They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:8
I'm sure everyone is familiar with the springtime saying: April showers bring May flowers. Most of the time, that adage holds true for us here in northwestern Georgia. But not this year. We are, for all intents and purposes, in a drought. Oh, sure, we might get a sprinkling of rain here and there as we leave April and enter into May, but when you have a lawn which mostly consists of moss, we have to take extra precautions if we want it to live and thrive through the hot summer months.
Danny makes elaborate plans to keep our moss hydrated and healthy while we wait and pray for rain. He already has two sprinklers, but needs more for this job; he orders a couple of them along with additional hoses. Since we only have two outdoor faucets, Danny also buys splitters so that two hoses can be attached to the same spigot. His best strategic move, in my opinion, is to purchase timers that tell each hose when to release the water to the correct sprinkler, and for how long. Ingenious!
Do they work? Of course!
When you look closely at this photo, you can see a rainbow!
Even in our shady yard, moss can't survive intense heat and lack of moisture as its root system is both shallow and fragile. Just seeing it transform to a lush green after a good soaking brings us such joy.
The same is true for us spiritually. If we don't make the concerted effort to spend time in God's Word drinking deeply of its sustenance, we, too, can become dry and parched in our faith. I've always loved the image of the tree planted by the water as described by the prophet, Jeremiah. In my mind's eye, I envision a willow tree, its boughs cascading leaves of green, its roots black with moisture. So verdant! So lush!
And isn't that the way our faith in the Lord should be? Filled to the brim with the abundant life that Jesus promises to all who believe in Him?
May we all resolve to plant our roots deeply into the Living Water. Jesus is the well that never runs dry.
Amen!
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Wonderful image at the end of your post. We so need Christ's Living Water to keep our faith alive.
ReplyDeleteIt's been dry here too; still a bit cold in the evenings but little if any rain.
God bless, Martha.
Thank you, Victor! Yes, we all need the Living Water that only Jesus can give. Sorry to hear you're not getting the rain you need across the pond; hope that changes soon.
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We have an irrigation system, but while we wait until it's turned on, it's me, the soaker hoses, and the watering can.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you have an irrigation system at your home, Glynn. Danny doesn't do well in the heat, so it's best that he can actually water remotely at the time he's set for it. Really helpful!
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I could offer you some of our abundant rain but I don't think it works that way! :) We have had a very moist Spring and have had to cut our lawns 3-4 times already. I put mine off as long as I could but I've still cut it twice and will do it again today and tomorrow. I love your analogy though of being planted by streams of water. Only when we soak in the water of God's Word will we flourish.
ReplyDeleteI wish you could share some of that rain with us, too, Bill. I've seen the weather reports of flooding in Indiana and elsewhere in the Midwest. Glad it hasn't been quite that extreme where you live, but having to mow the lawn so frequently is a bummer. Thankfully, moss doesn't need to be mowed! I'm pleased that you liked the analogy here, too.
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Wonderful application, Martha! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Diana!
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a Wonderful message in your post today, Martha.. We must continue to be fed spiritually each day to develop an intimate relationship with God. I sure hope you all get the much needed rain soon. We are having rain again today....This makes about 3 weeks of off and on rains. I'm not complaining though..I know we will be begging for rain in a couple of months. Blessings to you and to Danny.
ReplyDeleteI know y'all have had a lot of rain this spring, Shug, and enjoy it while you can! We may see some rain sometime next week, so we're hoping the forecast is correct. And we must be continually refreshed and renewed by God's Word to stay spiritually healthy.
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Amen -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine!
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Amen! I love this analogy, and also I love Danny's ingenuity! I'm so glad your moss will survive the drought. Our drought has turned vicious in our region, with many wildfires around and the smoke is filling the air making it difficult to breathe and my eyes are constantly burning. (Even though we are inside in the AC house). We really need that rain so badly! Praying praying for all of us!
ReplyDeleteOh, Pamela, you truly are suffering in Florida from the lack of rain, much more than we are. Those wildfires with the smoke are so nasty and unhealthy to breathe, too. Praying you all get that rain you so desperately need. Glad you enjoyed the analogy here today, my friend.
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I liked your message and so true!
ReplyDeleteWith our mediterranean climate here in California, we have to have sprinkler systems, soakers and drip lines everywhere or we'd dry up! We get all our rain in the winter months. It's been raining on and off for the last 2 days which is good, as we go into our 7-8 month dry season.
Filling up on the Living Water and the Bread of life, we have everything we need.
I'm so glad the message resonated with you, Debby. We can't exist without the Living Water and the Bread of Life! Thanks for letting us know how watering systems work where you live in California, too. You sure have a variety of climates all in one state!
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Dear Martha, your last two photos are absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Linda, but all credit goes to Danny for snapping these. I'll be sure to tell him!
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This is something (moss) I never considered! That last image is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love Danny's ingenuity, but mostly, his stewardship. Just one example of God's love for each of us, no matter how small.
What high praise you've given to Danny with your comment about stewardship here, Myra. Yes, we are to be good stewards of this amazing creation that God has given us and it begins with the property with which we are temporarily blessed to be caretakers. The longer I live, the more I'm realizing that there is nothing small in God's economy.
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No doubt your moss is very happy with the thoughtful watering system Danny has devised! And we contribute to our own happiness while soaking in God's Word. "The LORD's instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad" (Psalm 19:8 CEV).
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Nancy, our hearts are made glad and our thirst quenched by the Living Water we find in God's Word! Our moss is thriving because of the moisture Danny's watering project provides and we are so grateful that we have the means to do so. May we always tell others about the everlasting stream that the Lord provides.
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Boa tarde minha querida irmã Martha. Hoje li numa oração, o texto biblico, do encontro entre entre o Senhor Jesus e a Mulher Samaritana. Uma grande amiga, pregou sobre o texto, que o Senhor Jesus, convida o Discípulo Pedro, para andar sobre as águas. Fui um excelente pregação. As vezes enfrentamos, tempestade em nossa caminhada, nesse mundo, mais sabemos que o Senhor Jesus, nunca nos deixa sozinho. Grande abraço do seu irmão em Cristo Jesus, que é brasileiro e carioca da cidade do Rio de Janeiro.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman has to be one of the most poignant and moving in the New Testament, Luiz. After all, Jews were not supposed to even interact with Samarians let alone speak with a woman! Jesus defied all human restrictions and expectations by His life and example. May we be accepting and loving of others in His name.
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Thank you for the wonderful scripture
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Cloudia. Let the Living Water always flow through your heart and soul, my friend.
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First of all, I am surprised. When we had our house - all we got was moss and we wanted grass. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI just love how you showed how important taking care of something we love is and how hard we will work for it. Then showing how we should do the same in our relationship with Jesus. You are so right.
We do need rain!
Really? You had moss and wanted grass? I'm guessing that the yard was full of mature trees and lots of shade, Sandie, or else you wouldn't have had moss in the first place. Whatever gifts we have been given by God, our priorities should be taking care of those, nurturing them and appreciating all the benefits of their existence. Yes, Lord, we do need rain!
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Well, I'm not only inspired by your references to how roots and soil and water carry life to this incredible living world God created for us, but also by Danny's creative shenanigans it figuring out how to get the life giving water where it needs to go. I love seeing people find ways to get things done when the natural process runs into a glitch. Creativity is one of those ways He made us to be like Him.
ReplyDeleteOh, and as you will see on Saturday, Diane and I will be taking a bit of a break and out of our normal publishing routine. I'll have a brief piece to explain in Saturday, but you get an advance heads-up. For a couple of weeks, we'll be off with our favorite cultural theologian exploring some of the major sites we've been reading about in the Book of Acts for most of our lives. I look forward to catching up when we get back. I'll miss chatting with you, but please pray for us as we travel and ask God to use it to make us better equipped and more energized than ever to carry out our mission for Him.
Oh, Ron, Danny and I will certainly keep you and Diane in our prayers for safe travels and God-infused wonders and discoveries as you return to the Holy Land! And yes, God gave us our minds to be able to reason and work with Him in any and every challenge that life presents to us on any given occasion. What a mighty God we serve! And by the way, the moss is looking so healthy and vibrant as I type this to you.
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Yes to that Living Water!! We have watering rules. I can only water the lawn on Thursdays, before the sun comes up or after the sun goes down. I have a sprinkling system and hopefully have it programmed correctly. Danny's system is genius!!
ReplyDeleteYes and amen to the Living Water, Terri! Danny's system is working so well right now, and I'm thankful that he has and engineer's mind as I wouldn't have a clue as to how to solve this problem. Praying that y'all will get the rain you so desperately need and soon!
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Danny must be an engineer!! This is fantastic. I was showing my husband. We are in a drought too. And you have your own rainbow! It is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYep! Danny graduated from Georgia Tech. I'm so sorry you're suffering drought as well, Ginny, and hope we will all get rain soon.
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The last quote about Danny being an engineer was me, Ginny. I don't know why Blogger sometimes makes me anonymous! I will have to start signing my comments!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that strange that Blogger would do that? However, we shouldn't be surprised that AI wants to improve circumstances that only end in leaving us more confused.
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P.S., it's me again, Ginny. You can get those pens on Amazon, and they are very reasonably priced. There are several different brands and choices.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ginny! I order from Amazon all the time and will be sure to check these out. So sweet of you to let me know!
DeleteThat drought stretches down here, too. We have multiple fires in north and central Florida. Joining you in praying for rain!
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for all of you in Florida that are suffering from wildfires and lack of rain, Barbara. Yes, we must continue to pray for relief, knowing God knows our needs before we even ask.
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I can't imagine a moss lawn, as I find moss slippery and we discourage it, but we do need to drink deply of the Living Water in our beautiful Jesus. Im praying for rain here too. We aren't allowed to use sprinklers only hand held hose for watering, and never the lawn only the garden. Thanks for sharing, Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🏻🤗
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Shaz, about only being allowed to use water only for gardens. We were in a severe drought years ago that restricted our ability to adequately water anything but that. So far, no restrictions have been issued at this point in time. And I'm so thankful that there are no restrictions placed on drinking from the well that never runs dry, our Lord Jesus.
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Oh wow, that's quite a lot of work for your husband, but he managed! I pray the Lord will send His rain in due season!
ReplyDeleteWe hope for the same, Marja! Yes, it was quite the project but well worth doing as we really treasure our mossy yard.
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I love the imagery here of the need to be watered, like plants! God's Word and time spent with Him will strengthen us and give us deep roots!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Pam! We all need to drink deeply of God's Word and stay drenched in His goodness.
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This is beautiful, Martha. What an excellent spiritual analogy. Love the rainbow and how intentional you and Danny are in battling the drought there. I enjoy the imagery of that Bible verse, too. And it means we are intentional to stay planted and rooted in God's Word. God bless!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Karen, for your kind comment here! I'm glad you liked the analogy and the rainbow photo is my favorite, too. We do need to stay intentionally rooted in God's Word; we can't survive without the Living Water.
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We cannot travel through life with encountering deserts. It is important to drink deeply of Gods love when possible to survive. Great post. The imagery and use of the watering of moss is perfect.
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I'm so glad you liked the imagery of watering the moss, Jim. Yes, without the Living Water found in Jesus, we wouldn't stand a chance. Let's drink deeply!
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We're hoping for a good soaking in Alabama too. It's been too long; everything is so dry. Glad Danny has found a way to make it rain! :)
ReplyDeleteI think we're all in the same boat in the southeast, Lisa. Our friends in Florida have it even worse; they now have wildfires as does south Georgia. Dear Lord, please send us some rain! Yes, Danny's system is giving the moss the break it needs.
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What a wonderful system Danny rigged up to water your land. Here, we get tons of rain and unfortunately we can't share it with the people who need it. Water is so very important, it nourishes everything that gives us life. God has the master plan and will always share it with us. We are so fortunate to have him watching over us. Blessings to both you and Danny.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment about Danny's system, Bill. I'll be sure to pass it on! I know Ireland is a very rainy country as I visited it years ago while studying in college; just a summer course in the U.K. And you're so right - nothing can beat God's master plan for our lives. Let's thank Him for the Living Water.
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I love your application!! And Danny's system is rather genius:)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jennifer! Yes, his system is working perfectly and the moss is so green and happy.
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Boa tarde, minha querida irmã Martha. Estou muito feliz. Fiz um voto com o Senhor Jesus e consegui ler a Bíblia pela 10ª vez. Foi uma experiência muito interessante. Uma excelente tarde de quinta-feira, uma grande abraço do seu irmão carioca e brasileiro. Que o Senhor Jesus derrame, muitas bênçãos sobre a sua casa e sua família.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, brother! I'm reading the Bible from beginning to end, too, and am in my 9th year of doing so. There we will always find the greatest story ever told. Thank you for your prayers for my family.
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Love how you connected caring for moss with caring for our faith.
ReplyDeleteJust as water keeps the roots alive, God’s Word keeps us strong and green even in dry times.
The rainbow is a perfect reminder of His promise🌈
Blessings, Martha!
I thought the same, Veronica, when Danny snapped the photo revealing the rainbow. It is God's covenant promise, indeed! May those Living Waters keep our faith strong always.
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Such a wonderful image and lesson! I keep thinking about the tender care Danny is giving the moss. Tender Care, God's tenderness...
ReplyDeleteI love your analogy here, Jean! Yes, we are ever in the tender care of our loving Father, aren't we? So glad you liked the image and lesson, too.
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Look at the rainbow! Wonders abound for those with eyes to see. Great post, Martha. I want to be like that tree planted by the water.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the Living Water, I remember that old song from my youth: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul..." Do you remember the song?
Everyday I hold my cup of water up and sing it to the Lord.
I don't recall that song, Debra, but that's probably because I was only taken to church intermittently as a child. Definitely a Gospel knowledge hiccup that I only began to make up for in my adult life. The rainbow appearing in that photo took my breath away as I recall God's covenant with Noah every time I am privileged to see one. May He keep us all planted by that Living Water!
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We need to have a deep root.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, David. God invites us daily to stay grounded to His Living Water.
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Bom dia minja querida irmã Martha. Dessa ves faço um pedido de oração, amanhã às 8, aqui no Brasil, a minha querida mãe, fará cirurgia de catarata do olho direito. Grande abraço do seu irmão em Cristo Jesus, carioca e brasileiro. Que o Senhor Jesus derrame muitas bênçãos sobre a sua querida família, nos USA.
ReplyDeleteLifting up prayers for your dear mother, Luiz! I've had the procedure done in one of my eyes, and I know your mom will be so pleased with the result. It's made a world of difference.
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Very well said and a great reminder that we need to nourish ourselves spiritually as well. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe certainly must nourish our spiritual life, Alex! May we drink deeply of the Living Water.
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Olá, Martha
ReplyDeleteLinda postagem. Amei a frase: Jesus é a fonte que nunca seca. Glória a Deus! Um forte abraço.
Oh, yes, Lucinalva, Jesus is our Living Water, the well that never will run dry. Let us drink deeply of His love.
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That little rainbow is so beautiful! I love little God winks like that. May the Lord bless you, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Cheryl! Rainbows are a beautiful reminder of God's covenant with Noah. I can't see one without thinking about it.
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