Writing Prompt - The garden

Photo by Dawn M. Hamsher, 2013

It's been awhile since we've done a writing prompt! We need to get those creative juices flowing! Here's one for the end of spring.

The garden

Sandy James is going to start us off with her response.

God’s beauty is so evident in the garden; glorious yellow irises, snow white peonies, purple alum standing so regally , a cacophony of columbine colors and carpets of green grass barbered just so. With such a cold Spring, we’ve just planted small tomato plants whose labels promise fruit within 80 days – an eternity!

Did those plants try to grow? Did they try to be what God created them to be? Did they water themselves? Or grow their roots? Hmmm…
 

What about us? We’re God’s creation created for His enjoyment. But boy it’s hard to be what God wants me to be. I have to make intentional decisions to do what’s right, to live right, to make myself behave properly and act like a Christian. It takes a lot of effort to water and feed myself so I’ll grow up to be beautiful and strong. I know the plants don’t have to do anything for themselves but that’s the way they’re created. It’s different for me. I’ll end up a failure, good for nothing if I don’t take care of myself I don’t want to make God angry or disappoint Him after all He did or me! Right?

Wrong! We can accomplish nothing without God’s enabling power. We are only who we are because of Christ in us, the hope of glory. We have His beauty inside us and the more we surrender to Him, the more that aroma of beauty and love is released in our lives. He is all the while in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure. And ”the good work HE’s begun in us, HE will complete”. It’s not about what we DO, but what we BEcome by drawing close to Him and allowing Him to work in us and through us – by cooperating with Him, seeking His heart in all things.

He’s planted us on this earth to grow and be a demonstration of His love and beauty. All we have to do is say “yes” and watch how His garden grows. 



by Sandy James, 2013

Next response to "The garden" prompt will be posted Friday, May 31.

T is for Trustworthy

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore
the characteristics of our awesome God!

           

“Almighty LORD, you are God, and your words are trustworthy.”

2 Samuel 7:28

Photo by Midiman on Flickr

Words are powerful. Thus I want to speak words of life, encouragement, and praise, not criticism, doubt, fear and discouragement. So how can I accomplish this?

By constantly monitoring my speech? But that seems like an insurmountable task. Oh, perhaps for a few minutes, or even several hours I could watch what I say but before long my attention would wander and out of my mouth would come complaining, worry, or criticism.

Luke 6:45 says that “out of the abundance of his heart, man speaks.” Once again I am reminded to partake of God's Word, to fill my heart and my mind with His Truth, bringing life to my soul and blessing, not cursing, to my lips. I will speak life, love, health, peace, and encouragement as I speak what God says. HIS words are trustworthy and true. 

©2013 Sandy James

P is for Provider

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo courtesy of Stock.xchng

“God’s name is JEHOVAH-JIREH, the Lord will provide."

Genesis 22:14

There are many scriptures that speak of God's loving provision. For instance Philippians 4:19 says, “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Unfortunately, in our society self-dependence is lauded, and anything not logical is considered false.  But in God’s kingdom, His Truth supersedes fact. 

Some years ago my husband and I were struggling financially, but the Lord enabled me to fearlessly tithe, and give to ministries or others in need as He prompted me. My checkbook said I didn’t have enough money to pay the bills but miraculously I was always able to do so.  I don’t know how God did it, but I believed He would provide and He did.

“JEHOVAH-JIREH”, Provider, is not just who He is but what He does. He is faithful to live up to His name.

©2013 Sandy James

D is for Deliverer

1st Writes is participating in the 2013 April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

This year our theme is "Attributes of God from A to Z".

Join us each day as we explore

the characteristics of our awesome God!

Photo from Stockvault.com

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve [me]

for His heavenly kingdom. To Him [be] glory forever and ever. Amen!

2 Timothy 4:18

Jesus is the one who delivers us from evil; He is our Deliverer.

Initially, He delivers us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light. But His work of deliverance continues as we realize and acknowledge our need for freedom in certain areas. If we’re controlled by anything, we are captive to it.

I was a prisoner of alcohol, cigarettes, fear of heights, and emotional wounds but Jesus set me free from it all.  Food, shopping, jealousy, and pornography, are but a few additional areas where one can be held in bondage.

The good news is that Jesus, the Deliverer, is able and willing to set us free from all that has kept us imprisoned.   We must set our hearts and minds on Him and His love for us, and His forgiveness which was accomplished on the cross before we even sinned. We ask Him to set us free. We invite His Spirit to take control of us and then we enjoy His freedom, peace and love.

We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged.  Jesus is the one who will be doing the work.  Our job is simply to allow the enabling power of His grace to complete the work He has already begun in us.

Jesus is our Deliverer and His love is powerful! 

©2013 Sandy James

Words that Sing Poem Series - Words that Bless

Art and photo by Dawn M. Hamsher, 2013

1st Writes did a study on "words that sing". It takes time and practice to find just the right word to get your point across.

 

For fun, we asked our writers to write a poem about words. I will share the poems this week. Here is the first one. 

 

WORDS THAT BLESS
by Sandy James

PROBLEM

How am I to speak words that edify and bless

If I have no skill for separating

Dull from audacious

Rude from tact

Surely there are rules on how to supply

Words that encourage

Rather than words that deny

Words that inspire, cheer, and hearten

A person in quest of his worth.

SOLUTION

Jesus is the Word

Planted in our hearts

Words of love and acceptance

Declaring we have value

Words spoken forth that bring harvests of gold

Yielding an abundance of God’s goodness

But beware the tares that grow up with the wheat

Words of bitterness and anger, envy, pride and greed

Those words produce a harvest as well

They’re words that destroy

They’re from the pit of hell !

So speak words of life, words of peace

Let words that discourage and criticize cease

Bless those who hurt you

Bless those who hate

Bless those who persecute you

And forgive all for Jesus’ sake.

Beneath the Surface Lies

BENEATH THE SURFACE LIES….

by Sandy James

 

The birds are flying

The water is calm

The sun has risen

The dawn long gone.

Below the ocean’s surface

It’s teeming with life

Fish dressed in beauteous colors

Looking for a wife.

Just like the Holy Spirit,

Jesus Christ within,

Dwells beneath our flesh exterior

We’ve been forgiven of our sin,

Teeming with His life

Producing fruit galore

Filling us with His love, joy and peace

Forever and ever more.

And Jesus too is looking for His church, His bride,

We who with Him have been crucified.

This poem was inspired by just looking out the window. What inspires you outside your window?