Thy Word is Like a Garden Lord

"Thy Word is Like a Garden Lord"

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And everyone who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;
And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.

Oh, may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!
Oh, may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,
I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

-Edwin Hodder (1863)

"Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."  Jeremiah 15:16

"As for God His way is perfect; The Word of the LORD is proven: He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18;30

"Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesian 6:17

"Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119: 105

Happy Fourth of July!

This is a photo of the wheat field across the road from our home. What a blessing to see such beauty each day!

 Over the past week we have enjoyed photographing some new items for our Etsy shop in front of the wheat field.

Below is an excerpt from "Little Town on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Then Pa began to sing. All at once everyone was singing:

“My country, ‘tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing….

“Long may our land be bright
With Freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, Our King!”

The crowd was scattering away by then, but Laura stood stock still. Suddenly she had a completely new thought: God is America’s King.

She thought: Americans won’t obey any king on earth. Americans are free. That means they have to obey their own consciences. No king bosses Pa; he has to boss himself. Why (she thought), when I am a little older, Pa and Ma will stop telling me what to do, and there isn’t anyone else who had a right to give me orders. I will have to make myself good.

Her whole mind seemed to be lighted up by that thought. This is what it means to be free. It means, you have to be good. “Our father’s God, author of liberty-“ The laws of Nature and of Nature’s God endow you with a right to life and liberty. Then you have to keep the laws of God, for God’s law is the only thing that gives you a right to be free.

From “Little Town on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder


“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Laura Ingalls Wilder

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Timothy 3:16-17


As a child, Laura Ingalls memorized more than one hundred Bible verses to win a competition in church. These and other scriptures became the stabilizing force in her life for the years ahead.

To supplement her family’s scant income, Laura, at age twelve, took a job caring for a sick neighbor. Away from home for the first time, Laura became homesick. Encouraged by scripture to bring every need to God, she prayed and felt “a hovering Presence, a power comforting and sustaining me.”

Laura also needed comfort from God’s Word when her sister Mary lost her eyesight. She leaned on Bible promises when her family moved seven times in ten years. She required divine wisdom when she took her first teaching job at age fifteen. Later came the loss of a child and a home destroyed by fire. In 1911, at age forty-four, she leaned on God’s Word as she began writing for publication. The scripture verses learned as a child profited Laura her entire life.

God never intended for you to face the unknown future without help. He has given the Bible for your profit. It is not too late to begin hiding scripture verses in your heart. In the years ahead, you, too, will need the comfort and help God’s Word offers.

From “Daily Devotions for Women” by Jewell Johnson

Springtime in Upstate New York

The post below is shared by my mother, Donna Jean.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21: 4&5

Springtime in upstate New York is lovely; fragrant lilacs, beautiful forget-me-nots, tulips and more. I wish I could bottle the scent of our mountain ash tree; it is so sweet and lovely. In my mind I can imagine heaven a perpetual springtime and its atmosphere filled with the wonderful essence of springtime always. Thank you Father for new life in Christ Jesus.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Spring Flowers

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matthew 6:28&29

"The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness."
                                                   -Terese of Lisieux

                                        "Her heart is like her garden
                                         Old-fashioned, quaint and sweet.
                                         With here a wealth of blossoms,
                                          And there a still retreat."
                                                       -Alice E. Allen

One Day!

One day when heaven was filled with his praises,

One day when sin was as black as could be,

Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—

Dwelt amongst men, my example is he!



Living, he loved me; dying, he saved me;

Buried, he carried my sins far away;

Rising, he justified freely, for ever:

One day he's coming—O, glorious day!



One day they led him up Calvary's mountain,

One day they nailed him to die on the tree;

Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is he!



One day they left him alone in the garden,

One day he rested, from suffering free;

Angels came down o'er his tomb to keep vigil;

Hope of the hopeless, my Saviour is he!



One day the grave could conceal him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then he arose, over death he had conquered;

Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!



One day the trumpet will sound for his coming,

One day the skies with his glories will shine;

Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;

Glorious Saviour, this Jesus is mine!
 
-J. Wilbur Chapman
 
"For the LORD himself will come down from heaven  with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from thier graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words." Thessalonians 4:16-18

Happy New Year!

"For you are God's people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all people, His treasured possession." Deuteronomy 7:6

"Direct my footsteps according to your Word." Psalm 119:133

"The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'" Psalm 32:8

"Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed." Proverbs 32:8

"If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." Galatians 5:25

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight." Psalm119:35

Happy Thanksgiving

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Psalm100:4&5

"Alas! how we forget that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth; that we are journeying to our eternal home, and will soon be there!" Octavius Winslow

Creativity

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands; just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. “ 1 Thessalonians 4:11&12

When we look around we see God’s creation everywhere. His magnificent creation of roses, cats, stars, trees, mountains… all remind us of His infinite creativity.
God’s most precious creation is us, the human race. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created us in His image. That means we have characteristics like our creator, one is a desire to be creative, and the ability to create.
All of us have skills God has given us; everyone’s skill is different and special. When God called the Israelites to build the tent in the wilderness He filled a young man, Bezalel, with His Spirit and gave Bezalel skill, ability and knowledge in many crafts. Bezalel was skilled in working with wood, engraving gold, embroidering, and more.
Bezalel was not the only Israelite given a gift in creativity. Many of the women spun blue, purple and scarlet wool (Exodus 35:25), others wove linen, embroidered curtains, men built and carved all for the glory of God! They would bring there products to God as an offering, and God would bless them with more skill.
So today let’s just take a moment to thank God for His amazing gift of creativity and think of new ways to use our gifts, talents and time to bring Him glory! Maybe you do not feel like you are a very creative person but would like to learn how. Pray as the Psalmist David did: “May the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. “ Psalm 90:17
Thank you Heavenly Father for your gift of creativity!

“Blessed be Your glorious Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth and things on it, the sea and all things in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worship You. “ Nehemiah 9:5-6