Late Spring Stray Gifts

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‘Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes!

William Wordsworth

Anyone who has a yard to tend to or a garden to keep up with understands that it is a LOT of work. It is constantly watching for bugs out to harm your precious growing things or minding the feeding, fertilizing, and watering. It is brutally hot here in the summer and I have to get up early if I want to do any work in the yard while the weather is tolerable…and some days I just do not feel like it! But the yard is important to me and since I enjoy the flowers growing and seeing the grass come through, I must put my work clothes on and get out there and do the work. Yesterday morning, I was out pulling weeds, trimming dead roses off the bush, and cutting off dry mums. If I didn’t do the work, I would certainly miss the opportunity to see beautiful things in the yard, smell wet grass after I have watered, or hear the birds sing after I have filled the birdfeeder.

It has been a while since I have shared a “stray gifts” post, so I thought it was time to put together a few photos I have taken and show you a few that have been put in my path.


From left to right, top to bottom:

  • Orange mums are starting to show up. They are so bright and cheerful!
  • Jonathan and I planted sunflowers this year and one by one, they are starting to open up!
  • I love to see where the sunlight lands at different times of the day in the house. This one caught me by surprise as I walked by it. I had never noticed the sun coming through the high window putting a spotlight on a growing vine that is on a tall shelf in the living room.
  • A handmade card from my twelve-year-old niece and a sweet note from her sister, who is four. A note in the mail is always a treat! I love to see how creative my niece gets with each card she makes for me.
  • My dad was a great biscuit maker when I was growing up. He still has the magic touch and is teaching Jonathan how to make them from scratch. Biscuits and gravy on a lazy Saturday morning are amazing.
  • Here is another photo of light landing on a plant in the house which caused me to stop and take notice.
  • This seems to be the “year of the honeysuckle” in our yard. We have had these for a few years now and, for some reason, the vine has just exploded continually in blooms! When there is a breeze in the air, the whole yard smells so heavenly.
  • I jumped on the sourdough bread bandwagon when the quarantine hit. I had tried it a few years ago but became frustrated with the learning process. I gave it another try and realized that making a loaf of bread is much more difficult and I have settled on making English muffins instead. I was determined to make this work after reading the health benefits from sourdough. So far, it is working for me and everyone loves these. I’ve also tried crepes and waffles using the sourdough and everyone gives them a ‘thumbs up’.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
-William Wordsworth, 1806

Using the Legs of Faith

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It is not the load that breaks you down; it is the way you carry it.

“Use your leg muscles, not your back muscles.” This is an essential rule in movement. Lifting heavy objects improperly may not affect our back the first few times we try it. But over time, injury occurs due to too much wear and tear on the back muscles. The power and stability come from the legs which should be doing most of the work. When we feel strain due to too much back pressure, it can cause a lack of balance and result in suffering.

Using the legs of faith which are grounded in Christ is an essential “must” for movement with the weight of life’s burdens. Trying to journey through illness, loss, and heartaches by ourselves will cause damage to our overall health and wellness. Christ doesn’t want us to carry our trials alone. He wants us to come to Him often, boldly, and willingly – trusting that He will continue to give grace and supply us with strength and wisdom.

Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

He Holds

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Perhaps the opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear.

Ann Voskamp- One Thousand Gifts

I call myself a “believer”. I believe that God sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins, that Christ rose from the grave, and that He came to save me. I was saved at a young age and one would think that I, on the sunny side of 49 years old, would have no trouble trusting that God is a good God. I trust the Savior for salvation from sins, yes, but do I trust Him for the salvation from fear? A lot of setbacks, a few surgeries for John (a shoulder one coming up in June), some changes in plans, and the question marks about the next year have caused a bit of worry. Is God surprised by these things? My mind says, “No”. My heart is wary.

Much (if not all) of the apprehension in my life over whether or not God will take care of me (us) has proven a waste of time. If I had stilled the doubts and waited for God to prove He is the “I am” in everything, I would have had a better way to use up my energy.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29

Stress and questioning God seem easier than trusting. Fretting and fearing are a lot less work because they require no discipline, no training of the mind to do the hard thing, no letting go of control. They cause the heart to be lazy, forgetful, and wild. Anxiety never brings joy. The work of God for me is to believe on Him, to believe Him – that He is watching, that He is in the making of our future, that He is able to care for all the details in life. With a trusting heart, I can thank Him for salvation from sins to salvation from fear and worry – whether or not I have answers about what the future holds.

“Can God be counted on? Count blessings and find out how many of His bridges have held…Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks…I can walk the planks – from known to unknown – and know: He holds.”

Ann Voskamp – One Thousand Gifts

With Confidence and Expectancy

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Faith gives us the courage to face the present with confidence and the future with expectancy.

Having faith in God recognizes that He puts things in my path for a reason. Each small thing, each step forward in life, each moment adds up to His drawing me closer and helps me face a new day with confidence. John and I have had a lot of changes over the last few years and have some major decisions coming up which include shoulder surgery, a career change and a possible move. Facing the present with confidence is not easy somedays, yet nothing is a surprise to God. He is in the business of working out all things for His glory. My feet can hit the floor in the morning expecting that His plan is not for evil or for confusion but for peace and for a closer walk with Him.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

At the Head of the Line

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You are never a number with God. With Him, you are always at the head of the line.

Countless times I have been waiting on the phone to schedule a doctor appointment for my dad. Most times, I am unable to talk to anyone immediately and receive an automated response, “Please hold. The next available operator will be with you shortly. You are number 6. Thank you for your patience”. With God, I am never on hold. I am never a number waiting in line until He is available. At this moment, He is ready with an instant ear and a willing heart to hear the voice of His child.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Even Through the Hard Things

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Faith makes things possible, not easy.

On my blog, I have quite a few drafts that I had started writing a year or so ago and had intentions of posting someday. Now that I am home more due to the ‘social-distancing’, I have been reviewing the drafts. What I wrote two or three years ago concerning a Scripture verse still is relevant for today. I am reminded that God’s Word is timeless. I do not remember the circumstances that surrounded the Fixed on Faith #16 a few years ago (for reference, I have up to twenty-six Fixed on Faith posts total at present), but, “Faith makes things possible, not easy” sure can apply to today. My husband was in the process of applying for work after his two hip surgeries and now with uncertain days ahead, we will trust God to work out the timing and our finances. With our son’s college being on lockdown and classes only online the rest of the semester, we will trust God that it can be done and be done well. We have a church across the border in Juárez, Mexico and the border is closed to us crossing. We will trust God that the man He has placed there during my husband’s recovery will continue to capably lead the church. “Trust God” may sound trite or too easy of an answer to the question, “What do we do?” And yet Christ simply says, “Come unto me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear

Dictionary.com

Life can be scary right now. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear of the future. I believe faith has more power than fear and even though some things may not be easy, convenient, or pleasant, I can determine to keep a quality of mind that will enable and not cripple. I cannot do anything about curing this virus, but God can, and I will do my part in staying home. I will pray for those who must go to work and who face this thing head-on. What I can do, too, is to live every day with courage, with my thoughts on the Savior and not on the situation …even through the hard things.

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he is it that shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 60:12

I Commit My Day

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Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

When I hear advice about what to do during this ‘quarantine’, I hear, “Don’t listen to too much news”, “Get outside in nature”, “Enjoy learning a new hobby or language”, “Stay calm”, “Bake!” and the list goes on. Here in our house, we are working on a few projects such as cleaning out the shed, tidying up the yard, planting wildflower and sunflower seeds. Indoors, there are few things needing to be cleaned, aired-out, and organized. Each day, we commit to being productive and to using our time home wisely. And some days, we commit to rest and enjoy not having to go anywhere or do anything. Whether we are working, playing, or resting, we have peace because we know God is in control and His grace will still be there tomorrow when we wake up and commit our day all over again.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Max Lucado

New Year’s Resolutions

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New Year’s Resolutions….why am I writing about this now, in March? I am finding that amid this coronavirus pandemic, I am able to work on my resolutions and thought I’d share. But first, a family update.

I wrote last year about my husband John needing two hip replacements. The right hip was replaced in July, the left hip in October. He is in physical therapy still and is recovering more and more. We are now concerned about his right shoulder which has a full tear in the rotator cuff (due to an old injury). Right now, his doctor wants him taking anti-inflammatory medication, but we know that is just a bandaid of sorts for the time being.

Our son Jonathan is a senior in college. Due to the coronavirus, he will be taking the rest of his classes online for this semester. His major is History and lately, he has been leaning toward the field of research.

My dad’s health is stable at present.

As for me, I am finding more time to work on my resolutions for the new year. I want to spend more time outdoors. I also intend to read more, create more, and stay off social media more. I purpose to add beauty to my life by keeping fresh flowers in the house, by lighting candles at night and having a lit candle on the dinner table during the meal. I plan to look at beautiful photos or take them myself. I mean to listen to music more. Because we have been staying home, I am able to accomplish these things.

One activity we are adding as a family is walking for ten minutes after each meal. We clean up the table, put our walking shoes on and go in the backyard to walk. I set a timer and we walk around the yard, play with the dog, and notice each and every bloom and bird. It is a perfect time to do so because our plants are starting to bud and the weather is perfect. It gets us outdoors and looking at all the growing things.

The book I am currently reading is “Holy Noticing: The Bible, Your Brain, and the Mindful Space Between Moments” by Charles Stone.

As far as creating goes, I love to make my own greeting cards. I have been working on organizing all my craft paper and gathering ideas for more cards. I would also like to get back into writing, sharing more of the “Fixed on Faith” posts I have, more “stray gifts”, and a few inspirational quotes and things that come across my path.

Did you make any new resolutions this year? If so, are you keeping up with any of them? Stay safe and well out there!

Stray Gifts: Top Row: daffodil photos taken when John and I went away for our 25th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago -photos were taken in a park we found. Middle Row: onion chives I didn’t know were coming back and on the right, a banana succulent that looks like a curtain now Bottom Row: our ash tree stretching up to the sun, a Morning Glory rope I found while cleaning up dead vines, and my trailing Periwinkle


Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find. -William Wordsworth, 1806

Grace Goals for November and December

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Don’t think of the things you didn’t get after praying. Think of the countless blessings God gave you without asking.

Anonymous

Some of you know that my husband had his second hip replaced in October. The first one was done in July. The summer and fall have been filled with surgeries, physical therapy, and managing the home and schedules. This time around has been harder for my husband physically and it is taking longer to heal than we thought it would. All of November, I was concerned with what I was going to share here on the blog concerning the ‘grace goal’ for that month. I had several ideas to write about, but not the brain space to sit and really write. Now that December is here and the end of my Grace Goals theme I have had, I look back at the last year and see a thread of grace. While life was busy and I was trying to stay on top of our new normal, the thing that occurs to me as I look back on this year’s blog entries is that I was and still am counting the stray gifts. The stray gifts in a day have taken me by surprise, have added joy to the day, and have reminded me that God is still present when life gets crazy. Stray gifts come in all sizes and shapes from time alone to a handwritten note sent from a friend to flowers blooming in the yard or around town that I see. Big and small, I welcome them all. When the days were long and we were all tired, I still found reminders of God’s hand in our lives.

I pray for healing for my husband, for wisdom for our son who will soon be a college senior, for my dad’s health, for our ministry over in Mexico which has been operating without us since June- for many things. These are always on my mind and I can get preoccupied while waiting for answers on other requests. The countless blessings I have received without asking are the stray gifts in the day, the gentle reminders that He cares about adding beauty in the skies, songs through birds outside my kitchen window, kindness through strangers, thoughtfulness of friends, sweet scents through flowers blooming, a lost item now found, and many more. And I want to keep counting.

I would like to encourage you that when you may be sitting in a doctor’s office with a loved one, keep counting. While you wait for healing for yourself, keep looking. While you listen for God’s direction for the next step, keep watching. The stray gifts are there ready to be noticed by those who want to see.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

William Wordsworth, 1806

The Master Craftsman

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When we take the threads of our lives, our prayers, our service to God and man and weave them with faith in God’s power to heal, provide, and guide, He takes the interlaced threads and creates a beautiful tapestry of testimony and grace for every believer. I read that in weaving, it is the process that is more important than the time it takes to weave something. A beautiful tapestry with all the colors and intricate design takes a long time to be born. And so it is with my life. I need to keep weaving in faith. When anxiousness and worry cloud my mind, I need to shift my focus to the Master Craftsman. God is more interested in the refinement of a beautiful testimony of faith, glory, and hope than in the time it takes for all to come together for His honour. He is the Creator of time, after all, and can use it as He sees fit. When I feel impatient, when I wonder how long will God be working on me, I will remember the painstaking work it takes for a tapestry to be completed. Every detail matters. Every thread is important and necessary to complete the transformation which leads to a beautiful and useful masterpiece.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11