Thursday, June 19, 2014

What Are You Eating?

I'm sorry I can't give credit to anyone for this story I'm about to quote because there is no name on it.  I think I received it in an email many years ago.  I share it with you today because of the profound truth it speaks.

Two Wolves
 
 
An elderly Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life.  He said to them, 'A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
 
One wolf is evil - he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, false pride, inferiority, competition, superiority and ego.
 
The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
 
This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person, too.'
 
They thought about it for a minute and then one child slowly turned to his grandfather, 'Which wolf will win?'
 
The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'
 
 
This speaks to me of the age-old battles we all fight -
 
the battle between good and evil, and
the battle between the flesh and the spirit.
 
These two battles, I believe, are the battles we all fight every day.
 
And this is where the true spiritual warfare takes place - in our every day choices between
 
good and evil
the flesh and the spirit.
 
Every time we choose to do the good thing, the right thing, the loving thing, we win the battle.
Every time we choose fear over love, greed over generosity, regret over hope, etc, we lose the battle.
 
Whether we choose the "good" thing or the "evil" thing, we are still feeding our flesh and our spirit.  They will flourish or die based on what we are feeding them.
 
We need to recognize that it's not just the choice between good and evil, flesh and spirit, but it's what we are feeding them that ultimately strengthens or weakens us.
 
If you left it up to a child (and even some adults, me included), they would choose to eat cake, cookies, candy, ice cream, chocolate, etc instead of healthy food choices.  This would, in short order, cause our flesh to fail in many ways.  Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.  To grow a healthy body, we need to feed it things that are going to nourish and sustain it.

 
What we feed our spirits is doubly important.  We all live with an emptiness and a void within us that constantly wants to be filled.  This, I believe, is our spirit, crying out for satisfaction/salvation.  I also believe the only true satisfaction/salvation comes from knowing God - God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. 
 
But so many people are trying to find satisfaction/salvation through feeding their spirits "junk food" - they dabble in New Age philosophies, the occult, false religions and mind games.  Their spirit may be "fed", but they are still spiritually dying.  The "food" will only temporarily sustain.
 
It does matter WHAT we feed -
 
the good wolf or the bad wolf
our flesh or our spirit.
 
But it also greatly matters WHAT we feed it.
 
You will find a feast when you open the Word of God.  This is food that satisfies, this is food that saves, that feeds your hunger, that quenches your thirst and that fills that void.
 
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteouness, for they shall be filled."
Matthew 5:6
 
"I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide,
and I will fill it."
Psalm 81:10
 
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Psalm 119: 105, 114
 
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
John 1:1, 14, 17
 
God's Word - the Bible,
God's Word - Jesus Christ,
breathes life into our weary souls.
It/He guides us, leads us, blesses us, feeds us, teaches us, corrects us and fills us with hope!
Living by God's Word (Jesus Christ) provides mercy, gives grace and produces abundant life!
 
May His Word richly feed your spirit today!
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Simple Encouragement

Today I simply want to encourage you with these words:
 
 
"And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee."
Psalm 39:7
 
"For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth."
Psalm 71:5
 
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
I Corinthians 1:9
 
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:3

Whatever you have need of the Lord today, He is more than enough to meet your need!!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Loving Thing

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." 
Ephesians 5:1, 2
 
Imitate God and live a life of love - King James says "walk in love."
 
To do the loving thing is constantly the challenge and keeps me ever before God.  Because sometimes the loving thing looks and appears as loving and sometimes the loving thing does not appear loving at all.
 
Sometimes the loving thing is setting boundaries; sometimes the loving thing involves chastening; and sometimes the loving thing is simply walking away.
 
But to know which loving thing is appropriate for which situation requires dependence upon a God who always does the loving thing.  The One who always knows exactly what the loving thing is in any given situation.
 
Imitate means to "copy the actions, appearance, function or sounds of; to model oneself after; to reproduce, copy; to look like, resemble."
 
To imitate someone, we have to first know them. Then we have to spend time with them; study them; view their mannerisms; listen to them talk; watch their every move.  In order to "model" ourself after another, to "look like" or "resemble" another, we have to know what we seek to resemble.
 
We need to 'resemble" our Father God and do the loving thing as He would do the loving thing.
 
What loving thing did He do? 
 
".....just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
 
Seeking the best for another, rather than ourselves is doing the loving thing.  Preferring one another in Christ is doing the loving thing.

As I seek to do the loving thing in relationships that can be very challenging, it keeps me going back again and again to God and His Word; seeking His guidance by the Holy Spirit to know how to best "imitate" Him in the situation before me.

I throw myself on His mercy because often doing the loving thing that He directs me to do is NOT what I want to do in that circumstance.  My flesh makes it's own plans.  That's where following His example in "giving myself up" comes in.  As I die to my own fleshly desires and choose to pursue His, I imitate Him in doing the loving thing.

As I strive to be an ambassador of Christ, reflecting His true character at any given time, I can be assured that where He leads me, His grace will keep me and prove more than sufficient.

Join me in my pursuit to be an imitator of God.
Seek to do the loving thing.
 

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Psalm 23 - For Me, Here and Now

Many of us know Psalm 23 because we've heard it read at many funerals.
But Psalm 23 is more than a reading for the dead.
It's a Psalm for the living.
Let's explore it's treasures today, shall we?

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness of his name's sake.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
 
 
The Lord is my shepherd - that's a Relationship.  The Lord is my shepherd; not just a shepherd.  This speaks of a relationship of submission, where the sheep voluntarily follows the shepherd; He's my shepherd, I will follow Him.
 
I shall not want - that's Supply.  Because He's my shepherd, I know I shall not want or lack for anything.  He will supply all my needs. 
 
He makes me to lie down in green pastures - that's Rest.  I can rest in Him, trusting Him for protection, provision, and all else I may need.  This is also a place of intimacy.  Because I know Him, I can rest in Him.


 
He leads me beside the still waters - that's Refreshment.  In the place of security and intimacy, I will be refreshed, renewed in Him.

 
He restores my soul - that's Healing.  Healing both for the inner man - the heart, and the outer man -my physical body.

 
He leads me in paths of righteousness - that's Guidance.  He will lead and guide me where I need to go; He orders my steps.  This also a place of humility; humility of heart that will allow another to lead and direct you; that will allow another to take control.  You hand over the "reins" to Him, knowing and trusting He will lead you to all things good in Him.
 
For His name's sake - that's Purpose.  There is purpose and meaning to your life.  He leads and guides you to all things for His purposes - that will lead to blessing for you and glory for Him.
 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - that's Testing.  Oh, that's not one we look forward to, but our faith will be tried as gold in the fire of Testing.  But the test is prepared by the One who loves us and redeems us!
 
I will fear no evil - that's Protection.  We can count on his protection in all ways.  He goes before us and He is our rear guard.
 
For You are with me - that's Faithfulness.  We can count on His faithfulness.  Even when we are not faithful, He is for He cannot deny Himself.  We are His and He will be faithful to His purposes in us.  His presence is always with us, even we don't feel it.
 
Your rod and your staff they comfort me - that's Discipline and it's also Security!!  The Word tells us that God disciplines those He loves.  We can be sure that if we start going "our own way", He will bring us back to where we need to be in Him.  His discipline is a result of His love; we can trust that. This also speaks of identity.  We belong to Him, thus the discipline.  We don't usually discipline other people's children; but we always discipline our own - for their good.

 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - that's Hope.  The hope we have in Him that we will not be devoured by our enemies; we will live to partake of the table prepared for us.  That also is peace - the peace that passes all understanding - that we are kept in Him til the last day.

 
You anoint my head with oil - that's Consecration.  We have been set apart and "branded" by Him for His plan and purpose.  We have been anointed with the gifts and talents He chooses to use as He sees fit.
 
My cup runs over - that's Abundance.  The abundant life we have in Him, right here, right now.  The Kingdom is within you.  He gives freely to us all that pertains to life and godliness here and now.  That's fullness - the Holy Spirit is poured out without measure - filling us to all fullness!

 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - that's Blessing.  We are a blessed people.  Blessed beyond measure.  He is always good and His mercies never come to an end.

 
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - that's Security.  I will dwell in His house.  Eternal life is mine; secured by the blood of Jesus.
 
Forever - that's Eternity.  We will live and reign with Him.  His Kingdom is without end - forever and ever!
 
See the beauty and promise in this Psalm?
 
A Psalm for us - here and now.

 
 
 
 

 





Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Mercy - New Every Morning!

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Lamentations 3:22
 
The word "mercies" here in the Hebrew means kindness, pity.  It is only because of the Lord's kindness and pity towards us that we are not consumed, swallowed up by this world
or by our own sinfulness. 
Because his compassions - his love and mercy - fail not!
 
I love this whole section of Lamentations.  It reads:
 
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 
The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."
Lamentations 3:21-26
 




 
As I have gotten older, and hopefully a little wiser, I realize just how much I need, truly need God's mercy every minute of every day.  If it wasn't for His mercy,
I would surely be consumed by my own sinfulness.
I live every day by His kindness toward me, by His pity upon me.
 
He takes pity upon me because He knows I am just a (wo)man.  He knows my weaknesses, my doubts, my fears, my failures, my secret sins, my cravings.  He knows me better than I know me.
 
He knows, too, that in myself, I have no way out!  I cannot save myself from the devastation that my weaknesses, my doubts, my fears, my failures, my secret sins or my cravings cause - to myself and/or to others. 
 
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;"
Psalm 103:2, 4
 

 
When I am at my worse, He takes pity on me and rescues me!  Constantly, He is rescuing me; most times, from myself!!  I am my own worse enemy!  But He looks kindly and with compassion upon me and His relentless pursuit of me continues.
 
"Because his compassions fail not."
 
Because His love for me fails not; never fails; never fails; never, ever fails.
 
And even better
 
"They are new every morning:"
 
Just when I think I've exhausted His supply, a new day dawns and His mercies and lovingkindness toward me are renewed with the dawning!!
 

 
"Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."
Psalm 63:3
 
How many times I have thanked Him for His mercy; too many to count, for sure!!
 
This Scripture not only renews me every time I read it, but it stirs hope within me.
 
"This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope."
 
When I remember God's mercy, God's love for me; His relentless pursuit of me,
it stirs hope in my heart. 
All is not lost! 
 
There is hope for me - because of God;
because He never stops working and moving in my heart and life. 
He nevers stops pursuing me. 
He never stops revealing Himself to me. 
He never stops!!
 
His mercies never come to an end!!
 
"O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life."
Lamentations 3:58
 
"Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life."
Psalm 42:8
 
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlating love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:3
 
"And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord."
Hosea 2:19
 
My hope is in Him. 
 
My hope is in the fact that His mercy, His loving-kindness, and His faithfulness are steadfast, true and sure in my life.  No matter what I face each and every day - within myself or without from the world, I know His promises are Yea and Amen and I can trust in Him.
 
Beloved, comfort yourself with His words. 
What life they give!
 
 
Are you needing mercy today?
Are you needing pity today?  Pity that cares and is moved by your plight?
Are you needing His loving-kindness today?
 
Pray with the Psalmist:
 
"Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving-kindness
and thy truth continually preserve me."
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions."
"Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee."
Psalm 40:11, 51:1, 143:8
 
Reach out for His mercy today!
It's yours for the taking!
He pours out His mercy freely!
 
 

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Giving Up the Good for the Best

While I was in Florida in April, I woke up one morning, about three weeks into my stay there, with my right ear plugged.  You know that sound you hear when you hold a seashell up to your ear? 
 
Yeah, well that's what I was hearing in my ear.  Gives a whole new meaning to the concept of "taking the ocean home with me!"  I kept feeling like I needed to yawn to "pop open" my ear.  It didn't work.
 
I was hoping that when I flew home the following week that the high altitude would help to pop open my ear.  It didn't!  Here I am now - almost 7 weeks, 2 doctor's appointments, 1 ear wash, and 2 medications later and it still hasn't popped open!!
 
I have been prayed with, for and over, to no avail. 
 
As I have been seeking the Lord, I kept getting the sense that He was trying to show me that I was not just not hearing in the natural, but that I was not hearing Him speaking to me in the Spirit.
 
"Speak, Lord;  for thy servant heareth."
1 Samuel 3:9c
 
Give me ears to hear what you are saying, Lord!
 
Before I went to Florida, I was feeling extremely exhausted and overwhelmed with all that was on my plate and constantly wondering how I could continue to keep up the pace. I expected to get some much needed rest and refreshment while there (and to some extent, I did) and truly believed I would come home with renewed perspective and be ready to "dive back in."  I spent some time in Florida seeking the Lord as to direction for my life and felt that God was speaking to me about things - duties, responsibilities, etc - that I was to "let go of."   But I just couldn't figure out what they were and how I was to do that.
 
So, instead of coming home refreshed and ready to "jump back" into life, I just grew more weary and tired and totally felt like I just wanted to "give up."  In fact, I do think, in some ways, I did give up.
 
As I kept going back to God's original word to me, I was constantly stymied because I still didn't see those things in my daily life that I could let go of and I still wasn't hearing Him clearly.  I kept going over and over my schedule and responsibilities only to come back to the fact that there just didn't seem to be anything I could eliminate. 
 
I mean, what excuse do you give to stop going to Intercessory Prayer? 
I couldn't stop the care and visitation of my father and I have a job to go to two days a week.  
Can I stop going to my weekly Home Group knowing that Scripture says not to "forsake the assembling together?"
 
The one thing that continually nagged at me was the fact that I have felt for some time that God was calling me to write - not just this blog, but another book or maybe books - and I just never seem to have the time.  My writing is usually the last thing I do; it definitely takes a back seat for sure.  It is the last thing I do after everything else has been done.  It is the one thing I always think that I will do if and when I have the time.  It has been hard for me to come to terms with this calling.
 
Well - today was the lightbulb moment for me!!! 
 
All those things I've been involved in are definitely good things - but if God has not called me to them for this time in my life - they are not what I should be doing!!
 
I finally HEARD the Lord speak!! 
 
"...mine ears hast thou opened:"
Psalm 40:6b
 
And what relief floods my soul!!
 
I need to be doing only what God is asking me to do!  I need to make time in my life for what is IMPORTANT to Him and let go of the rest, even at the risk of being judged for doing it. 
 
You see, it's not hard to give up the things you don't want to do!  It's a no-brainer to let go of those things that are potentially harmful for you or things that are not producing fruit for the Kingdom. 
 
But it's the "good" things, the "spiritual" things that you can't imagine God asking you to let go of and it's hard to understand that you have to let go of the GOOD to get the BEST that God wants for you!
 
God wants me to give my BEST time, my BEST effort, my BEST energy to the writing He has called me to do, not the left-overs, and I can only do that if I let go of the GOOD things!
 
Can anyone identify with what I am saying?
 
Do you see any parallels in your own life?
 
Have you forsaken the BEST because of the GOOD?
 
Has your ear "plugged up" because you haven't been willing to HEAR what God is saying to you?
 
There are so many excuses I gave myself as to why I couldn't spend the time writing.
There are so many lies of the enemy that I listened to and believed to justify my not spending that time writing.
 
Are you making excuses or believing lies?
What has God spoken to you that you have not been willing to do? 
For whatever reason?
 
I thank the Lord that He is so patient and relentless in His pursuit to get our (my) attention!
 
 
 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

What Does It Mean to be A Christian?

I recently came upon this in my folder of memorable articles and in light of her death recently, I want to share this beautiful poem by Maya Angelou.
 
Beautiful Christian Sister
 
A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'"
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride,
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong,
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. .
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
 
When I say. . . "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!
 
 
I absolutely love this! 
 
Being a Christian doesn't mean I am immune to life's challenges and it certainly doesn't mean that I know and understand how to deal with all that comes my way.
It doesn't mean that I know all of God's ways or pretend to understand why
bad things happen to good people.
It doesn't mean that I always react in a godly way to all that I encounter on a daily basis.
It doesn't mean that I am perfect; far from it.
It doesn't mean that I always act in a way that honors God.
It doesn't mean that I always represent His character.
It doesn't mean that I never fail.
 
To me, being a Christian simply means that I am a sinner saved by grace and I recognize that. 
It means that I have someone who walks by my side through the hard times I experience.
Being a Christian means that when I don't understand, I choose to trust Him, knowing He is always good and I am always loved.
It means that when I fall, I am forgiven.
It means that when I am weak, He is strong in me.
It means that I don't have to depend on my own strength, I have His grace to draw on.
It means I don't have all the answers.
Most of the time, I don't even know the questions!!!

I thank God every day for His mercies!



 
 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Your Heart, The Garden

In keeping with the theme of gardening from Monday, preparation of your garden, from start to finish, is very important.

1 - Locate the site
        - find the best place for your garden, checking the pattern of the sun, how much shade the garden will get.  Mark it out (set it apart).

2 -  Dig up the sod
     - remove all existing growth from this site - grass, weeds, etc., things that were not necessarily cultivated but grew there wild.

3 -  Til the soil
     - break up the ground to make it ready to receive the seeds/plants that you will be planting.  Remove all rocks and weeds.

4 -  Mark out pathway
     - this will give the gardener access to all plants.

5 -  Fertilize the soil
     - prepare it for optimum growth; add nutrients and organic matter that are not naturally there so plants will have best chance for growth. 
     - set boundaries, lay landscape timbers, stones, whatever you've chosen.

6 - Plant seeds/plants
     - arrange them compatably so they compliment one another.
     - arrange them for optimum beauty as they grow.

7 -  Tend your garden
     - water, weed, prune, pick off/cut all dead fruit, keep watch for pests that will destroy the plant/
     - pick fruit.flowers for your enjoyment.

In the natural, the gardener is me and the garden is my flowers.
 
In the spirit, the gardener is the Lord and the garden is my heart.

Just as the gardener prepares the earth to respond to cultivation,
God prepares my heart to respond to Him.

Let God speak to you the spiritual meaning behind all of these natural steps.  Give Him your heart to prepare as His garden!
 
Let God do His gardening!

 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Garden

The Garden - A Modern Day Parable
 
The kingdom of heaven is like a garden tended by a very caring, very diligent gardener.  The garden is quite large, very beautiful and filled with many different kinds and varieties of plants.  When you see it from afar, it's a breathtaking sea of color, but up close you notice how different each plant is.  The gardener knows just what each plant needs to bring it to its' peak beauty and maturity.  He plants each plant in just the spot that pleases him taking into account each one's special soil, sun and growing requirements.  He knows there are some plants that truly don't like each other and won't grow well if planted near each other, so he's careful to plant them far apart.
 



 
Among the many plants in his garden is the portulaca.  The portulaca loves to grow in the heat of the day and will even thrive in very dry soil with lots of sun.  She will open her petals and give a glorious display of color, but will close up tight at the first sign of rain, cool weather or a gloomy day.
 
 
Impatiens, on the other hand, are extremely thirsty plants, thrive on lots of water and like to be sheltered from the hot sun.  They love the shade and cool, moist soil.  They even show off beautifully on a rainy day.

 
Morning glories love to climb high and will wrap themselves around whatever is near for support - a fence, lattice or even another plant.  It blooms in the morning and early afternoon hours and is often closed by mid-afternoon.  It's a spectacular flower and the gardener doesn't mind that it disappears before day is done.  It has no particular soil requirements and will bloom during shady times as well as sunny days.
 
Pansies are cool weather plants.  They thrive best and are at their most beautiful peak in early spring and then again in the fall when the temperature begins to drop.  They will wilt and not flower at the intense peak heat of summer.
 
 
 
Cosmos are beautiful, showy flowers and their delicate appearance may at first fool you.  They are indeed very hardy plants.  They grow tall and reach for the sun.  They are easy plants to grow and so very rewarding with minimal care.
 
Most kinds of mint - peppermint, spearmint, etc - will take over the garden if the gardener is not careful to confine it.  It's roots spread in all directions and it just keeps going and going.  It seems to thrive anywhere for anybody.  It's fragrance is wonderful, flowers small, and is usually more valued for it's leaves.
 
Lobelia is a very delicate flower and loves the cool weather.  The flowers are very small, but such a beautiful vibrant color.  She does well in a combination of part shade, part sun, but will often shrivel up under the extreme heat of summer.  She responds well to pruning and will probably make another show in late summer or early fall.

 
These are just a few of the types of flowers the gardener grows in his garden.  He knows how to tend his garden to bring each plant to its' greatest growing potential.  His loving touch causes each plant to thrive and he delights in the beauty of each individual one and the garden as a whole.
 
He is always observant and spots problems right away; he recognizes diseases and enemies and treats as necessary so the plants can continue to thrive and grow and bring him great pleasure.
 
At the end of the day, as the gardener walks through his garden, he takes such delight in the sights and smells of each plant.  His garden truly brings him great joy!
 

The gardener is the Master Gardener - our Lord - and we, the plants, are the work of His hands!  Each one of us has special needs and He knows how to meet those needs in such a personal way.  He loves and appreciates each "plant" for who He has created it to be.  He loves each of us just as we are!  He made us just as we are!  If God created you to be a pansy, WHY would you want to be a cosmos????  The gardener does not expect the portulaca to look like the impatiens.  And He doesn't expect the lobelia to thrive under the same conditions as the morning glories.  The joy He receives from each is unique to that particular "plant."  He loves each one for the particular attributes each one has.
 
"...we all are the work of thy hand."
Isaiah 64:8
 
"...for the Lord delighteth in thee."
Isaiah 62:4d
 
"The king's daughter is all glorious within...."
Psalm 45:13
 
 
"Shout for joy, daughter of Zion; shout Israel!  Be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, daughter of Jerusalem!  Jehovah has turned off your judgments; He has turned away your enemy.  Jehovah, the King of Israel is in your midst; you shall not fear evil any more.  In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Feat not!  Zion, do not let your hands droop.  Jehovah your God is mighty in your midst; He will save.  He will rejoice over you with joy; He is silent in His love.  He rejoices over you with a joyful shout."
Zephanian 3:14-17