Wednesday, March 23, 2011 -What Lies Beneath

     We're using this unexpected time at home to discover what's in this fabulous yard. The Browns who lived here for years were putterers and gardeners who planted beauty in every nook and cranny. However, since we moved here in mid-October after the blooming season, we missed the blooms and arrived in time to see the results of an August drought. Later, we watched the leaves and snow bury what remained.  The yard started blooming a couple of weeks ago in spite of the drought. First up were the weeds as they swallowed the grass alive. Then, here and there, yellow buttercups and red tulips surged through the blankets of leaves in triumphant color. This cool week is perfect for peeling back thick layers covering entire flower beds to discover the potential treasures they hold. The violets in the photo were choking on bahai grass and flowering weeds behind dead azalea branches.
     We didn't know in October when we were unpacking boxes inside the house what March would bring outside our doors and windows. Mr. Brown worked hard to make his yard a Garden of Eden and now we're enjoying the flowers of his intense labor. Did he do all this work for us? No, but we're loving it. Was it guaranteed that the next generation would appreciate what he did? No, he could only hope his work wasn't in vain. Did he plant it all in one day? No, it took years to plant and care for everything in this yard.
     It's spring, friends, and it's planting time. Each prayer we plant over a lifetime makes a difference somewhere - even if it's in our own hearts or in some way we'll never see or enjoy. "The more you pray, the more answers you can receive." (Sarah Young, Jesus Calling) Our God of details plants beauty in us only He can nurture to maturity but I'm staying busy pulling back the layers of worldliness to let Him shine His Light on the abundant life He planted in me. He works in us and others through our prayers.

"You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, 

are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?"

 1 Corinthians 3:3

Father, we don't want to live mere, normal lives with no surprises and no new growth. Please, guide our prayers to please You and help us remember to pray about anything and everything, knowing You hear us and will answer abundantly. You don't do anything halfway - help us pray with all our hearts in Your Will. May others be blessed by the results of Your work in us and the prayers You lead us to pray for them. 
In the Name of Jesus Who fed 5,000 people abundantly from a single boy's lunch and Who died so our lives could be anything but normal and predictable.  

"I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food." Psalm 132:15

"When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, Gather the pieces that are left over. let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." 

John 6:12-13

Inspired by Mr. Brown and Jesus Calling

photo from our family album