Sunflowers

Hello Everyone!

It's good to see you again today!

This time of year, I start thinking about planting, everything from vegetables to flowers. One of my favorites is sunflowers. I adore sunflowers! They are so bright and cheery! Though I never have very good luck with them, I try again each year, hoping and believing. Today, I began thinking about the sunflowers and their requirements. One of the most essential requirements is the sun.

Now, many of you that have grown sunflowers before, know of a particularly unique characteristic these wonderful creations possess. They "follow" the sun. They literally "turn their face" toward the sun and follow it as it make its way across the sky each day. They are "absorbing" all of its nourishing rays. There is a lesson here!

We, like sunflowers, must turn our face toward the "Son" and follow Him each day to be able to absorb all of His nourishing rays. When we do, we will become "bright and cheery" just like those wonderful creations - sunflowers!

"Dear Jesus, Help me turn my face toward You today. I want to absorb those marvelous Rays of Nourishment for my soul. I want to shine as bright as the sunflowers! Thanks for creating them to remind me of Your love!"

Be Encouraged!

Plant Lady

Some Words From God's Word

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Lord's Day!

Looking back over my old prayer journal entries from back in 2002, I came across some scripture I had written down. I would like to share some of those with you today.

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Psalm 27:5

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;" Psalms 34:18-19

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

I hope these scriptures will bring you peace as they have me!

If you have some that have helped you, please post them to encourage others who may need to hear them today.

Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady

Laundry Day

Hello Everyone!

Well, today is Laundry Day! Let's celebrate! Yea, right!

A mountain of dirty clothes and towels lay stacked on the floor of my laundry room. It is amazing just how much laundry two people can create in one week. I have not done laundry this week and I must admit, letting it pile up can be very daunting. As I am contemplating my task, I can see a lesson coming!

Why haven't I taken the time to do the washing daily? Didn't I realize it would be such a challenge when it piled up? Now, I will have to stress in order to accomplish my task, and today is Saturday, the perfect day to spend time with my husband just relaxing.

Our lives are like my HUGE pile of laundry. We let the cares of the week pile up on us and then by the weekend, when we should be relaxing, preparing for the Lord's Day, we are stressed in our monumental task to get everything done. Let's just take our "laundry" to Jesus everyday so he can do it for us! Then, we will have the weekends free to concentrate on spending time with Him and our families, just relaxing!

Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady

A Place of Refuge

We all need a place of refuge! This particular day, it was the church hymnal. I was feeling weak and I needed some encouragement. Armor-clad (Eph. 6:10-18), my weapon today would be PRAISE! I went, song by song, through the entire hymnal, singing each verse. The songs I did not know and the responsive readings, I read aloud.

As I went deeper into the hymnal, something amazing happened! I began to hear, not just with my ears, but with my soul! As I continued, my understanding increased. The messages of the hymns were being absorbed by my heart. I had sung those songs since childhood and never really heard them!

My soul was encouraged that day. I think I'll take out the hymnal and start all over again!
This is one of my favorites:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

by Martin Luther, 1529

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our Helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and pow'r great,

And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus-it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His name;

From age to age the same; And He must win the battle.

And tho' this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim-We tremble not for him.

His rage we can endure, For, lo, his doom is sure; One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow'rs, No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro' Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go-This mortal life also. The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.

Next time you are singing, listen to the words with your heart!

Be Encouraged!

Plant Lady

Ministering Spirits . . . cont'd

Hello Everyone!

Today, I would like to finish the story on my deliverance from worry. Wow! I didn't realize I would be angering the enemy so much that he would try to put me back into bondage to the very thing from which I have received God's wonderful deliverance. He is devious. He wants to destroy my witness for God's Mighty Power. Well, not today!

As I was saying yesterday, God answered my prayers for ministering spirits. They came in the form of birds singing outside my bedroom window. Later as the days passed, I found it easier to concentrate. I could read the Scriptures that now, seemed to come alive for me. My prayers came! I, with God's strength, had broken through the storm cloud the enemy had hovering over my head! The enemy did not stop, though. He kept on firing flaming arrows at me, but I was finding it easier to fight them. My search through the Word yielded the answers to my problem. It had always been there, faithfully waiting for me to find. In His time!

Put on the whole armor of God!

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT

That was my answer! Practice makes perfect! So I began.

One evening my husband came home from work and handed me a book by Jerusha Clark entitled, Every Thought Captive. As I read it, I came to understand that my worry separated me from God and that is sin. I had to confess it! So I did! I confessed my sin, asked God for forgiveness, and turned from it. Words are not adequate to express the feelings I had when I did this. I can only describe it as pure joy! I was delivered!

Since then, arrows have been thrown, armor has been worn, and I continue to fight. Worry like I once had is now gone. I finally know how to fight when it rears it's ugly head. Those times come when I am weak, that is why my ministering spirits are so important to me. They still come, sometimes as birds chirping outside my window. At other times, they come as friends encouraging me, praying for me, talking with me on this blog. I love them all!

Remember me in your prayers!

Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady

Ministering Spirits

While reading in Matthew Chapter 4, about the temptation of Jesus, something leaped off the page - v.11 "Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him." (NKJV)

Jesus? Having angels minister to Him? Why? He was God! Then it occurred to me. He was also human (like me)! After spending 40 days in confrontation with Satan, he was tired, hungry, and totally spent. The same happened to me. My temptation was worry. Jesus never yielded. I did. The battle was on! Satan was winning.

Worry about everything. Consuming me. Taking my focus from God. I tried to pray but could not. My mind was already filled. More was being piled on, seemingly, every minute. I could not think . . . could not eat . . . could not sleep . . . continually worrying about everything. Silly things, terrible things, what if's, why's, etc. Unbearable.

After another sleepless night, early in the morning, just before sunrise, I mustered enough strength to mutter a feeble prayer, "Please God, send me some ministering spirits." Immediately, the "noise" of my mind was replaced. Birds! Chirping, singing so joyfully outside my bedroom window. Their song: Praise to Our Creator! God had answered my prayer. He had sent ministering spirits in the form of birds outside my window!

This began my journey to deliverance . . .



(to be continued in tomorrow's blog)

Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady

A Simple Prayer

Dear Lord,

I come to You today not asking for anything, but thanking You and praising You for the wonderful world You made for us to enjoy. I have been sitting on the deck looking around at Your miraculous creation and thinking about how it gives me enjoyment and pleasure.

The five bird eggs in my ferns-now five little birds, the bluejay in the back yard eating at the feeder, the hummingbirds drinking the nectar, and your latest blessing-the little bunny rabbit in the shrubbery.

You have been so good to us. Thanks for all these blessings.
Love, Your child

This was my prayer. I'm sure you have one too! Tell Him!

Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady