Lessons in Mulch

Lessons in Mulch

Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name,

the name you gave Me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

John 17:11b

When my kids were little, they were used to me taking the old GMC truck to Lowe’s and returning with bags of mulch.  When we moved to Richmond, I discovered JB MULCH, and would come home with a huge mound of the stuff in the backend of the truck.  The kids wondered what in the world I needed all that mulch for?   What was the purpose?  To make the ground pretty? 

The answer was, No, it is not for decoration but for protection.  Mulch enables the soil to hold in nutrients and the precious water that rains down.  It is a protective layer between the roots of the plant and the often overwhelming heat of the summer sun.

In this prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus told His Father that while He was here on earth, He had guided and protected His people.  Now He was following the path to the cross, the resurrection, and His ascension back to heaven.  He prayed for His Father to release the protective layer that would cover His disciples from the moment of His departure until He comes again in glory – the comforting blanket of the Holy Spirit.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,

He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

*

There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,

And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.

There are sweet expressions on each face,

And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.

Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly dove,

Stay right here with us, filling us with your love.

And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise.

Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived

When we shall leave this place.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 334

The Nobleman's Son

The Nobleman's Son

There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  

When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,

he went to Him and begged Him to come and heal his son,

who was close to death.

John 4:46-47

I love this story in the early chapters of the Gospel of John.  Jesus had left Judea and arrived in Galilee, where “the Galileans welcomed Him for they had witnessed the clearing of the Temple courts, and His subsequent healing of the infirm and paralyzed.  It was in the town of Cana that Jesus was approached by an officer from Capernaum.

The Scripture does not name this man, so we will call him Thaddeus.  He was evidently a royal official in Herod’s service. He pleaded with Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son, who had a terrible fever and was close to death. Jesus simply looks at the man and says, “Go home.  Your son will live.”  John says that, “The man took Jesus at His word and departed.”  Amazing.  What faith!  What courage!  On his way home, Thaddeus was met by his servants, who brought the joyous news that the boy was alive and well.  He asked exactly when the child recovered; the servants replied, “The seventh hour.”  It was the time that Jesus spoke His words of healing.

Jesus is the One of whom the Psalmist wrote: “He sends his command to the earth; His words run swiftly.”  There was no need for Him to go to Capernaum.  All He had to do was speak the Word.

*

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,

And clouds arise and tempests blow by order from Thy throne.

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 152, vs. 3

Saul and Jonathan

Saul and Jonathan

In life they were loved and gracious,

And in death they were not parted.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,

Who clothed you in scarlet and finery

Who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

How the mighty have fallen in battle!

2 Samuel 1:23a,24-25a

The story of King Saul, Prince Jonathan, and the shepherd boy, David, is remarkable in many ways; but for me, the heart of this story is David’s refusal to hurt or vilify the man who was actively seeking to destroy him.  Saul’s jealousy of David knew no limits; David’s love and respect for God’s anointed leader overcame whatever King Saul threw at him.  The deception, the skulduggery, the assassination attempts – any or all of these things would have given David ample reason to strike back.  He steadfastly resolved not to go in that direction, however, and would not allow anyone to do it for him.

When Jonathan and Saul were killed in battle, David composed a song in memory of the fallen king and his son, uplifting the king as the divinely designated leader of God’s covenant people and genuinely grieving over his death.  David’s example of unconditional love for his enemy is a profound lesson in how to view those who would like nothing more than to put us down.

*

Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you.

Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on this journey, we’re together on this road.

We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
The Faith We Sing, No. 2222

Determine My Steps

Determine My Steps

In his heart, a man plans his course,

But the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

It is Tuesday as I write this -  the start of a new week (yesterday was a holiday and doesn’t count!).   It is a delightful morning here in Central Virginia.  The sky is overcast, the birds are calling out their joyous songs, a robin is preening in the birdbath, and it is one of those mornings when it feels like anything and everything is possible.  With a forecast of only 77 degrees for the high temperature, it is a great spring day.

From my first waking moment, I am planning out just how my day [week, month] is going to go.  I decide that I will do this, that, and the other thing. I have face masks in various stages of construction that need to be finished, the kitchen floor needs mopping, the laundry is ready to roll, groceries need to be purchased, and dozens of tasks await in the front and back yards.   And God is smiling down, knowing that some of these plans are not going to come to fruition.  I may plan my course, but God determines my ultimate destination.

My grandmother used to say, “This is what I am going to do today - Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise.”  If I obstinately run ahead and take a fall, God lovingly picks me up and dusts me off; but He and I both know that it really does work better if I hold on to His hand and He walks by my side.

Lord, help me to know Your love, kindness and grace

amidst the beauty of this morning.

Guide my decisions today.

Give me wisdom for the tasks ahead,

                                                           patience and love for those around me,

and words that will glorify You.

Amen.

*

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks, because He's given Jesus Christ His Son.

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks, because He's given Jesus Christ His Son.

And now, let the weak say "I am strong,"

Let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us."

And now, let the weak say, "I am strong,"

Let the poor say, "I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us."

Give thanks.
The Faith We Sing, No. 2036

Zacchaeus and the Tree

Zacchaeus and the Tree

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus;

he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

He wanted to see who Jesus was,

but being a short man, he could not, because of the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig tree

to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Luke 19:1-4

Several years ago, my middle daughter and I were talking about my latest gardening project, and somehow that morphed to Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree. She was pondering how in the world the very short Zacchaeus could have climbed the massively tall sycamore trees that she had seen here in the eastern United States.  How, indeed?

As I looked at the text of this story in Luke 19, I noticed that the NIV Bible calls it a sycamore-fig tree.  I’d never read the “fig” part before; it certainly is not part of the little song I have been singing since childhood.  I decided it was time for some research.  I found that the American sycamore tree is actually a maple tree (The Great Maple).  It is a rapidly growing tree, reaching a mature height of fifty to sixty feet, and is a native of Central Europe, especially the forests of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  This was not the tree that was growing in Jericho.

The tree that Zacchaeus scrambled up in his quest to see Jesus was a Ficus Sycomorus, called a sycamore-fig or a mulberry fig.  This is a very large-branched, thick tree characterized by lower branches that grow close to the ground.  It is much easier to see how the little tax collector of Jericho could have scrambled up this tree and found a nice fat branch to sit on.  His ingenuity brought him face to face with the Master, a moment that changed his life forever.

*

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,

And a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree

For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way

He looked up in that tree.

[ (spoken) And Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, you come down!]

For I’m going to your house today

Yes, I’m going to your house today"

Consider the Heavens

Consider the Heavens

O Lord, our Lord,

how excellent is Your name in all the earth.

You have set Your glory above the heavens!

When I consider Your heavens,

the moon and stars which You have ordained,

what is man, that You are mindful of him,

and the son of man, that You visit him?

Psalm 8:1, 3-4

When I finished work one evening last week, the dusk had not as yet descended into darkness.  There was still time to grab a shovel and do a little more yard work.  Dusk is a beautiful time of day – my favorite hour during the warmer months.  The blazing sun has dropped below the horizon, and the landscape is bathed in a gentle, muted illumination that slowly gives way to darkness. 

When I read Psalm 8, I can just see David as he stood outside, surrounded by the beauty of earth and the glories of the heavens.  He looked at the vast landscape below and the canopy of stars overhead, and marveled that the One who created such astounding splendor could be concerned about his life, his joys, his sorrows.  We are also a creation of God's hand, an expression of His love, the product of His heart.  It is little wonder that we love being outdoors – we were created to be together.

Wherever you are this morning in God’s great panoply of nature, take just a moment to look at the beauty of His creation and marvel at the gift we have been given.  Then, whisper a little “Thank You, Lord.”  It will warm His heart as well as yours.

*

I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise.

That spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day.

The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

There’s not a plant nor flower below, but makes Thy glories known,

And clouds arise and tempests blow by order from Thy throne.

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that we can be, thou, God, art present there.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 152

It's a Secret!

It’s a Secret!

Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion,

guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.

For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother,

daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

Therefore I will look to the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

My God will hear me.

Micah 7:5-7

How many times has someone said to you, “WOW!  Do I need to talk to you – but you have to promise that you won’t tell a soul!”   I have both said this, and had it said to me.  It has also caused me anxiety, whether I am the teller or the recipient.  If I am on the receiving end, how many other people have been confided in with the same dire message?  If the facts leak out, will my friend automatically think it was me, or vice versa?  Secrecy is a fascinating thing – so often requested, so rarely given.

Micah advises us to, "Guard the doors of your mouth."  If there is something in my life that really needs to remain unknown, I need to keep my mouth shut and my heart and mind directed to heaven.  There is One who will quietly listen and never betray my trust. I can tell Him all the juicy details, then rest in the knowledge that His heart of love is open, but His lips are sealed.

*

I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His word wrought peace within my heart.

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

The United Methodist Hymnal No. 714

In the Garden

Blackberry Punch Superbell

In the Garden

For as the earth brings forth its bud,

and the gardener causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to spring forth before all the nations.

Isaiah 61:11

I really enjoy visiting plant nurseries and finding new flowering plants; or better yet, finding old favorites in new colors.  Last summer, I visited Sneed’s Nursery to see if I could find any Superbell plants (resembling a miniature petunia).  Sure enough, they had several new hues, including this beauty, the Blackberry Punch Superbell.  Suffice it to say that several of them found a home in my containers.

This spring, my baby pink/scarlet peonies were abundant and beautiful.  When I shared a blossom with my friend Louise, she asked if I would be interested in receiving a white peony plant.  My enthusiastic agreement led to the arrival of two new plants on my front porch.  I can’t wait to plant them this weekend.

Just as I love and care for my garden, nurturing my plants and coaxing them to full bloom, so the Lord loves His people – the human race that He created.  He tends and nurtures us, watering us with the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit, and focuses on us the powerful sunlight of His love and blessings.  We, in turn, sing forth His praise to everyone around us, witnessing to the joy of being a part of His garden. 

*

I come to the garden along while the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet, the birds hush their singing.

And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 314

 Shirley Temple Peony

Surprise Them!

Surprise Them!

When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. 

Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively. 

Matthew 6:4

When I was a youngster, we had a book of Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories.  It was my favorite book, particularly the story, The Surprise Package Company.  Two children, Will and Gwen, wanted something to do.  Will suggested that they form the Surprise Package Company.  “We’ll find people who need things done for them and do it without telling them.”

First, they cleaned the kitchen and washed the dishes for their mother.  Then they took a package of eggs to an elderly woman in their neighborhood.   The kids left a little note behind that read, With love from The Surprise Package Company.

When their friend, Frank, came down with the mumps, they dropped a box over the backyard fence – right where Frank could see it tumble down.  Inside, Frank found four little boxes marked with the day he should open them.  Inside were paints, puzzles, books, and other things that would occupy his mind while he was sick. Where did Will and Gwen get the money for these little gifts?  They used their allowance, or simply gave away their own things.

Perhaps the reason I loved this story so much growing up was because it showcased children being helpful and kind and enjoying themselves in the process.  Giving to others with no expectation of recognition or return can be a great deal of fun.  Giving for the pure pleasure of giving is one of the most uplifting things that we can do.  Is there someone you can surprise today? 

*

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,

Healing pain and sickness, blessing children small,

Washing tired feet and saving those who fall.

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for You,

Make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do.

Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,

Till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for You.

 The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 273

A Salty Life

A Salty Life

You are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out

the God flavors of this earth.

If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?

You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Matthew 5:13 [The Message]

I love salt.  I would never want my doctor to hear me say that, but it is true.  If I were given the choice between a 99¢ bag of Crunchy Cheetos or a handful of cookies, I would choose the Cheetos every time.  There is just something about salt that brightens up the mouth, makes the flavor savory, and gives life to whatever recipe it is added to.

Salt is essential for life in general, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes.  The scarcity and universal need for salt have led nations to go to war over it.  The first city in Europe (Solnitsata in Bulgaria) was built around a salt mine.  When I was a youngster, there was just plain old Morton's salt.  Now there are many varieties.   I love Himalayan salt because of its mild flavor and pink hue.

Out in the world, we are to be the Cheetos/smokehouse almonds/theater popcorn of life.  In a world full of the chronic flavor of same old, same old, we are called to be the bright zest of Christian love. An unexpected kindness, a thank-you, a smile, a telephone call, a few extra moments of your time, a sincere inquiry into a person’s well-being – any and all of these, especially when bestowed upon a stranger, will bring a moment of savory delight:  a taste of the love of Christ.

*

We are His hands to touch the world around us.

We are His feet, to go where He may lead.

And we are His love, burning in the darkness.

We are His love, shining in the night.

We are His eyes to see the need in others.

We are His voice to tell of His return.

And we are His love, burning in the darkness.

We are His love, shining in the night.

https://youtu.be/jf_cH4xQzAQ

Long Left Turn

Long Left Turn

When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying

“This is how your slave treated me,” Potiphar burned with anger.

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison,

the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

Genesis 39:19-20

When Joseph’s brothers had had it up to their eyeballs with their younger brother, they dropped him in a dry desert cistern, determined to leave him there to die.  Plans changed when a group of Ishmaelite traders wandered by, and suddenly Joseph was forced to walk his way to Egypt as a slave, chained to the back of a camel caravan. In Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  God blessed his work for the Egyptian official, and soon Joseph was in charge of his entire estate.  Enter Potiphar’s wife, who wanted to play around with her husband’s handsome slave.  When Joseph repeatedly refused, she accused him of attempted rape, and Joseph landed in Pharaoh’s prison.

At that point, it would be reasonable to think that Joseph would have had a little anger toward God about the turning of his life’s circumstances.  Far, far away from those he loved, reduced to slavery and wrongly accused of a heinous crime, it would not surprise anyone for Joseph to languish in prison, eaten up by misery and bitterness.  No, not this lad.  The pampered prince of Canaan had a far greater depth of character than anyone gave him credit for.  Joseph knew that God was with him, pouring our His blessings even in prison, and he had faith that eventually, God would release him back to his family. Joseph knew one thing above all other:  God would never abandon him.

In the last two and a half months, all of our lives have taken a long, left turn – from the richest to the poorest, oldest to youngest, bravest to most fearful.  For the majority of the world, nothing in our education or experience has prepared us for the coronavirus pandemic.   We are pummeled on every side with bad news/good news of every stripe. But there is One who is greater than any situation or circumstance, and He has promised:

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified …,

 for the Lord your God goes with you.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

Deuteronomy 31:6

*

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing,

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to His name – He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine.

As from the beginning, the fight we were winning,

Thou, Lord, was at our side, all glory be Thine.

The United Methodist Hymnal No. 131

God is Able

God is able to make all grace abound to you,  
so that in all things at all times,

having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

God called Abraham to a land that he would receive as an inheritance.  Within that same promise was another:  that he would be the father of a great multitude.  When he arrived in Canaan after a long journey, the people greeted him:

“Welcome to our land.  What is your name?”

“My name is, Father of a multitude,” he replied.

“Oh,” the people said.  "Your name means Father of a multitude?

How many children do you have?”

"Well … I don’t have any children.” 

                                                             

Finally, Abraham and Sarah decided that God must have made a promise He couldn’t keep. “God needs our help,” they concluded, and came up with a plan that was acceptable according to the customs of their day.  The consequence was a tragic family situation that led to years of heartache.  To top it all off, when Abraham presented his self-made solution to the Lord, God said, “No, Abraham.  Ishmael is not your heir.  You will have a son through your wife, Sarah.”

When God makes a promise, He has the power to keep it, and He does not need our help or our interference. His timetable is vastly different from ours as well.  Abraham waited 25 years from promise to fulfillment. When he was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90, God gave them the impossible. 

Excerpts from Salvation by Faith and Your Will

Morris Venden, R&H Publishing Association, 1978

*

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,

And all these things shall be added unto you.

Allelu, alleluia.

Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.

Allelu, alleluia.

Man shall not live by bread alone,

But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Allelu, alleluia.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 405

Tell the World

Tell the World

I have hidden Your Word in my heart…

Psalm 119:11

When my kids were young, they loved to sing together.  Often when their dad would go out to preach at other churches, we would go along, and the kids would sing for the program.  I was always looking for songs that had three verses so that each child could have a solo verse by themselves.  One day I heard a great song by Michael Card that the kids immediately picked up and began to sing,  but it only had 2 verses.  The girls and I put our heads together and came up with a third verse for the youngest child to sing.  Tell the World that Jesus Loves You quickly became our favorite song.

One Saturday afternoon, we were at the East Mesa church, and the girls went up front to sing their song.  Verse one and two went by without a hitch.  When verse three started, my youngest child began to sing, but the words were not the ones we had written.  Her sisters turned to look at her with incredulous looks on their faces.  I kept playing and listening carefully, and suddenly it hit me.  My child must have forgotten the words to her verse, because she was singing the words of that week’s memory verse, carefully fitted to the notes so that no one was the wiser.

This is a favorite story when we begin a round of “Remember when's” in our family.  How she matched her memory verse with the song was pure genius – especially doing it on the fly.  It was also a powerful lesson for me that when push came to shove, what stood foremost in her memory was the Word that she had hidden in her heart.

*

Tell the world that Jesus loves you,

Tell them you’ve found a forever friend.

You’ve opened up your heart’s door to Him.

The love of Jesus never ends.

1)      You can choose what not to believe in. 

You can deny there's a heaven above.

But once you take a look at Jesus,

There's no denying that God is love.

2)     If you want to show you really love Him,

If you want to prove that your love is true,

Then you'll obey the word He's spoken

And do all the things He's commanded you to.

3)     You may not think you can preach like Peter,

You may not think you can witness like Paul,

But you can tell the love of Jesus,

Tell them that He died for all.

Vs. 1-2 Michael Card; Vs. 3 Lizarraga

Drought of the Soul

Drought of the Soul

They are like clouds without rain…

Jude 12

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona – a city of blazing sunshine and precious little rain.  Located in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix gets, on average, about 8 inches of rain per year.  I don’t remember anyone ever telling us that we could not water our grass, or fill our kiddie pool, or spend hours on the Slip-n-Slide.  Water restrictions were not a part of my childhood there.

Now I live in Virginia – a verdant land rather than desert sand.  The average rainfall in my area is 43 inches – over five times that of Phoenix.  In my first few years living here, however, water restrictions in the summer were a way of life.  It reminded me of Israel in the time of Ahab and Jezebel, where no rain fell for over three years.  How did the people survive?  They believed that their god Baal provided the rain.  After more than three years of drought, you’d think they would begin to wonder about that.

The human heart can also experience drought – a barrenness of the soul that shrivels the spirit.  Without hope, we begin to wither inside.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”  [Hebrews 6:19].  That anchor is the love of Christ who died for us, rose for us, and lives for us.  He is a constant Companion, a source of hope in the midst of hopelessness.  He invites us to come to Him and “…take the water of life freely” [Revelation 22:17].

*

Fill my cup, Lord.  I lift it up, Lord.

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.

Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 641