Prayer Garden II

Well it is official, she has died.  Who, you ask, my sweet Weeping Cherry tree.  I had such high hopes for her; she was going to be the center piece of my Prayer Garden.  Oh well, I guess it is back to Lowes to replace her with another.  I have not given up the idea of a prayer garden, just having to put it on hold for the time being. 

We went to the mountains this weekend and I had to make a gas run for the lawnmower.  While I was there I saw a man selling beautiful plants out of the back of his truck and I thought to myself, they will be so expensive.  I went over to the man and asked him how much his plants were and he told me $5.00 and I said $5.00 and he said yes, these are just left overs and I was not able to sell them.  I went back to the truck, pumped my gas and asked Aaron if he would like to go and pick out a nice plant for Nana.  So we pumped our gas and pulled the truck over take a look.  We picked out two one for me and one for Nana to plant at the mountain house.  Aaron was so excited, when we got back to the house he was telling Nana we got her a flower and when she asked where I got it from I told her at the gas station and then she asked if he had any more and how much they were.  I said you’re not going to believe this, but only $5.00.  She then tells me to get back in the truck, she wants more.  So we get back in the truck and head back to the gas station and she picked up four more plants and I got three more.  Now I have already told you that my poor Weeping Cherry has passed on, but I do plan on replacing her with another.  But I also could not pass up the opportunity to add to my prayer garden.  I don’t know where I could get such beautiful plants at such an inexpensive price.  So here is a picture of the plants that I picked up in the mountains and hopefully will be able to add to my garden. 

I am still trying to think of a name for my little “Prayer Garden”, but I believe I have a verse … Isaiah 51:3 ~ For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

I am taking name suggestions; please place any suggestions in the comments box.   

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer Garden I

I believe everyone needs their own special place where they can go to spend time with God, for example a prayer closet or garden.  Sometime in March I approached Jason about starting a prayer garden and I told him I wanted a place that I could go and work in the yard and spend time with God.  I have been playing with the idea for a few months, I love to work in the yard, but it takes time and money and I don’t have a lot of either.  He really didn’t have much to say and so in April I purchased a pink Weeping Cherry tree as the focal point for my prayer garden.  I went to Lowes and walked among all the pretty flowers and made my way back to the trees.  I looked at everything from a Bradford Pear to fruit bearing trees, and then I saw them, the tree I was looking for the Weeping Cherry.  The trees were beautiful, small, but beautiful.  The tiny white and pink flowers looked so delicate on the long wispy limbs.  I had one of the Lowes guys take several down so I could inspect and study each one and choose the perfect tree.  After going over several trees I picked one with the straightest trunk and one with no visible distressed marks or blemishes.  I had my tree and I could not wait to get her home (yes it’s a she, why wouldn’t she be, she’s pink) and plant her in the ground.  As soon as I got home I planted my little tree in the general area that I would like my little prayer garden.  I have been trying to figure out a name for my little garden, maybe some of my friends/family can shoot some ideas my way.  I have so many ideas about how I want my garden to look and flow, but it is going to take time and money, so for right now I have my little tree and it is the start of my “Prayer Garden”.

A Mother's Love

A woman can never understand the extent of the term "A Mother's Love" until she has experienced motherhood and all it entails.  A mother loves at all times regardless of what her child has said or done and a mother's love is like no other.  I have chosen three women to blog about for my special Mother's Day tribute.  I would like to dedicate this post to every mother past, present and future. 

The first mother I would like to tell you about was barren and she longed for a child and she prayed and begged God for a son of her very own and she promised God that if He ever gave her the desire of her heart she would give that little boy back to Him.  So if you have not already guessed our first mother is Hannah, in I Samuel 1:10 ~ And she (Hannah) was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.  And the LORD remembered Hannah, vs. 20 ~ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.  Now Hannah loved her child very much, but she loved God more and she wanted to honor her word to the Lord and wanted to honor God most of all, so she gave her only child back to God, vs. 27 & 28 ~ For this child I prayed, and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.  Therefore also I have lent Him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.  And he worshipped the LORD there.  Now Hannah sent to her son to live in the temple and she only saw him about once or twice a year, I can't imagine how hard that might have been, I go crazy if I have to go any length of time without seeing my two little angels.

The second mother is nameless, but she loved her child as much as any mother could.  She was willing for her child to be raised by another woman to save his life.  In I Kings 3:16 - 28 we read about the wisdom of Solomon.  There were two women that lived in the same house and each delivered a child.  After three days one child died and the other lived.  The woman with the dead child swapped the babies while the other woman slept.  When the sleeping mother awoke to her surprise the child beside her was not her precious bundle of joy and the child lying beside her was dead.  So the two women took the issue before the King.  King Solomon heard the testimony of each woman and he requested a sword, vs. 25 & 26 ~ And the king said, divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.  Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my Lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.  But the other said, let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.  We as mothers will do anything to keep our children from harm if we can.  When Ashleigh broke her arm at the age of two, I was devastated, not because she broke her arm, but because I was not able to prevent it from happening or to take away her pain.  If I could have taken her place I would have.  We try to shield our children as much as we can because we love them so much.

The last mother I would like to talk about is Mary, the mother of our LORD and Saviour.  I don't think I could give up Aaron for this sinful world, but it was all part of God's sovereign plan and I know God gave Mary the grace she needed to get thru this awful time in her life.  Mary, being the loving mother that she was, also attended His crucifixion, John 19:25 ~ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  I can't imagine what she was going thru, but I am sure if she could have taken His pain or even His place she would have.  We as mothers make sacrifices for our children and families, Mary gave up the most, as a mother, when her own Son was beaten and crucified on the cross.  I don't think I could stand by and witness such cruelty or injustice to either one of my children - Mama Bear would have to make an appearance. 

In closing I am thankful that I serve a sovereign God who chose to send His Son to die for me.  I am thankful that God has allowed me to experience motherhood and most of all "A Mother's Love", like so many before me.  God placed these three woman on my heart to blog about, there were many in the bible to choose from, but He gave me these three ... Hannah gave her child to God, The Harlot was willing to give her child to another and Mary who gave her child to the world.

"A Mother's Love"

By:  Helen Steiner Rice

A Mother's Love is something that no one can explain; it is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.  It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may for nothing can destroy it or take that love away.

It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, and it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking.

It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, and it glows with all the beauty of the rarest brightest gem.

It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation, and it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.

A many splendored miracle man cannot understand and another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.