Golden Spiria

Today's Joy: Doing Good Things For Others.

I love it, Reader, when the lessons we learn at church on Sunday morning about God and giving and loving one another spill over into the rest of the day. Today's message was the third installment of Dave Ramsey's video series on biblical finance. It was about giving and the power inherent in wise & thoughtful stewardship of the resources God has placed in our care.

The gist is this: no matter how you slice it, everything belongs to God. The earth, the animals, us, all of our talents and resources--we don't truly own any of it. Everything we have is on loan from God. He has lent us gifts, skills, funds and the breath in our bodies to complete his work. So, in not managing our money and resources properly, we are, in essence, misusing what God has provided. We are not being good stewards.

That is powerful stuff. If it all belongs to God, who are we to deny giving? Who are we to choose not to help others--when He has clearly given us the means to do so? And how could we ever manage His resources effectively if every month we have to choose between paying bills or feeding our families? I keep thinking about the difference I could make in the lives around me if only I didn't have debt hanging over my head. Oh, the ways I could serve if I weren't living paycheck to paycheck!

I left the service this morning and went directly to Mom's house to help her remove the ancient evergreen bushes from her front yard. After attempting to pull them out via truck-power, we resorted to sawing off the limbs and then digging out the stumps. God took pity on our poor, out-of-shape bodies and sent us Joel, the neighbor across the street. A stone mason and very kind soul, he spent the rest of the morning helping us dig out all 9 thick-rooted bushes. In return, he asked only that we help if he ever has a project that needs doing. Tomorrow, I will also bake him some cookies.

It was so inspiring to see this man out there in the sun, sweating and wrestling those bushes out of the ground for people he doesn't even know. What a blessing he was to us.

In the afternoon, we took all the project refuse out to the burn pile at our family farm. While there, I helped Aunt Chef prep some window boxes for her lovely flowers. The family seemed tired from working on the farm all day so I also volunteered to make dinner for everyone. Whipped up grilled chicken with a special marinade and my favorite homemade mac & cheese. It was a simple way to give and gave me great pleasure in the process.

Today was full of hard work, sunburn and big revelations. I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Hope this gets your neurons firing, Reader. How can you be a better steward of the gifts and assets that God has provided in your life? What could you do if you weren't hampered by financial constraints?

Sedona Rose

“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator. …One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made." ~ St. Basil the Great (329-379)


Today's Joy: The Amazing Variety in God's Creation.
While going thru the photos I took when Mom & I were out exploring area garden centers this past weekend, I found a bunch I wanted to share with you, Reader. These were taken at either The Planter's Palette in Winfield, IL or at Heinz Bros. Greenhouse in St. Charles.

There are some real beauties and an incredible variety of shapes, textures and hues. We had such a wonderful time marveling over plants and clever landscaping. Looking at the images I captured with my camera, I feel blessed to be surrounded by such beauty. It also reminds me that our trivial, human attempts at dabbling in hybridization don't even begin to scratch the surface of what God is capable of creating. A sobering thought.

“Love all of God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light! Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will soon perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” ~ Fydor Doestoyevski (1821-1881)

Of course, Doestoyevski is right. In the end, it's all about love anyway. God's love for us. God's love for Creation. God's wish for us to love each other as He loves us. That love includes stewardship of all the amazing, breathing beings around us. Two-legged, four-legged, six or eight-legged, even millipedes! And those beings that have no legs at all.

All are part of that great something we all long to touch. Funny, isn't it, how we spend our lives searching for the one thing that will fulfill us, only to find out we had it within us all the time. Actually, we're made of it. How's that for tangible love?

“Earth is crammed with heaven
And every bush aflame with God
But only those who see take off their shoes.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning


If Chunk Were Made Of Stone...


Mom surrounded by hanging baskets, The Planter's Palette


Fairy Garden in Wheelbarrow, The Planter's Palette



Ornamental Kale (?)

Gerbera Daisy

Rose

Love & Peace Rose

Sedona Rose

Rose

Rose

Marigolds

Ornamental Onion

Perennial Cornflower

Peony

A swirly whats-it that caught my eye...

The Planter's Palette

Red Velvet Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose

Poppy, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Columbine

Cherub

Creation Quotes courtesy of Climbing For Christ.

Today's Joy: New Arrivals to the Family Farm.
Got a call from Uncle the other day announcing that this year's batch of piglets arrived this week. "They all look like hyenas!" he said. Well, Reader, I'm a sucker for a baby anything. So, I grabbed my Olympus & stopped at the farm on my way home from work. Turns out, Uncle was right--they are a bit hyena-like. Five skittish, polka-dotted little pigs that squeal like the dickens if you try to pick them up. But cuter, they couldn't be. I sat with them for a bit until they felt comfortable enough to come over and gnaw on my shoe. Got some cute shots too.

Because we raise our own beef, pork & poultry, my family takes great pride in caring for these animals. They are well looked after and much appreciated. In a world where your pound of hamburger from the store may contain meat from as many as 14 different animals, our meat comes from just one. We know what they eat and how they're cared for and we know the people who process the meat. There's something of the sacred in this kind of stewardship. It feels good to be respectful and not wasteful of these precious creatures God has put in our care.