Tending the Garden

Today, after getting my daughter to my mom’s house for “grandma time”, I tended the garden. I picked the last of the cherry tomatoes, trimmed the lantana bushes, pulled out weeds and grass, watered everything, etc. I know thatif I let it go and did not prune the branches, the plants would not survive, they would destroy each other and bear no fruit. After the tending, the garden looks great and is much more effective and beautiful now.

God prunes us sometimes too. We are His beautiful work and we are made better by pruning off dead branches and trimming off defective or ineffectual parts of us that we just keep stupidly feeding. It is necessary. Always be thankful for such lessons because when finished, God looks at you with love in His eye (as I did with my garden) and said, “Much better, so beautiful!”😄❤

A week Into September Already

Time flies. It used to only fly when you’re having fun but lately, it just flies no matter what. It is like everything is picking up its pace. All except one thing… the stillness of the nature God made when I am out in the country. I have been longing to be out in the country. I have wanted to be still with the Lord amidst His creation, feel His breath on me, just hang out and listen. I have wanted to talk less and liste more. I have wanted to just enjoy His creation, enjoy my kids, enjoy moments and remember them. And I pause. I schedule pauses. I embrace them instead of packing something else in. Ad I noticed that this practice causes me to be much more effective and efficient when doing my may tasks I still have to do. I am a better person. I am at peace, relaxed, joyful and content. I take things in stride as they come instead of forcing things. Inly eternal things matter and being still in God’s creation reminds me of that. Beautiful!😄❤

Who We Are (Deep Stuff)

My husband and I just had a deep conversation (not unusual). We were discussing who we as human beings are, what we are made of, and what changes in our life. And here is our discussion and thoughts summed up. Here goes:

We (people) are comprised of these parts, in this order:

1. Physical body

2. Our mentality and thought processes.

3. Our soul.

4. Our spirit.

When we are born and as long as we remain immature, we stick with thr physical selves, which can be selfish and always is taking care of staying alive and wants and needs. As we grow and hopefully mature in life, we develop and give prominence and power to the mentality, a higher function which considers others around us also and consequences, memories, etc. Then as we further mature and develop, we give prominence and power to our soul, where we have a greater idea of who God made us to be and our connectedness to the spirit, with built in personal identity in the bigger picture of God’s kingdom. And the highest goal of maturity and growth and development is to give prominence and power to the spirit in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit/Source of Goodness and Love.

We can screw this up by opening the spirit to evil spirits inadvertently and ignorantly (or willingly) via the physical or mentality. We can and so screw it up by remaining immature.

How do we shift to the goal of spiritual prominence and connectedness to the Holy Spirit/Good/Love? We read the Bible and pray and start to incorporate its values into our lives until we can be humble enough to let God transform us and shift us to this new form. And when it happens, it is beautiful.😄❤

Piano Passion

When I was younger, the Lord, art, and nature were my great passions. Not much has changed except that awkward 20-year phase where men snuck into that mix. I love my family now, adore my children, but more rare-for-this-season moments of passion still center around the Lord, art, nature and music.

I love playing the piano. To me, piano playing is my strongest outlet of all these passions. When I play, no matter what it is, it somehow takes me outside to nature in my mind and soul. It is an expression of art and a release of passion welling up. And of course the ability to play well and with this passion is without question a generous gift from God. He saw fit to put the piano into my dna.

I hear nonsense that anyone can learn to play the piano passionately. Anyone can learn to push the keys down, can learn timbre, methods, theory, timing, sustain pedal, etc. Yes, you can diligently study those things and apply them with professionalism. But the passion part, the art, the creativity, the mastery can only happen with God’s touch. There is no doubt in my mind.

Any craftsman and amazing artist is inspired by God, gifted by Him. This is true for any craft.

Because God is the ultimate Master of every craft.❤