Dogwood Buds and Winter Woes

It just didn’t seem fair. The little tree is only a few years old, and finally big enough to set blooms for the coming spring, then the weather turns cold. If this winter is anything like the last couple of winters, it could be brutally cold. Well, brutally cold for Alabama could mean temperatures below zero for a few days, and a snow here and there. Feels brutal to us.   

We have a love of dogwoods; pink, white, wild and naturalized - they seem to epitomize spring. The timing is such that their blooms usually coincide with Easter. With their blooms in the shape of a cross, and the tip of each petal seeming to bear the hole of a nail, and the rusty blood stains of the One who bore them, even a golden crown in the center, this tree speaks of sacrifice, and resurrection. They give their own quiet testimony with spectacular beauty.

The blooms also produce marvelous bright red seeds for the next generation of dogwoods…and the cardinals. It is a beautiful sight when everything seems grey and lifeless to have these brightly adorned feathered friends arrive for their annual snacks. To reward me for the tasty seeds, they help with the planting and distribution process, thus I have dogwood seedlings to share nearly every year. It is a nice arrangement; a recurring contract we have with them.

This is one of those seedlings I gingerly transplanted a few years ago into a lush and heavily mulched flower bed.  It is now about as tall as I am. This is the very first time is has set blooms and frost is near.  So, I worry. Will the cold burn the bloomers off before they even have a chance to bloom? I should know better. This is the way they are designed, set buds in the fall, bloom in the spring. God has made provision for them to endure the winter BEFORE they bloom.

He does that with us too. He plants us, cares for us, gives us a job and the ability to endure through whatever it takes to perform that job. He might even allow us to go through a hard time before we can perform our job. It might help us build roots before we bloom, look to Him, be filled with Him, knowing He will provide whatever we need to endure and bloom at the right time. He is good like that.

I thought about having a little talk with them, to let them know they would be OK, that they had a wonderful surprise coming after the winter, and God would most certainly take good care of them until then. Somehow, they seemed to already know. They stand in our little garden, without a single complaint or worry, waiting patiently, silently, knowing God will take care of them and being prepared to testify to the world about His tremendous work that changed everything! I realized they are tougher than they look. You and I are too – when we rely on Him.

Thank You dearest heavenly Father for such beauty in Your Creation. Thank You for giving us such wonderful examples of Your provision, even when the hard times come. Thank You for promises of springtime blooms that speak of what You have done and what You ask us to do. Help us to look to You and hold on to You so that we will be able to bloom at the proper time, glorify our Creator, and leave seeds for those to come!

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Baby Bluebirds When Prayers Are Unanswered

Indigo and Baby Bluebird, ready for food.

My first prayer was that they were still alive and they were. The second was that God would send Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird (either the birth parents, or willing adoptive parents) to take care of these remaining two babies that became known as Indigo and Baby. I prayed with full faith that He could answer. I waited but, no Bluebirds came.

I had already rescued the unconscious and nearly dead babes (see Blue Birds and Worm Soup blog here) from certain death, gave them some protection and nourishment but, they needed parents to teach them bluebird things, a mentor for bluebird life. I continued to pray several times with full expectation of Mr. and Mrs. B showing up while I waited and watched. Watching and waiting even with full faith doesn’t force God to act. He acts according to His will and according to His purpose and I am thankful He does. My job is to be obedient, even when He asks me to go out of my comfort zone and into the Bluebird zone.

One prayer answered, another one not – at least not the way I wanted. That leaves me in the Bluebird raising business. As their temporary mentor, I have to brag on them a bit. Yesterday they were unable to hold up their own heads and about to give up on life, but today they are eager to live and can raise their heads and chirp big, strong chirps that would make a Bluebird Mom proud.

In order to establish some sort of communication, I rehearsed my all my best Bluebird chirps, and found one they recognized. They didn’t even laugh at my practice tries, at least not to my face – there were some unexplained and quite suspicious peeps back and forth - but I never brought it up, and they were far too polite to mention it.

When I whistled my amateur chirp, they opened their eyes, raised their little heads, stretched their skinny necks four inches upward and opened their beaks wide enough for me to see their plum down (Southern for “all the way”) to their gizzards with expectation of  delicious mealworm snacks. Somehow they were able to chirp with open beaks. I haven’t tried that one yet, but these talented little birds are experts at it, another proud moment. Of course, I got the message and rewarded their gizzards.

They now recognized me as “the chirper” who gives them food. I could walk by them, talk to them, the dog could bark, and thunder cold rumble but, until I chirped my special little chirp – they stayed down low with heads down, eyes closed, dreaming little bird dreams until mealtime. They trusted me to feed them and protect them.

With my prayer unanswered, I was given a marvelous opportunity to be a part of two little lives. I didn’t give them life, but I helped them find a way to live. I found a way to meet their needs and earn their trust.  Leaders do that. They look for new opportunities to meet needs and build trust, giving without expectation of reward, but finding reward in the development of another life.

Christ was like that. He left heaven, and sought us in our needs. He found ways to teach us so that we could understand His ways, and have life. How grateful I am that He took time to reach out to me, while I was lost and dying without a means for life. How grateful I am that He desires me to have life enough to give of Himself in order for me to have it. How grateful I am that He has made Himself known to me as the “giver of life and the giver of all spiritual nourishment.”

Many are lost and dying from lack of spiritual nourishment. As a follower of Christ, (“Christian” = little Christ) it seems that we should imitate Him. We might pray that He send someone to help the lost, but He might answer instead that we are who He wants to send. We might have to step out into unknown territory to those who don’t look like we do, or speak the way we do, or live the way we do. Often we will need to develop a relationship of trust before they are willing to accept what we have to offer. A good way to start is to speak words they understand instead of “churchy” language that may not be easily understood, or may be misunderstood. Building relationships like that allows for a mentor to lead with the kind of leadership that changes lives.

What can we do? I'm so glad you asked! I just happen to have some ideas.

1. Pray before you act and be willing to accept the answer, it may become a great blessing.
2. Recognize that you can make a difference – even if you think you can’t.
3. Establish good communication and engage frequently.
4. Building trust takes time, invest.
5. Be known as the giver of spiritual nourishment, and dish it out with joy and compassion.
6. Give thanks to God in all the small steps, they can be the beginning of a great journey.

Father in heaven, we are so very thankful to be able to know You hear our prayers. We thank You for answering in our best interest, whether we understand or not.

Help us to recognize the opportunities You present for us to help others. Give us the courage to step into the world of someone who needs to see You. Strengthen us so that our hearts will always be grateful in every circumstance and that we can share the life-giving Word of Truth with those who so desperately need it.

I have learned that instead of asking God why He doesn't do something, to consider that He placed me here. Maybe that was His answer. Maybe I am to do something...Listen to this song and ask God what He wants YOU to do today.

Read part 3 of Baby and Indigo's story here.


Matthew West 
"Do Something"

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Hidden, not

Frog in the rocks.
“There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13

If you haven’t noticed yet, there is a frog nestled up against the brick. He looked like a rock to me, and I didn’t see him until he moved. I'm thankful (he probably is too) that I didn't step on him. Although I didn’t see him right away, God knew he was there, and knew where I was too. He always does, and always has.

Do you ever feel alone? You are not.

Do you ever try to hide your sins? You can’t.

Do you ever wonder if He notices and cares? He does.

Father, how we thank You for reminding us that You see all. Help us to remember that You see our good and our bad, and live mindful of that. Thank You for loving us even though You know every thought we have.

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Grape Vines

Are you as smart as a grape vine?

Just last year these were mere sticks in the mud, branches trimmed from mature vines and shared with me to start my own little vines. They were carefully nurtured all last summer. They had times of sunshine and rain then, much to my delight, little pink buds sprouted from the sticks early this spring, assuring me they had indeed endured and grown roots over the brutal winter!

My job as tender of the vines is not just to watch them grow but to give them what they need to grow properly.  That includes a brutal task of trimming. It was agonizing to break off tender little limbs that were growing at the wrong angle or in the wrong spot. It was necessary, and painful for me and for them. I don’t know if they understood it was for their good, but the result was healthy plants that have now grown (in the right direction) over six feet long in just a few weeks!

Grape vines like to grow, but they need support. Naturally, I was happy to oblige and used some stakes to give them the help they needed to stay upright while they got their “feet” under them.  Now they are able to stand firmly where they were planted because their root system is established – giving them a sound footing. Because I want them to bear fruit, I also attached some old clothesline at the top of the stakes for horizontal growth and support for the fruit that is to come.

Grape vine. Holding on to the straight and narrow.

Can you see those sweet tiny tendrils wrapped around the line? They are holding on with all their strength, and thus following the straight and narrow path laid out for them! Not being tossed to and fro with the wind, but securely anchored in a perfectly straight line! What smart little tendrils they are, protecting the vine from damage and allowing for fruit to be born at the proper time!

I can only worship God for His marvelous provision for the simple grape vines because, in many respects, it is a picture of His love for you and me. 

• We must have a good root system to live and grow. While we are the branches of the vine, He is the root, the very vine itself.  Staked to Him and spending time with Him in His Word, we establish a firm and steady root system, without which we wither like the seeds from the parable of the sower…Firmly rooted, we will be able to grow, putting out leaves and stretching out our little branch of His vine.
• We must grow up and grow out. Growing in Him we will be richly nourished and able to grow but, that is only the first part of our job. We must also grow out toward others in the world. In order to do that, we must stretch away from Him a bit, out into the world, while still holding on to and drawing from the Root.
• Holding firmly to the line is essential. Growing up from the Root we are established but, growing outward we become vulnerable to winds and breaking. The Master has given us a guide wire, a path to follow. This path will be the means by which you can be of useful service. Hold on to it. Hold on to it with all your might. It will keep your path straight, especially when the winds of false doctrines blow against you. With your Root established, and your path straight, you will flourish.
• Bear fruit in season. Being fruitful and multiplying is part of the job description. It will come after being firmly grounded in the Truth and seasons of growth (including sun and rain) leading to maturity. Leaves are nice, but the fruit is the goal.
• Trust the master to prune the right things at the right time. Just as my new little plants were cut from a mature vine, the Master will need to prune you from time to time. It may hurt a bit, but you can know that He is pruning away that which you do not need. Only at the proper time and the proper place will He snip. He is worthy of our trust, whether you understand why or not.

Grape update! July 2016!

This picture is in 2016 bearing fruit. In what season are you? Is it time for you to bear fruit? Do you need to be pruned?

Dearest Father in heaven, we thank You for giving us so many examples of Your love and our responsibilities. Thank You for being the root of all our strength. Thank You for guiding us with Your wisdom along a path perfectly chosen for us. Help us to grow, nourished in Your Word. Thank You for loving us enough to give us both sunshine and rain, and to prune away the things that draw us away from You and Your will.

Help us to recognize the time to grow, the time to bear fruit, and the time for pruning each come from Your hand. May we grow in maturity, firmly holding to Your hand, and bear much fruit for Your kingdom! May our delight always be in following the path You have set before us.

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My Name is Lisa, and I Am An Addict

Cactus? Hummingbird?

It’s an addiction, some call it a disease, and I have it.  I’ve known for years that it was there and never really tried to do anything about it.  Recently, I joined a support group-Hummingbirds Anonymous.  It’s a great group for those with the same affliction – the pure joy of hummingbirds.  We share pictures and stories of our birds, and learn together about their antics, habits, likes and dislikes.

Most of us have a few dozen hummers who take up residence each spring and summer, and then eventually leave us for warmer abodes when nighttime temperatures start to near freezing; fair-weathered friends indeed.

It is now November.  All my little feathered temporary residents have gone and we are comforting each other in this sad, sad time.  Oh, and indeed it is a sad, sad time of withdrawal.  It is particularly sad for me because I so miss my two long term hummingbird residents Oscar and Windy.  They lived with us for quite some time while I was their rehabilitator/Mom.  I expect to have their story (Oscar, the Extraordinary Hummingbird) in book form by Spring 2015, and hope you have a chance to read it.  In the meantime, we wait for the return of our delightful little friends.

Because Spring seems so terribly far away, we tend to seek out all things hummingbird; it’s part of the addiction.  It is not a difficult search; there are many enablers out there supplying us with a fix of hummingbird figurines, Christmas ornaments, stationery, dishes, napkins, wood carvings, string lights, shower curtains, wallpaper, plates and all manner of reminders of our little friends.  A fellow addict posted a beautiful picture of her Thanksgiving Cactus bloom that had a striking resemblance to a hummer in flight, perhaps approaching a blossom.  Mine isn’t quite as pretty, but maybe you can see the resemblance.  I thought it was quite a good likeness of a bird in a bloom.

Does it seem that way to you? That is, when you have something on your mind you see it everywhere?  While I have admitted my fascination with the tiny birds, I also have a complete and total dependence upon God.  I see Him EVERYWHERE.  Maybe you do too.  Not, the image of Christ burned in toast kind of thing, but His presence, His touch in all creation.  It is evident in the creation of the speedy little birds which are given the knowledge and ability to navigate vast distances, and in the large cliff dwelling eagles which are equipped with strength, courage and even wisdom. 

Our little Schnauzer exhibits the loyalty, and unconditional love that would befit a child of God.  The tiny seeds that grow into mighty trees, the delicious fruit born of blossoms pollinated by bees and other insects, exquisite lily blooms that only live for a single day and then wither away, all speak to a Creator; a Creator of infinitely more knowledge and ability than we can imagine, and One Who loves us far, far more than we can imagine. 

While I have admitted my fondness for critters here and in many other posts, my greatest fondness is finding out more about my Creator, our Father who has made all this for us, and given us our very lives.  He loves us so very much more than the birds – who are exquisitely made, and more than the lilies – that are gloriously clothed.  To understand that, is to begin to understand His love for us.  While I cannot possibly understand that level of love, I do seek to grow toward that understanding.  The more I learn about Him, the more I understand His love, compassion, mercy and grace.  Honestly though, the more I learn, the more I need to know.  It’s an addiction, and I have it.  I pray you do too.

Father, we are so thankful for the beauty of Your creation.  We see Your great and mighty hand all around us from the stars to the tiniest of creatures.  We cannot comprehend Your profound love for us, but we thank You for it.  You have designed us for Your purpose and given us life.  Help us to fulfill that purpose in our remaining days, that You will be glorified forever.   

How have you seen the hand of God?  I welcome your comments, and stories of His love.   

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