden consisted primarily of container plants inside an abandoned kennel with a few planted around its’ perimeter. Not content with this small venture, I created a raised garden bed over the course of two years on top of what use to be an unused gravel driveway behind my enclosed carport. Working with the used potting soil after each growing season and leaves from the Fall, the soil became alive with large worms and nutrients. I loved the feeling of soil in my hands as I worked with it, step by step, season to season. This is the first year I actually planted a full garden in it. Edged with concrete blocks and full of young plants, I enjoyed sitting out back looking in awe at what my hands had created – it must be how God feels about each of us.
Unfortunately, there is a mature tree stretching from my neighbor’s yard that towers over my garden. I didn’t see a problem with it at first, but now, I do. The squash and tomatoes planted towards the front, receiving the most sun, flourish. I have so many that I don’t know what to do with them and I often give them away to friends. However, the tomatoes planted towards the back of the garden have yet to produce any fruit. They are green and some appear healthy, yet with the lack of sun, they are unable to produce as they should – like us. When we are not in God’s light, our ability to produce as we should is hindered. My heart goes out to these plants. I continue to water them and tend to them – like God does us when we aren’t planted where we should be. I’m not sure they will produce as they should but I will not give up on them.
On the other hand, there is one tomato plant that sits in full sun. It looked so promising as it matured: several strong branches eagerly formed, so many that I had to devise a way to support the weight of them as they expanded well beyond the capacity of its’ container. I have always had great luck with planting tomatoes in containers so I was surprised when it took so long to actually bear fruit: today was the first time I picked any tomatoes from it. I decided to pluck a couple which weren’t fully red; I placed them on the window sill so that they could reap the full benefits of the sun, less the unbearable heat and humidity. Kind of what God does for us. He sees us trying so hard, He sees our determination and faith in following Him. He gently places us where we can better flourish. He gives us the opportunity to remove the elements crippling our growth no matter where we are. It’s up to us to see that…it’s up to us to move, to listen, to hope, to have faith in His words, to believe in His ability to help us grow. (Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 48:18, Isaiah 58:11.)
Remember the sweet potato blog? The day I returned home from confronting him with his girlfriend, I immediately planted them. That felt so good. Today, four days later, sprouts are emerging from the ground. Beautiful, dark reddish green shoots springing up from the soil. I smiled. That’s me! I’m where I should be: emerged in God’s love, forgiveness, peace, mercy, hope. There is fruit forming underground. Even if I can’t see it, I know it’s there. God is tending to my needs; He heard my call, He’s seen my commitment. He is healing me from the inside out. I want to share this growth with the world. Praise God!
As I picked my bounty this morning, I often caught myself smiling. They did it! And so did I. That must be just a fraction of how God feels when we succeed; when we follow His will, when we rise above our circumstances and flourish. It’s not easy, and it’s not over. I’ve only just begun.
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About the Author:
Angie is the author of the blog “My Walk With God“. At 40 Angie is a single, divorced mother of 3 children ranging in ages from 21 to 16. Having suffered through addiction, divorce, abuse, depression and sin, she finds her strength by walking with God. She is a programmer/analyst and enjoys photography both as a side profession and as a hobby/release. Her current passion is a photography collection she calls “How Great Thou Art“. She also enjoys bonding with her kids, reading, traveling, exploring, gardening, and anything outdoors. The youngest of 8 siblings, she was a high school drop out, yet now holds 2 Associates Degrees and 1 Bachelor’s Degree and is currently earning her Masters. Check out more about her walk with God at: angnic.wordpress.com
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Three Mantras of a Happy Life
You might have heard or read a lot on how to be happy in your life. And if you still feel that nothing works for you, may be this helps. I am not dictating out some set rules of happy life neither am I trying to change your frame of mind. It is a just piece of advice that has helped a many. May be you can also have a different point of view after going through this piece.
New Day and a New Beginning: Each day that life brings to us is special in its own regards. Good or bad whatever it is, at least you get to have some experience. If you have had a problem last night, then forget it this morning. Start afresh all over it again. Be calm and ponder over your problems. Believe me if you sit in tranquility, relate and converse with yourself you will definitely be at ease and I am sure you will a solution to your problem as well – personal or professional . Try it once.
Thank God for Everything: Every moment God is doing some miracles. Just try to see them – in you around you. Your cosmos is changing each minute. Feel it. Your conscience wants to say something to you. Hear it. You should be always happy with your lot. If you are satisfied with whatever you possess, you will never grumble and there lies the true happiness. Give yourself some time. Even you are needed by yourself. If you don’t have something then don’t keep on thinking about it rather just see what don’t have that you have. Feel yourself a proud owner. You are different so believe in yourself and thank God for what you have instead of complaining of what you don’t have.
Love and Respect Others: The very basis of humanity is to love and respect others. Even others have an identity of their own. They also do exist in this world as you do. Your family members- younger or elder, your colleagues, your seniors or juniors, each of them is unique here and has a persona of his own. Just try to see them with your eyes wide open and hear them. Even they have right to speak. Don’t insult anyone, don’t offend anyone. If you cannot do any good to anyone then try not to any bad even. Do you have the right to do so? No. If you are good to others, others are good to you. Give the world best you have and the best comes back to you.
Just try to practice in this your daily life and you will feel the change within yourself.
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About the Author:
I have a knack of writing and so I am here. I love to give my thoughts a robe of words to communicate and this is the best way to keep myself globally present online. You can explore more of me through my writings and blogs. I just hope they are helpful for the readers and satisfy the writer within me.
http://swati-saxena.blogspot.com/2008/12/life-is-strange.html
Tags: moment god, proud owner, respect others, true happiness, happy life, different point of view