I come to the Garden Alone

Hebrews6:9:But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
10: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
11: And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12:so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Today was Memorial Day. I thought our town ceremony started at 10 this morning, but I heard the gun salute at 9:30 in the park, so I sort of missed it this year. I did watch the National program last night on WQLN which was held in Washington D.C. It was very heartwarming as in between songs they shared stories of families with injured war vets and also stories of people who had family members who have been killed in wars.

The rest of the day today, I spent working in the church gardens. I am so thankful to my church family that they allow me to use my gift of landscaping and that they fully trust me to accomplish this huge task. I break it up in phases so it doesn't seem overbearing. I am almost to the final stage now, which is the part I enjoy the most. Arranging where the plants will be placed and what kinds to purchase. I also put the bird feeder and the bird bath out today. There have been several birds investigating, but they still are a little timid to actually eat out of the feeder yet. Last year someone had a cat in the neighborhood who would attack the birds as they came to eat. Last fall that black cat was hit by a car. So he will not be a problem anymore. I also took time to set up the water fountain in front of Pastor Cliff's window. On sunny days he enjoys opening his window and listening to the water as it flows down to each of the ceramic bowls and put that together with the voices of the various birds singing, it is so calming to rest in the beauty of God's creation. This coming Saturday we will be having our first wedding ceremony of the summer, so I am hoping to have the majority of the work finished. When your hobby is landscaping, you will understand that the work is never totally finished, but when you love it and you do it as unto the Lord, it is such a joy to yourself and others. Now I know how a painter feels when he starts out with a blank picture, and he gets to choose what colors and what designs he will use to develop a portrait that only he will know what the final result will be.

One of the things I most enjoy about doing the outside work here, is that I get to minister to people as they stop to talk and share things with me and I get to pray with them, and sometimes they end up coming here. Today I was talking to a friend of mine named Garret who is a Catholic, but he says he really doesn't always enjoy or understand what is going on with the service there. He is taking care of an older man who is the father of his landlord and this older man would like to come to church, but has trouble with stairs, so Garret said they might come next Sunday. As I have been putting much time in getting the church property prepared for the summer it reminded me of this scripture. As I am being diligent and persevering in this work, may I also have the same desire and diligence to accomplish Christ's work which directs us to the hope we have stored up for us later and actually beginning from the time we accepted Christ and that hope is eternal life. Let me not become sluggish, but continue to exercise my faith and help me to stay patient with myself and others, for in due time, I will receive that which was promised, not only for me, but for others who also put their trust in the redeemer