What's your "ah"?

“Have you noticed how the pebbles of the road are polished and pure after the rain? And the flowers? No word can describe them. One can only murmur an ‘ah’ of admiration . . . One should understand the ‘ah’ of things.” A master of Zen Buddhism

My freshly-planted flowers sure have their “ah” now. Give it a couple months for my brown thumb to turn them into “blah”.

Gather up your flowers

 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

Matthew 18:20 New International Version

Friday afternoon, my husband and I went to the greenhouse and bought the usual tomato plants and pansies. I thought this gerbera daisy was too pretty to pass up, even though I didn’t know where I would put him.

Then yesterday, we were at Home Depot and they had a whole bunch of gerbera daisies that looked so good together. The picture does not do it justice, because I was hurrying, fearing that store security would catch me and tell me that I couldn’t take pictures.

So, I had to buy some more of these cute little flowers.

Sometimes, as a Christian, I think I can do it alone, I don’t need to go to church, be with all those people. I read my Bible, I write an inspirational blog for Pete’s sake! I try to be kind to others, keep the commandments, etc., so sometimes I think that I don’t know the company of other Christians.

Just like these flowers, though, we need to stay connected with other believers. And not only for looks; we need the strength, knowledge and support that they can give us.

Wish my little gerberas luck!

Beauty in the strangest places

One snowy day a month or two ago, I looked out one of the bedroom windows and this is what I saw. Beautiful, I said to myself. Who would have thought that the lid to the septic tank could be so attractive covered in fresh snow?

I look around at all the things we have in the world, all of the things that God has given us. Many of them are necessary, our food and drink, our clothing and shelter. There are lots of other things which are convenient, which make our lives easier, such as electricity.

But sometimes, I look around me and just think that God put these things here for the beauty of them. Pink and purple flowers. Fireflies. The vibrant oranges and reds of autumn leaves. Oh, sure you can tell me all about the chemical reactions that cause all of that, but it doesn't have to be that way. God could have just as easily colored our world in drab brown. He could have given all of our birds the same tune, He didn’t have to give fresh home-baked bread that amazing aroma. We could meet our nutritional needs without ever having to taste our food.

God wants us to take pleasure in the simple things in life. He wants us to sit back sometimes and just enjoy the artistry of the cover to the septic sytstem.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:5 New International Version