Back Out In the Garden
I’m so grateful to be able to get back outside into the garden again following my recent MS flare and the tropical heat wave. But, I tell you, when your body isn’t used to all the bending, weed pulling, dead heading and veggie harvesting, it doesn’t matter how much stretching I do, I wake up the next day stiff and sore…especially in my neck muscles.
(L-R) Brussels Sprouts, yellow squash, tomatoes, lemongrass
Do you know that our heads weigh 10 – 11 pounds? So, constantly looking down and bending over while trying to keep our heads straight puts a whole lot of strain on our little necks! Seems like I always forget that I can crouch down or get on my knees and face my plants head on…until I’m already hurting. But I wouldn’t hurt quite as much if I’d just remember to do that!
So, as I was in the veggie garden this morning harvesting tomatoes, sweet potatoes and squash, as well as cleaning up the messy beds, I remembered to crouch or kneel whenever possible. And as I kept my eyes and head in an upward posture, it made me think how much Jesus wants us to face life with Him the same way…on our knees before Him, looking up…focusing our eyes on Him. That very posture allows Him to work out His plans and purposes so much more easily, or so it seems to me. For focusing on anything but Him, whether work…family concerns…or even just daily responsibilities…can cause me to forget He’s even with me. And that can really hurt.
I’m not the only one to learn a lesson like this. Even the Apostle Peter walking on the stormy water towards Jesus, took his eyes off of the One who had bid him to come…and he began sinking in the waves. But when his eyes were on Jesus he could walk on water! Read the story for yourself in Matthew 14: 22 – 33.
So, for today, I will take the encouragement of Psalm 121 to heart, remembering these precious promises:
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel (and Debra and you) will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”
I guess these sore neck muscles are a blessing because they’re helping me stay focused on Jesus. Oh, it IS a joy it to be back out in the garden!
Jesus, You may not be asking me to walk on water, but whatever Your plans are for me today, will You help me remember these sore neck muscles and keep my eyes focused on You? Thank You! Amen.
I Am Not Forgotten
I was so excited this past Sunday, when I walked into church. Not only were the Royal Family Kids Camp staff being commissioned, but we were also having Communion. As I walked with my cane I was moving pretty slowly and missed seeing the commissioning, but I knew how to pray for this incredible team that would be ministering to kids from the foster care system in the week ahead.
After a wonderful time of teaching and worshiping our awesome God, we began the time of reflection in preparation of taking the Lord’s Supper. I am so grateful for all that Jesus suffered as He gave His body and shed His blood on my behalf. This time of remembering, eating and drinking with fellow believers is so much more precious to me these days. I hadn’t been able to attend worship services on Communion Sundays for almost a year because of where I was serving in our church. So my heart is extra full of gratitude that I’m able to take part in this, once again.
As it turned out, I was sitting alone in a back row, the only person in those 6 or 7 seats. A lovely lady brought the bread to me, going out of her way to make sure I was served. I was praying when the cup representing Christ’s shed blood came around, and when I looked up all the servers were putting their trays away. They’d all finished their serving – and I’d been forgotten.
Now I must tell you that a year ago this would have broken my heart, since I was in such a wounded state and I would have wept at the oversight…but not this day.
Suddenly this thought came to my mind: I am not forgotten! God hadn’t forgotten me, even though I may have been missed by others in the church. God sees me and knows me by name! No worries…just something more for which to be thankful.
And then I remembered a song that I had taught at RFKC several years ago by that same name: I Am Not Forgotten (lyrics below). How fitting that the Lord allowed this to happen and this song to be remembered as abused, neglected and forgotten foster kids would be heading to camp to learn that they, too, are not forgotten.
As I left church I went to the Royal Family booth to get the name of a camper I could pray for all week. The parents of the camp director happened to be manning the booth. Taking the name of Isaiah, age 9, I walked toward my car, when suddenly I heard someone call my name! George was running after me and quickly caught up. He thanked me for the years that I had served at Royal Family, recounting many details of ways he remembered I’d led music, singing and playing guitar, making a difference in the lives of these kids. Such a sweet gift!
It IS true, Lord. I am not forgotten!
Today the kids are heading back home. I’m praying they will remember all of the amazing things they experienced at camp, but especially that God loves them, knows their names and will never forget them.
I AM NOT FORGOTTEN By Aaron Lindsay & Israel Houghton
I am not forgotten…God knows my name…
Light over darkness, strength over weakness, joy over sadness, He know my name.
Father to the fatherless, friend to the friendless, hope for the hopeless, He knows my name.
Like A Freshly Cleaned Garden Bed
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time this summer at my dad’s in San Diego. We’re working to make his home more accessible as his strength and mobility decrease. As much of a challenge as this is physically for me, I love every minute that I spend with him and my step mom. I’m treasuring these moments. I know better how to pray for them!
So yesterday, as I drove to and from their home I was blessed to drive past the area where Royal Family Kids’ Camp is taking place this week. I served for 13 years as the music director for this camp that our church sponsors each summer, so I’m very familiar with the routines of their days and evenings. And for one of the first times, I wasn’t sad as I drove past; I didn’t grieve over what I was no longer able to take part in. Instead, I prayed with abundant joy that other volunteers were working to help these foster children know the unconditional love of God and have a heck of a lot of fun in the process! Like a freshly cleaned garden bed waiting for colorful new plantings, I prayed that God would grow each of these kids into the beautiful and treasured person He created them to be.
The old plants are gone and this freshly cleaned bed is waiting for beautiful, healthy new plants.
So, will you join me today, praying for those in need? Will you pray for those disabled by disease and old age; disabled by broken hearts; disabled by the hands of broken people that inflicted unspeakable atrocities on innocent children? Will you pray for God’s love, grace and power to shine through the clouds of brokenness and despair and begin to right every wrong, to heal every hurt, to use even the worst things to bring beauty and good…His good…into each life?
Will you?