Tuesday, June 18, 2013

How Does Your Garden Grow?


Luke 12:27
Consider how the wild flowers grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

We love living in our home nestled in the forest.  Especially in summer, when all the leaves are out, the shade from the blistering Georgia sun is a welcome respite.  I can sit on our deck, even on a 90 degree day, and be comfortable.

But, there is one drawback.  Our vast leaf cover prevents us from planting a garden.  And, not many plants prefer shade over sun.  So, we are limited in our choices.

My husband, Danny, brings these beauties home two weeks ago.  I set right to work getting them potted and watered.  I know.  Just five plants.  But, they are enough to bring some color and cheer to our back deck.

Begonia Red Dragon Wing





New Guinea Impatiens





Golden Creeping Jenny



Yes, this last one doesn't look like much now, but this is what we're eventually hoping for!



I'm content with our tiny garden.  I look forward to watching our plant babies grow and continue to blossom throughout the summer.  If all goes well, they should last until our first hard freeze late in the fall.

And, as I see how God has dressed these delicate blooms in splendor for us to enjoy and admire, I am reminded that we, too, need not labor nor spin to be beautiful in His sight.  He created us to be in relationship with Him.  He loves us not for what we do, but for who we are.

His beloved children.  

~

Will you take a moment today to simply "be" with the Lord, your God?

Will you pray with me?
Thank You, Father, for the wonder and splendor of Your magnificent creation. Let us always stand in awe of Your grandeur and power.  Thank You for loving us so much that you sent Your precious Son, Jesus, to bear the weight of our sins so that we can be in relationship with You.  Amen.

16 comments:

  1. Lovely pictures Martha :)

    I also love clicking flowers and plants purely for the beauty and joy they reflect. You today highlighted so beautifully the reason behind it - They just are rather than trying to become something others want to see them as.

    Lovely reminder as this is exactly what I am striving to achieve off late..

    Hugs <3

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Me, and for the compliment. I'm trying to improve with photography now that I have a "real" camera.
      And, I'm glad this post reminded you that you are beautiful for who you are, not what you do. :)
      Love and blessings!

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  2. your pictures are so pretty! I love the color of the impatiens and hosts..that last until some animal feasts...
    we are on vacation now in the woods..it is so beautiful and so amazing, really. I just cannot imagine ho anyone could doubt...no way could this be random!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Annmarie, and so glad you enjoyed the photos. As these are up on our deck (which is quite high), I don't think they will be found out by the deer in our woods. :)
      And, do enjoy your vacation! I'm so with you - how can anyone look at creation and think "random"?
      Love and blessings!

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  3. Beautiful plants, the photos are very refreshing to look at! :-)

    "To simply be..." I need to be reminded of this one every now and then, because we live in a world that tells us "to do..." Thank you, Martha. Shalom and God bless <3 :-)

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Irene!
      You are so right - the world tells us to "do", but God tells us to "be".
      Glad you enjoyed the photos, too!
      Love and blessings!

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  4. I love the creeping Jenny, beautiful little plant. Have fun watching your flowers grow, and have you considered a fuschia? They're not big on lots of direct sunlight either :)

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    1. No, I hadn't thought of fuschia. Will certainly look into this one!
      Thanks so much for visiting, Cairn!
      Love and blessings!

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  5. I have to confess here, and please don't hold it against me, but the garner I am not I prefer buying silk flowers and popping them into the pots out front. I know, shaking my head in shame. Having said that, we do have rose bushes aplenty (which the husband tends) and for the first time ever I planted basil and cilantro, which is growing despite my pathetic gardening skills. I do enjoy plucking fresh leaves when I am cooking. Maybe there is hope for me yet.

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    1. Thanks so much for coming by, Brenda!
      It's okay to not have a green thumb, my friend. I haven't always been successful with what I've planted in pots, but am keeping my fingers crossed that these babies will grow and thrive.
      And, I'll bet those roses are beautiful! :)
      Love and blessings!

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  6. wonderful picture of your flowers but the most beautiful is the one in your heart jesus keep him growing there. god bless

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting, Roy, and for you all-too-kind words! Yes, I will let the Lord keep growing in me, that's for sure!
      Blessings to you!

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  7. beautiful flowers... lovely, very lovely post. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thanks so much, Amy! Glad you liked it and took the time to visit.
      Love and blessings!

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  8. I was looking at their names ~ I miss our big garden in the convent :) Gardening was one of my favorite tasks...

    And they do bring us closer to God contemplating His beauty in all that we see ~ and He shares His responsibility of taking care of them with us...

    Yes, I agree, it is not what we do, it is who we are that we are loved... so simple yet we make it complicated...

    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful plants with us...I pray with you...

    Lots of love!

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    1. Lovely to see you here, Melissa!
      I, too, used to love gardening when I had a place where I could do so. There is nothing like growing your own vegetables!
      And, yes, God does bring us that much closer to Him through the beauty of His creation. We do make things way too complicated, I agree! To simply "be" is enough for our Lord!
      Love and blessings!

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