Hope Springs Anew–And A Giveaway
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| Orange leaves unfurling |
Like a mother checking on her babes as they rest peacefully, I tiptoe out to the garden. Not wanting to disturb the hopes within me, I measure my steps to our injured, dormant citrus trees. Could there be any signs of growth, yet?
I peek through left over leaves and freeze-dried branches, gazing upon my “babies” as a mother pulls back the blanket to behold her sweet one’s angel face. There I find the hope and joy for which I have been searching.
Mini-sized green balls hold the new growth of unfurled leaves on the orange trees. Hope bursts anew that this tree will live. Whether we’ll see oranges next year or not until 2013 is still a question mark.
Then I turn to gaze at the lemon tree, or what is left of it. Dismay washes over me as I observe the brittle brown branches that once bore life.
I wish to see some hope of life, some streak of green amongst the brown. And then my eye sees the tender shoots of new growth rising from the stick-like branch.
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| New shoots on the lemon tree |
Just babies stretching to the sky, they call out hope, a future of produce, and new life. The Lord has blessed even when there was no fruit on the vines. He has touched the barren trees that they may yield crops once more. To God be the Glory.
“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Romans 11:17-18 NIV
We need to remember, Christ is the root and He supports us. He has grafted us in with His blood.
This week, I thank the Lord:
483) for renewing life in our citrus trees. I can hardly wait to fertilize them and deep water them
484) for having a whole day to myself in our quiet home
485) for the joy of a day spent blogging and answering comments. It warmed my heart.
486) for family getting over bronchitis
487) for order beginning to take shape in different rooms of our house, and for some cleaning getting
done
488) for a powerful teaching on compassion–the kind Jesus had
489) for drinking in God’s word and drawing near through Cynthia Heald’s Bible Study on
“Becoming A Woman Of simplicity.”
490) for a Friday evening of rest, a good book, and pizza
491) for watching our college basketball team become the Pac-10 champions–yes, Sports Center is
alive and well in our home
492) for my friend healing in all the ways that matter
493) for co-workers coming to my assistance when I needed a brief break from teaching
494) for finding new teaching tools and games to help my second-grade student learn with more
enthusiasm
495) for being able to grocery shop on the “Big Sale” day and save a bundle
496) for the application for my passport going smoothly
497) for a morning to sleep in
498) for warm coffee on cool mornings and cool breezes on warm days–all within one week
499) for sunsets and clouds, for music and notes from friends, for pictures of the family in California
500) FOR ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING–time to celebrate. And halfway to a thousand gratitudes.
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In celebration of this milestone, I will be giving away one copy of Anne Voskamp’s new book, One Thousand Gifts.
Everyone who comments in the next week from Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13 or becomes a new follower will be entered in the drawing. Thank you to all who have encouraged me along the way with your comments and suggestions. You, and the Lord, have kept me going on this project. May He be glorified and work in and through me to bless my readers.
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so thankful for the blessing of this year that you have shared with us …
You have a lemon tree? I am so jealous :). What a blessing that is! And what a wonderful gratitude list. Thank you for opening my heart today, Janis.
I wish i had a lemon tree too! lol.. too cool!
Great post janis, i’m always blessed when i visit here!
Susan~You have blessed me
Laura~ Maybe I can send you some lemons next year
Amydeanne~Having a lemon tree gives you lemonade year round!
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Congrats on one year!!
How I loved seeing those little shoots springing forth! And what a great message you brought. How thankful I am for the Root who supports me, and gives me Life!!
GOD BLESS!
Visiting from the Multitude Monday link up! Beautiful list today!
Janis thank you for coming by and introducing yoruself from Playdates with God.
It is late and I am going to come back over and read. But what I have read is beatiful. Love the grateful list. I use to do one in a daily journal it has been a long time.
Seen them on a few otehr blogs a swell. I may jsut have to jump on the band wagon the grateful list how awesome to think about all the wonderful gifts we are blessed with everyday.
Blessings
You have a beautiful blog. The words of your heart and the images you capture are a beautiful reflection of the Creator. I’m a new follower 😉
Like Jenny I am relatively new, but I look forward to receicing your post by email as your photos are a poem in themselves, and your way with words is so sweet and gentle. Even comments you post on blogs has my heart singing and amen.
I pray God blesses you abundantly as you enter your second year of ministering to an ever widening audience,and I pray that you will often receive encouragement yourself, as you so freely give it out to all of us.
This is a Blog og Blessing, and I thankyou for al you do to make it such a pleasant visit. Well done- and keep up the good work~!
With loving appreciation,marygems
I can certainly rejoice with you at the signs of life in your trees. I really thought I lost my kiwi and figs, but the leaves are pushing out once again here, too! There’s just something about seeing that, isn’t there? I just lifted my head and said, “Thank you Lord!”
I compared it to how many times I was so frozen in heart and dead in spirit! The warmth of the Son does miracles!!!
it’s a post of hope when i’m buried in mntns of snow and -30 temps!
thx for sharing good news “)
Hi Janis , reading your blog is a blessing to me .
Please enter me in the give away . I am a new follower , also .
Blessings,
~Myrna