Running Over and Poured Into Your Lap

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.””‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ Frost was predicted. It was time. To pick grapes, that is. With frost comes damage

A Little on the Ugly Side

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”‭‭John‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭ See this raspberry plant? (Not the fruit. We’ll get to the fruit later.) It’s not looking too good. I mean,

Pulling Up Poppies

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:27-30‬ ‭ It wasn’t

Not Finished Yet

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ Ding-dilly-ding-bling-a-blingy-blingy-ding! Or some such. (Cue dryer cycle grand finale ring tone.) So of course I expected dry clothes. Nope. Not even close. Odd. I checked the clock. More oddities. It was only maybe 15 minutes since

Live as People of Light

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ She’s looking rather – brilliant, isn’t she? Glowing, one might say. She’s got that something extra, that joie de vie, that sense of being lit from within. It rather makes one’s breath

V.I.P. Access

“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭ We were approaching the door, and were already reaching for them. The maître d’ would surely be asking, and since we were hungry, we were willing to oblige. Our Identification and

The Fungus Phenomenon

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭ Odd. Distinctly odd. It’s been terribly dry this summer. I set up a sprinkler to water a patch of grass, to keep

Fasciation Factor

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭ Do you notice anything? Look closer. A little closer… See it? A fasciated flower! (Don’t look at me so blankly. Y’all know I’m getting to the explanation.) This plant is a spike

Pretty Little Thieves

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”‭‭John‬ ‭15:8‬ ‭ Ah, strawberries. There’s nothing like walking out to the garden and picking a pailful of juicy, sun warmed berries and literally enjoying the fruits of my labour. It’s one of the lovely perks of having a

The Great I Spy

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:3‬ ‭ Who doesn’t love a magnifying glass? I mean, they’re fun, right? They make you feel like Sherlock Holmes looking for clues. They help you see things better by bringing them in closer. Indeed, they make things look bigger. They make