Music has an amazing impression on Life. Whether it be man, nature, or beast Music can change the way the day is going.  A seed of life that without a doubt keeps us growing…one direction or another.  Think about it…how do you feel “really” with screaming rock ?…I am not talking about “real rock”  I am talking about screaming lyrics you can barely understand accompanied by screaming guitars and pounding drums. And I do realize the screaming rock serves a purpose with some but, you have got to admit lovey, relaxed, & joyful are not descriptions that come to mind.

Anyway, point is: High up there on the pole are the seeds planted in our ears. Have you listened lately to what all you are allowing to float into your garden and take root. How the flow of those instruments played, resonant within and cultivate Life. And have you noticed what Life is growing as a result? Is it food to your heart and emotions that make you smile? Or Cry? Or maybe it’s a sound just breezing thru, one more time…an old song that brought both joy and tears.. what are you feeling now as you listen? Maybe it’s one that you should kiss & say good bye? Has it made you cry tears of joy or sadness? Is what your hearing leading you astray? Back to times of old…times that need to stay forgotten? Or are you listening to one of those songs that used to hold some pain… but now, you see how far you’ve come and they bring a Smile. One of those songs you hear Jesus saying, ” All things work to the Good, In Him”  Maybe now when you hear that ole love song your mind does a tweek and now it’s become a PRAISE sung to my BFF, Jesus.  Like Hall and Oates ” Sara Smile” ( it brings my mind and heart to Me & JC ). smile  how about some scientific info: https://blog.bufferapp.com/music-and-the-brain

Yes, we must watch what we “listen” to & be considerate of what we share with others. Oh and what music we play in our Literal gardens too.  Yes, PLANTS love music and respond – that is a proven fact: http://hubpages.com/living/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth.  What about your pets? Have you paid attention to their responses, attitude, and behavior when music is playing?  You think they like what you like?  Not – check this out: http://www.livescience.com/33780-animal-music-pets.html

This weeks To Do is: Stop gabbing on the phone or watching TV and Listen to some Music ! Pay attention to your responses, your pets, your children, your mate, your plants as you listen.  Do ya wanna dance?!  Sing, cry, shouts Praises of Joy or anger?

What seeds are awakening within you as you “listen” ?

This week I am going to focus on Step # 4: Getting your soil (Soul) in the outer/inner gardens ready. How do you know when your Soil (Soul) is in prime shape? What you need to do to get it in shape. BTW, if you haven’t read and begun Steps 1 – 3 in my last post, I suggest you Stop and go back to it. Once you have read it you can determine whether you need to start at the beginning and come back to this or maybe you are at this place in both your inner and outer gardens & are ready to move on. BTW, I suggest you read all the related posts to “Better Late than Never” as even if you already have a garden, things might be revealed that didn’t come to light previously. And should you not be able to do the “actual outer garden”, you can still do these steps on your inner garden anytime and anywhere. SMILE Just remember you can do an outer garden even in the house in pots.

OK, Step # 4:  Going forward with your gardens. Check your compost..is it ripe and ready to add into the area you have chosen for your outer garden? As for your Soul; this past week should we should have been throwing out the scraps, pulling out the weeds (obstacles of life), and junking them into your journal (your compost) Is it ready? Did you dig deep and get rid of the rotting junk in your mind and heart garden? You see the reading His Word of Grace, Mercy, Joy, LOVE & so on and so on is what guides you to soften your heart and know what needs tossed onto the compost. Reminder:”With Love we can turn a hard Heart (clay soil) into a workable Soul ” How? by following His commandments to Love God, Yourself, and they Neighbor.

So, what stage is your soil (soul) in right NOW?  Some may have soil (souls) already partially created and some not: The perfect way to know if your outer gardens soil is in prime shape: consult the Worms. Earthworms are one of the surest non-technical ways to tell how healthy your soil is: the more there are, the healthier your soil. But which comes first, the earthworm or the healthy soil? Actually, it’s up to you – See more at: http://www.growinganything.com/earthworm-information.html#sthash.FPss1hqi.dpuf   Good soil will be a darker brown and crumbly to the touch, loose enough to allow air and water to flow thru it. Good soil has a “moderation combo” of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium & lime along with a right level of PH. All things your plants “depend on.”  Ya know our bodies have 8 essential nutrients it needs to operate at it’s best & where do those come from? From what we eat which comes from where?  The Soil…see how we are so intertwined, how important the Earth is to mankind. Because when your outer is out of balance trust me your inner gets whacky too, all the way down into your heart and soul.   Did you know: Your body pH balance or Acid/Alkaline Balance is critical to your good health and avoiding chronic diseases!  check it out these 2 websites for more info: http://www.holistic-medicine-works.com/body-ph-balance.html  & http://www.thehealersjournal.com/2013/06/27/8-essential-nutrients-your-body-needs-daily-for-health-and-how-to-get-them-from-food/

Yep once again I got side tracked (clearly my inner and outer garden needs more attention to address my attention issue. LOL ) Ok. the PH is a measure of soil acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 1-14.   # 7 is a neutal amount and is the preferred level.  Now get this: The # 7 in God’s word is the number of completeness and perfection (both physically and spiritually) It derives its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things. Coincidence or Intended by God during His Creation?  I of course believe ” Intended in His Creation” Check out this site for more details about the # 7 in the Bible. http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html & not only is the #7 relevant to just the Bible. Google it’s relations in other beliefs and even scientifically – check out this knowledge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_(number)   And yes, we can obtain the level of # 7; completeness & perfection. Jesus said so: Matt: 5: 48 “Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ” Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained or have already become perfect, but I press on that I may lay hold of that which was laid hold of by Yeshua (Jesus). HOW? Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, Restoring the SOUL, the testimony of the Lord (Jesus) is Sure, making Wise the Simple.”  That is what these posts are about…learning the how to create the perfect gardens both inside and out. As One is dependent on the other. We need to get back to the Original design of Creation, so we can operate at our Fullest and bear the Best Fruit.

So, test your Soil & Soul. Is it softer? Or is it still hard & needs more Toil & tilling? For the outer garden here is a site that will give guidance in Tilling.http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm

As for the inner Soul if you haven’t taken any steps to water the heart with His Word, you can start this during Any Season of Life. Or maybe you haven’t done enough preparation to begin the tilling segment. If so, stay within steps 1-3 and keep on watering your soul. Here are a few more steps that will aid you in the preparations: Maybe you forgot the tools & any gardener must have tools:   Stillness     Quietness   Meditation which allows the hardness to be broken.  In these 3 things you should come to the place of Pulling & tossing out those things which hurt – which harden your hearts.. yep put them right over into your ” journal” (your compost can.)

If your outer and your inner garden is softened and prepared you can proceed to Tilling the Soil (Soul). This involves stirring, mixing, and adding in NEW minerals and amendments to the Soil (Soul). Weeds may still be sprouting up..pull them. The best way to eliminate them is “Choke the Life right out of them” How? Replace your old thoughts. Amend your thinking. Move your thoughts away from the obstacles of Life toward the Blessings found in Every Day. Water the mind with Good Word(s), with Love. Speak Good Things on your life and the life of others. Mix up your comfort zones, stir in new insights, ideas, and experiences. In your Outer mix in your compost pile, new Soil, and new nutrients & pull any weeds found there too. Tilling is a very important part of preparing the Soil (Soul) before they receive your New seeds.

OK folks…now that I have posted this I can see I have some more composting to do before I begin my tilling so off I go to meditate on the Words of my BFF, Jesus and pull some more weeds.  Good luck and please feel free to post your insights on this subject. Just click on Comment. All good tips are welcome. Hugs.

Shalom.

Or should that be ” Better Sooner than Later?”

Personally, I say that depends on where you are in the garden. If you have a pretty New garden, it’s cleaned out, & you are ready to plant seeds…then for sure “sooner than later” is your best laid plan. You see if you procrastinate & are led astray to do other stuff, others and nature will take over planting seeds that generally bear weeds not good fruit in either garden – outer and inner garden. You see both gardens in the beginning are fresh new gardens of the heart. Soft, loving gardens willing to accept all things. They don’t know, they are baby gardens seeing all things with wide eyes. They need a Master Gardner that plants and tends to them with lots of TLC, protects them from the elements, & aids in their growing strong that the seeds planted ” will ” bear “good fruit” for themselves and their neighbors. This was/is the plan for All things on Earth – To plant seed that grows in LOVE which in turn bears “good fruit” for you and your neighbor. Earth and all things in it were designed by a loving Father for His children. So, best case scenario tending your gardens “sooner than later”. As a parent raising the child, plant good seed that produces Joy in the garden that make you Both happy to be alive, brings smiles, puts food on the table, and provides a sense of peace both within and without. If you are young person learned enough to make your own choices then same applies: Choose good things that resonate with all the good within you. By experience I can testify, You and the Earth are better for it. Best to begin by following the top 2 gardening rules of the Designer . Those are found in Matthew 22: spoken by the #1 Master Gardner known in Earths Hall of Fame, my BFF Yeshua (Jesus) He said  ” Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”  And if you want More good seed on this subject, it can be found in The Words written in Leviticus 19: 9-18.

Now as for my title ” Better Later than Never” – that is for the more ” mature” garden. I say that with italics because it is a term used for the more grown up gardens. Unfortunately, “grown” doesn’t always fit the definition of “mature” “fully developed” FULLY would mean in all areas.. physically, mentally, & spiritually. ( FULL: having no empty space) Notice how if you really pay attention to the words it can change the whole meaning of what has been planted? Yes, planted…words are seeds planted in the mind and if they take root in the heart…ok let’s not side track. (a habit I am working on breaking..smile) Based on the Fact that a grown garden doesn’t mean “mature” that is where “better late than never” comes in.  You see in “grown” garden, all to often, the development of the gardens have fell on neglect, a lack of interest, and some even left totally to the elements. There are too many weeds, the bones of the garden are dry, & might even look darn near hopeless. You look within and without and Joy and Peace are not the fruits either are bearing. Never fear! It’s not over yet! Nope, you are in the “better late than never” season. And as long as there is anything Living in those gardens; there IS Hope. It will take lots of TLC and some/maybe lots of work but, you will be amazed at what ” CAN BE” Resurrected in your gardens.

So, let’s look at the 1st  3 Steps to starting your gardens Anew!

And I do mean Plural gardens literally…this is a work them together, both inner and outer gardens 2016 Plan. smile You will be pleasantly surprised, I think, at the results if you will work the Two together. Ok, 1st things first Pull out that Weed root and all that is saying, “I don’t have time. You DO have time.” Think about it for a minute: How about Turn off the TV, computer, etc. for just One hour & give your mind some Oneness in the garden(s). That said let’s get started!

1.) Choose the right spot in the garden.   You can’t do everything at once. I know many of us think we are Wonder Woman or Bionic Man but, that is part of our problem we need to slow down and begin at the beginning. All this “gotta have it right this minute is not helping us out at all) We need to take time to ” Mature” So, find one area you think you can work in that you will stick with until finished. In the actual garden: maybe a small corner of the yard or a mini greenhouse on your patio. Something manageable. In the inner garden: look at your habits: good or bad?? I feel safe in saying there are probably several bad habits so choose a couple and write them down.

2.) Choose your garden layout and the good seeds you wish to plant. So how do you want your garden to look? What is the end result you want to have? What seeds are pleasing to your eye? What fruit do you want to be flowering in your heart and in your outer garden? Did you know Veggies and many other edible plants have flowers?

3.) Composting: mixture of decayed or decaying organic matter used to fertilize the soil. ” we turned clay soil (soul) into workable soil (soul) by composting it. For the literal garden: You can do this with a trash can, in a back corner of the yard, even a bucket with a lid. http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-composting-definition-and-examples.html    For the inner garden: many are already part way there: hard hearts full of decayed old matter. But, like it says, even hard clay soil can be turned into workable soil. Know: All things can work to the good when you mix it with some Tender Loving Care.

OK…I leave you to get your journal, tablet, or notebook to get the mind going on these first 3 steps to your New or Resurrection Garden(s)

Shalom.

Does this question have you thinking of only a Literal Outer garden? If so, know that this year, 2016 I will be addressing both the “inner” and the “outer” gardens in our lives.  Now you say, ” well, I don’t have an outer garden to address”. Yes, you do…we all do in some fashion. You eat & drink don’t you? You live in a house and utilize things made of paper daily right?  Those things come from a garden somewhere and all of us play a part in the cultivating of the “gardens” both ours, our neighbors, and those outer gardens created by our neighbors in the world. None of us can survive without “the gardens of Life.” Those being our Bodies, the Earth, the Universe. Together these Produce Life as we know it. Back in the day, man was more in tune with importance of TLC in all areas of the gardens. As we “advance” too many are loosing site of the fact that when the seeds within Us and those within the Earth are not cultivated & nutured in moderation, Life will die. So this year I plan to share tools and seeds for both the inner and the outer gardens of our lives. Things that should you “Choose” to give them some TLC will restore and produce an abundant harvest of “good things” not only in your life but, in all Our lives.

Let’s begin at the beginning. In the book of Genesis it is revealed how too much of something “water” was keeping the Earth buried in the darkness of the deep. This caused the Earth to be Unable to produce a Full harvest, limiting it’s growth. As we kick off 2016 I want to reveal in my posts, how important it is that we understand Creation and Evolution & how they are ONE & must continue to work Together for us to Survive. We the People (Body, Mind, and the seeds of the Spirit), the Earth, and the Universe do Not & can Not exist one without the other. Divided the house will FALL. So, here I go, joining with many others, in the sharing of cultivating the inner and outer gardens. As Hillary once said, ” It takes a Village”. This is a fact: it does take a village & Unity of that village to maintain a fruitful harvest. The foundational roots are the same but, the growth of Earth, like Man is different in different areas and the Seasons affect how we grow. So today I kick off my posts with some foundational facts: It is a Fact: Too Much Water Affects Plants & Humans. Plants, like animals and humans, have to breathe. In order to nourish themselves, they have to take in oxygen and carbon dioxide, and they do that primarily through their roots. In soils that are not very porous, like clay, plants have a harder time getting gases to their roots. In a similar way, too much water, especially for potted plants, can suffocate the plant. The excess water makes the soil in the pot so muddy that air cannot move through it. If you are watering the plant at the right intervals, but the pot’s drainage is obstructed or insufficient, water backs up in the pot, and the plant could suffocate. For more details: http://www.gardenandflowers.com/how-does_5124541_can-much-water-affect-plants.html   This is also true in the human body: Nearly all the major systems of your body depend on water to work properly. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day aids in regulating body temperature, preventing constipation, flushing waste products out of the body, and many other important functions.Most people, especially those who exercise in hot weather, are more concerned about not drinking enough water. However, overhydration—or drinking too much water—is also a potentially deadly condition, one that can throw off the balance between water and sodium in your blood.http://www.healthline.com/health/overhydration#Overview1

The same is true in the Garden of the Mind: Too much watering of knowledge too fast doesn’t allow the mind to absorb, process, and filter what is best within “YOUR inner garden” Cloned minds will Not produce the “best” fruit within Your garden. Mankind’s addictive personality can adapt itself to depend on society’s most modern creations. If it’s not Red Bull, reported to be the unfortunate Paul Gascoigne’s latest substance of choice, it is the compulsive checking of emails and the internet. Stock market traders will be very familiar with both.In a study commissioned by Hewlett-Packard, the Institute of Psychiatry has concluded that sufferers from “infomania” are on the rise. Workers unable to tear themselves from electronic and phone messages are said to incur a 10-point decline in their IQ. Work, leisure and sleep are all disrupted by the terrors of the modern communications age, with the inevitable consequences for productivity countering the more obvious advantages bestowed by lightning-quick interaction. more details: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2005/apr/23/money.workandcareers

The seeds of Knowledge are a Great thing however, the seeds of knowledge need to be cultivated, fertilized, and allowed to mature, to develop Understanding, to bring your Common Sense to the surface. We must be conscious not to let good seed turn to unhealthy weeds taking hold & producing shallow immature growth resulting in the weaknesses of fear, doubt & a whole host of stuff burying us in the darkness. Like Adam and Eve too many of us are rushing to eat of the fruit of Knowledge before we are mature enough to handle it. And whether we admit it or not ultimately we regret that move once we realize we have bitten off more than we can chew and the weeds are choking us out. But, Good News, Man has the Choice and Authority to restore the gardens both inside and out.

Well, that’s it for now..HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Keeping in line with my FB challenge for the remainder of the year, I share this post. As I said in my challenge: Since it is a celebration of Jesus (Yeshua ) birth, how about we all give the gift of choosing to speak His  words of  Love “good things” till the end of the year. Not only toward others but, Love yourself and be conscious of what word seeds you are planting within your inner garden too. Really, I want to say give this gift for the rest of our lives but, one step at a time . As I sat down to drink my coffee this morning and spend some time in “the Word”, I decided just to open my Bible and read wherever it took me too. Which was Matthew 12 below. What a gift to have Jesus show me He likes my gifting idea & nice to know I am on time with what He wants me to share. Now I know by experience, if you will but choose to speak Love and Life for this next 7 days you will see such a change in your daily life you will want to continue on. And I am calling it as it is too: A challenge (at least sometimes)  But, it is in those challenges the good seeds within us are made strong, we grow, & the end result is so worth it.

Now the rest of my post is the gift of Jesus words in which I pray you let be planted deep within your inner garden that it may manifest bearing good fruit all the days of your life. Matthew 12:33-37 ” Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by the fruit. How if you are evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of evil treasure brings forth evil things. But, I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Now having read that,  I go back a few verses just as a reminder, which further speak on what happens based on what you are cultivating within. How what you are planting, speaking, and nurturing manifests in the outer garden; into your kingdom. Our kingdom shared here on Earth.    Matthew 12: 25 – 28 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. “

These verses speak volumes and are the fertilizer that makes our gardens grow. 1st within then without. So, this Holiday season I Give these seeds of Love as a Gift to my BFF, Jesus, to You, and to Myself.  1 Corinthians 13: 3-13  “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not Love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when that which is perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been known fully .. (it is thru Love we learn and grow in the fullness of God and who He created us to BE…in His image)

13 So now Abide in faith, hope, and love , but the greatest of these is Love.

No matter your religious or spiritual beliefs or for that matter non belief…these Words are true. These seeds will bear the good fruit of Love. That is “if ” you will take on the challenge and begin planting & abiding in them, nurturing and cultivating them. As each day goes by you Will see new growth, a change in both the inner and the outer garden of your Kingdom. Yep, Love’s seeds work when you work ’em.

Shalom

” Peace” & ” Love” to ALL.

As we come into the holidays I believe this is a perfect time for this post. The holidays can be tools to buffer & give you the opportunity to knock and execute this post. To often, I hear many walking in unforgiveness or they are the one unforgiven with family, friends, etc.  I ask ” have you talked about whatever it is? Asked them to forgive you or have they asked you for forgiveness? And too often the response is: “Yes, but I just can’t forgive them, what they did really hurt Or they won’t forgive me.” Now you can’t “make” anyone forgive you but, you Can forgive them, bless them, and You move forward Free from that bondage . By experience I can testify to what I am sharing. Something else I learned is:  It takes Calm loving communication to pull the binding weeds of unforgiveness out at the root. I also learned unforgiveness is driven by fear of being hurt again. So, Remember: It is thru God’s perfect Love (which is In You) and casts out fear (1John 4:18) that all things Are possible. Mark 10:27.

Forgiveness is a ” Decision”made in the heart and mind. Yeshua says in Luke 17:3-4   ^“So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister^[a] (that would be your fellow man/woman) sins against you, rebuke them (discuss whatever it is that is disapproved); and if they repent, forgive them. ⁴ Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”  Note: I am Not and neither is God saying you should allow an abuser to beat you seven times  a day or at all  forgive them each time. Not saying either that you can’t forgive someone who has abused you, I have and am thankful I did but, that is a deeper conversation for another time.  Today, I am speaking to ” words that hurt and are keeping you and someone at odds.” I am saying don’t remain bound in the misery and judgment of unforgiveness over words & some actions that yes indeed can’t be taken back but, they can be forgiven. Look within at your mistakes, times you may have said or done a hurtful thing. Can you really caste that stone? John 8:7  Really is there “Nothing you have done or said?” And has it been only One time? Have you never been forgiven? Maybe even of a grievous action even. Think on that a minute….hmmmmm… I believe you will find, No not One of us is perfect. Romans 3:10 In fact it has been my experience each of us over and over again will make mistakes, choices we regret and need to ask forgiveness. And like God the Father, Holy Spirit Mother, and my BFF, my Brother Yeshua forgive us, we are to forgive others. Forgiveness is an ACTION of Love. A choice we must choose to make or Not and experience the consequences of that choice.   So, as we come into this season, pray for His Love to shine within and without, then step on out there and extend an olive branch. A call, a card, a knock at the door. You will find that many times that was all that was needed to break you both Free from those weeds that have held you both bound and in misery. Free to let the Seeds of Love come forth bring Joy, Peace, and Mercy in the gardens of your hearts. Yes, going forward will take some nurturing, some watering of healing but, oh what a beautiful end result in your gardens.  So if this post applies to you & you should Choose to go share Love’s actions of Mercy & Forgiveness, know this: YOU CAN DO IT ! Just keep this encouraging Word in mind when you go. Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them saying: ” the Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “see here”  ” see there”  For indeed the Kingdom of God is ” WITHIN You”.        the Kingdom of God is:  His seeds of Love planted within us at creation & it is up to us whether those seeds of Love grow abundantly Or they are buried and bound by the weeds of darkness.

BTW: questioning the wording ” within you” vs amidst us – check out this site: http://www.bible-researcher.com/luke17.21.html  — this is only one place in the Bible it is made clear God is within us…the seeds of His Spirit are planted within us…not separate from us.

Peace be with You…Hugs.

This title means many things at this time of year. Giving literal material gifts to family and friends, giving time thru volunteering, and of course donating all sorts of things in your communities or thru all the various organizations at hand. And let’s not leave out giving Love and an encouraging Lift to all those we are in contact with. This time of year can be a time of Joy and Laughter and it can also be a tough time for many in so many ways. On that note, I post today to reach out with some “Choices” in the areas of “Giving”.  I for one have a couple of people who are really struggling financially right now. And one of my close friends has a brother who is homeless. A good guy but, has some health troubles that are holding him down. Another is a grandparent on a Very fixed income raising a grandchild. In many places this season taps the finances even harder due to rising utility costs and the weather sure cuts down on the ability to grow your own food. Since we don’t live close, I was looking for a way I can pitch in for the winter.  Bingo, Love Wal Mart, they are in both our areas and they have a card called a ” Net Card”. I can purchase the card, send it to him, it gives me an account #, then I can reload whatever amount I want & whenever I want, right here at my local Wal Mart !  Bonus point is I can give the account # to anyone who might want to help a Grandpa out and they can go to their local Wal Mart and add to it also! How great would it be to check the balance on your card and find you have lots of Love & a helping hand from caring believers being sent your way.

Another Fun way to give is something a friend on FB posted. You and some friends get together for the season, go thru your purses to find a few to donate, then fill them with items for daily living…chapstick, feminine hygiene items, lotion, Stuff you would like, then go give them to homeless women in your community. And Fellas – you can get together and donate jackets with surprise gifts in the pockets, a wallet with a $20 in it, or backpacks with a throw blanket,beanie, gloves, and socks.

Can’t afford any of this yourself. Just go share some Love and Kindness. Help a neighbor in need if you see them struggling to carry their groceries, or open a door, or visit with a neighbor who has no family in town. Maybe share some tea and cookies. Give of yourself.

These are just a few of many ideas for giving. If you have some ideas you would like to share please be sure to click COMMENTS and Share. Smile

Sending out Hugs and Much Love your way!

Hi, and ya’ll thought I was done with this subject post. LOL

Actually just wanted to make a correction to yesterday’s post. I should have said, ” ask those questions of yourself and be sure to take enough time to answer from , your Heart, Not your religion.  My terminology saying, Christian walk is of course based on my personal choice but, as I was reading my Osho email today, I realized I shouldn’t have come across so narrow. I don’t walk narrow, so I should not give the impression I do. The questions in the 1st post apply no matter the walk you have chosen. We all have chosen a “walk” & that walk will take us down different paths during each season, until we finally reach the ultimate garden. That is one thing Life has taught me well and a reason I believe God says we are not to judge others…  you never know when you are entertaining angels.  smile

Ok, correction complete!  Watch for this weekend’s post…I am tweeking how & what I post…something I have felt compelled to do for awhile…exciting.

Have a great day!

A conversation I had today, had me really thinking on my drive home. So here I am posting. The conversation was about professing to be a follower of Jesus. This got me thinking about the seeds within, that we profess to be cultivating in “the way” of Jesus VS the seeds we are actually planting and cultivating in our lives daily. I had to ask myself, Am I “representing” my BFF and His Ways daily? Wouldn’t you know it with that question, here came God with a verse via Pastors Perspective radio show, that got me digging even deeper in thought. Matt. 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  I realize everyone wasn’t in on my conversation but, the bottom line bears these questions to those “professing” to be walking with Yeshua (Jesus);  ” HOW Ya Livin?” What do I treasure? Do my actions reflect my profession of        “I am a Christian? ” (a follower of Christ) Can Jesus be seen in Me? Are those actions serving not only me but, my neighbor? (family, friends, co workers, and literal neighbors) Am I storing up (planting) good seed (treasures of Love, Joy, Comfort, etc)  for heaven? Or am I more talk of intention all the while planting seeds (words) that will only bear weeds of earthly drama? So, like the nursery rhyme, I ask myself and You, ” Renee’, Renee’ (use your name) how Does your garden grow? ”

After meditating on this all this and pondering the questions, I personally see good fruit in many areas of my garden but, I unfortunately found some more weeds I need to pull too. Yep, my garden is still a work in progress..Thing about those darn weeds (words of complaint, backbiting, grumbling…etc ), they most often have deep roots and I know I will need some help to fully eradicate those devils. So off I go, to seek the wisdom of whom I profess to follow, the Master Gardner, my BFF, Jesus. I realize more and more each day, my heart & souls desire is that my good seed (words) grow to be His Words and my answers become, ” My garden is growing well, Praise Be to my Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Mother.”  Lord knows, it takes all of the family of God (which includes my earthly family, extended and blood born) to really make the garden grow to it’s highest good. As a helpful tool I will refer to this verse, Hebrews 12:15 – “( I will be) Looking (more) diligently (at my actions) lest (I) any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [in me], and thereby many be defiled.”

Yes, Yes…our actions (seeds planted) within our neighbors (friends, family, coworkers, etc) do take root and have a effect within their gardens. It might be a shallow root and not take hold or it just might be a seed that lands deep and produces more than you ever thought it would. (good or bad) Think about that and how your words have affected others or theirs have affected you. Notice when you dig deep, the base of the root of those binding weeds is Fear (of some form or fashion). But, no worries, Praise God for ” Grace, Mercy, Compassion, & most of all LOVE. Cause, There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. And Jesus Love is a Perfect Love. That is why it is a perfect seed to plant within your inner garden. Yep for me it’s  “The Only Way” to go.

Shalom!