Author: Carol Purves

My Garden Birds

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Each morning I wake to the chirping of the dawn chorus and at this time of year by the end of the day the birds are again singing before they and I sleep. I don’t know the names of all the different birds but that isn’t necessary to enjoy their song. I do know that they are different types of birds from the ones who were in my last garden, which I presume is because of the large trees I now have around about. I listen and watch as they scrabble and squabble for the food I put out for them and as they peck at the lawn. Some wash themselves in the small bowl of water I have put out for them to drink, while others just walk straight through it and over it. There is a lot of activity just now because it is nesting time.

I don’t get many unusual birds and my robin has only visited once. They seem timid birds and wary of anything new. The pigeons are the most numerous and seem to have a character of their own. One is very aggressive and bullies others away from the food, even if he doesn’t want it himself. Or maybe it is a ‘she’!

When I went away for a few days I left out extra food but I know my neighbour over the way feeds the birds excessively so they didn’t go hungry. He gets the rarer birds and sometimes I sit in his garden and watch them. I know I can’t save the whole bird population on my own, but I do my little bit.

Parking Problems.

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On a visit to a popular tourist destination on a sunny afternoon in May, expecting to find a parking place was very optimistic. Too optimistic! In our car we spent nearly half an hour looking. Each of us had suggestions for a different car park or less well-known spot. All proved negative. About thirty minutes later we found a place but were limited to two hours. After the two hours we moved the car and spent more time trying to find a parking place again.

Our parking place in heaven will not be like that. In the first place our destination is already reserved. The place is ready for us and we are welcome, whenever the time comes for us to go to our heavenly car park. Nor will be limited to two hours or any amount of time. We are there for ever and ever. A concept which is so difficult to imagine. We will be welcome and accepted.

Bread

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‘I am the Bread of Life.’ John 6:35

I have a slight intolerance to bread but it is so slight that i haven’t bothered to find out which ingredient it is that upsets my stomach. But it has made me realise how much we rely on bread in our lives and how many of our meals include bread in one form or another.

In the Bible we often read how bread or its equivalent is interwoven into the structure of people’s lives. In the desert the Israelites cried out for bread until God miraculously gave them manna. This manna sustained them for nearly forty years until they reached the Promised Land. Jesus included the need for bread in His model prayer ”Give us this day our daily bread.’ I imagine this refers to everything involving all our daily needs. It is a phrase that is prayed by millions of Christians all over the world every day.

In the miracles of the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 Jesus provides for the needs of all the hungry masses. Whenever we take communion we are obeying God’s command to us when in obedience we take the bread and the wine. ‘Take it. this is my body.’ Mark 14:22. In taking this bread and wine we are remembering Him. Jesus then tells us He is the bread of life. Everything we need in every way is supplied by Him. With Him there is no want. We need earthly bread to feed an empty stomach for a while, but how much more do we need heavenly bread which feeds our hungry souls for eternity.

Naaman

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‘Bands from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel and she served Naaman’s wife.’ 2 Kings 5:2. This unnamed girl is recorded as such an insignificant person. She was only a young girl and was a slave in a foreign country. It could be thought if we didn’t know our God and had then been able to read the story in the Bible that she was of no significance at all.

But a different country, the life of a slave,and probably apart from her family did not stop her being used by God. When she heard that her mistress’s husband had leprosy she was pleased to say that her God could heal him. By speaking out, the wheels were set in motion. Naaman was allowed to go to Israel to seek healing, which after a few false moves he obtained. Naaman was cured and all because of a small servant girl who had a faith and the courage to speak out..

Do we sometimes feel insignificant? Do we believe that we can’t say anything of worth and be used by God? I’m so pleased that often we don’t know the impact we’ve had on another person by speaking out. By knowing we might become proud. Maybe in heaven, it will be revealed to us, when we can’t be spoiled by pride.

A Changing Garden

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I must share with you the joy that my garden gives me. As some of my followers will know, I came into possession of my small garden last September. At that time it consisted of a very poor quality lawn and border paths of shillies (stones). There was no soil I could plant anything into. Since then with a little help but mostly on my own I have started to make changes.

The shillies have nearly all been taken away. (I had plenty of help with that.) Bit by bit I have replaced them with soil and then topped it up with bark; I don’t want to spend all my time weeding. I’ve planted the few plants I brought with me and bought a few annuals. Annuals are hard work as they only last one year, but they do give instant colour. I bought nine or ten shrubs and will get more benefit of them next year.

May is such a wonderful month, it is when everything is coming to life. I’ve decided to have a No Mow May, but more about that later. Every time I go out into my garden, once or twice a day, I think I can see a slight difference, a new bud has appeared here or a few more leaves are on a shrub there. Self-seeded plants are beginning to grow and every few weeks I record the progress with a photo.

I feel so blessed to have this garden and I watch the improvements and changes that God makes. I am happy to be part of His work.

God’s Might and Power

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As I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a form of M.E. I often feel completely exhausted. I have to rest when I would rather be up and doing. Sometimes I miss or need to cancel engagements and don’t do the fun things I would like to do. If I choose to ignore the warming signs I pay for it with a longer time in bed.

In spite of this I have a thankfulness, there is so much to be thankful for. With this condition I do not suffer any pain, just this tremendous weariness. My forced time of resting prevents me from having ‘burn out’, all blessings. All actions needs to be purposeful as every minute is precious. There is more time to be with God and read my Bible. Though on many occasions i fall asleep, God understands and is with me. He gives me a compassion for others. Although it may sound strange, there are blessings in this condition and it is all in God’s plan for my life.

A People Day

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At the end of yesterday I was exhausted as I had been interacting with people all day. The morning was spent having a coffee with one of my previous neighbours. It proved to be a most enjoyable time. Then in the afternoon I joined in with a social activity where I now live and then went to visit a neighbour who has just moved in. During the evening when I hoped to relax, a friend kindly brought round some plants for my new garden, out of the blue an old college friend phoned and another phoned who needed to relay some urgent news to me. I belatedly phoned a single mother I knew, who had been struggling.

In every encounter I felt I had acted within God’s will. It was His plan that I should have all these encounters. Some conversation had been on Christian matters, some had not. I hoped that each contact had been of a positive nature for every individual. I went to bed tired but having a feeling that I had acted within His guidance.

My day made me think about Jesus, dozens of people claimed His attention every day. I know He was divine but He was also human. No wonder He had at times to get away from people and His responsibilities and just be with His Father. I want to thank God that He has put so many people in my life who want to spend time with me, even though, or because, I am a Christian.

Draw Near

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‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’ James 4:8

Along with all the prophets, Elijah led a prayer-filled life. In 1 Kings 17 we read of him in conversation with God as he proclaims ‘In the name of the Lord, the living God of Israel , whom I serve,’ as he tells Ahab there will be no rain for two or three years. He then obeyed the Lord’s command and went to the brook of Cherith. He was still communicating with God when he went to the town of Zarephath. Elijah had great wisdom but not enough power to survive the drought. He needed to talk to God about it.

In the following chapters we read of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal. Those prophets had power but nothing compared to Elijah’s God and it was on this God that Elijah depended. Verse after verse we read of him talking to God. Then in further chapters we read of him fleeing from Ahab and hiding in the wilderness. It is there that God comes to him in the form of a still small voice

Heavenly communication is not broken for this prophet of God. Today we have our own Ahab and prophets of Baal to contend with. God is still willing and anxious to be in communication with us. We only need to be willing ourselves.

How Do We Build?

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‘Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay or straw, each one’s work will become manifest, his work will be shown for what it is. 1 Corinthians 3:12

It is not always remembered today how much of our society has been founded on Christian principles. Many institutions which are still active today have been started by Christians. Christian principles were at the beginnings of nursing and medical practices with Florence Nightingale, who because she was a Christian wanted to improve the condition of those who were sick. We can think of William Booth who was moved by the plight of the poor in the East End of London. He dedicated his life to improving their lot and finally founded the Salvation Army.

Christren’s homes were started by people like George Muller who appalled by the conditions of the orphaned children in Bristol opened four large orphanages to cope with the problem. They were funded by faith alone. Many other Christian orphanages followed suite.

Gold, silver, or precious stone, hay, wood or hay, I wonder what building materials have we been using in our own lives. Have we relied on our own resources or have we relied on God? In our own strength our good works are worthless.

Strength

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‘The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and He helps me.’ Psalm 28:7

From what we learn from the Bible, King David was a strong upright warrior. His body had been honed on the fields of Bethlehem as He cared for his father’s sheep. Shepherding was no job for a wimp. Although he defeated Goliath by the might of God and not solely his own strength, he was growing from a lad to a strong man. As a king in those days he would have needed his physical might to overcome his many enemies. Then his years of constant flight would again have called on his physical resources.

Throughout all his problems we learn from numerous psalms that he didn’t rely on his own power, he continually called out to God for strength. He knew it wasn’t his might, he got this prowess from God who was a ‘very present help in time of trouble.’