Heavy Heart Syndrome...

For the last several weeks I have been suffering from 'heavy heart' syndrome. 

A previously-healthy, sweet friend of mine is in the hospital struggling to regain her health, and her family and friends are concerned for her condition. I hear the prayer list at church and so many of our older members are struggling with health problems or dealing with spouses who have memory issues as well as those affecting their overall health, and they are tired and worn out. 

Storms Roll In

In place of a sunrise this morning, there was this.

I thought maybe I wouldn't capture the scene, as it was significantly uglier than what I see so often in its place, but then I thought about how often our days mirror this sky and not the beautiful, untroubled skies I often see.

So many of us have troubles and struggles and strongholds to hack through every day. Some of us have physical illness or deformity - unwieldy and/or disobedient children that make us wring our hands and cry - issues between spouses that have caused hurt and/or emotional separation - a loss of a job and/or financial struggles - some of us find solace in emotional pain because the familiarity it offers makes it so hard to move forward that we stay mired in the past...whatever the reason, we all have storms in our life and sometimes more often than calm. There is an answer, however.

Peter reminds us (1st Peter 5:7) to 'cast' all your care upon him (Jesus) for He careth for you. Jesus himself promised,

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." Following Jesus can be hard. Often, it's easier - more human feeling - to struggle; to feel depressed, to cry and wail and gnash our teeth - but Jesus promises we needn't have to waste our days in this way.

All we need to do is pray,

"Lord, take my burden, ease my woe, bring your peace in place of my misery and show me the way." I've done this more than once (after much personal struggle!) and it works! If you truly want your burden lifted and heart healed, and you pray this prayer with real sincerity, you will feel lighter and see a path through your storm. Don't be afraid. Don't stay stuck. Jesus, as always, is the answer!

The Importance of Evangelism

This morning as I was doing my farm chores, I chose to fertilize some of my berry bushes with water from the duck pond.

To Everything A Season

Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that: 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." 

(The Byrds also told us that, when songs about Jesus used to be commonplace on the radio, but few of us remember that anymore...) 

Training Children Is Like Training Tomato Plants!

These are but two rows of my tomato plants. I grow about 12 different varieties. Some are the same from year to year, but others are new and I can't wait to see what the fruit will look and taste like.

This year, my husband Dave suggested I grow them on a wire trellis system rather than trying to put cages around them because those take up so much room and we have so many plants. I gladly accepted his advice and assistance and we got the plants training along the wires, adding new ones above as the vines grew.