The Autumn Equinox signaling the end of summer is less than one week away. And I have one more summer story to share with you. It evolved all summer, a new chapter every few weeks.

We live in Colorado and that means Memorial Day signifies the time to plant annuals that beautify our deck each summer. So late May we donned our masks and headed to the garden stores. Color, height, texture, and our favorites all contribute to our flower decisions.

Back home I arrange, re-arrange, decide, and transplant. This year’s finished product.

 

 

 

Flowers are resilient and can often withstand the elements that Colorado dishes out … yes, even in June! This one day (picture on the left below) snow bent their heads to the ground. But when the snow evaporated, my flowers once again stood tall.

We headed to our cabin for a week. And sadness upon sadness, while we were gone a major hail storm rolled in and decimated the beauty I so enjoyed. (middle picture above)

When I shared my disappointment with my husband, he suggested, “Give them a little fertilizer, maybe they’ll come back. With VERY LITTLE hope (oh, how human I am), I fertilized them. And amazingly (to me) the flowers once again came to life displaying their abundant beauty.

We left again for our cabin for ten days. This time, a bit wiser. I pulled our deck table over the flowers for protection (picture on the right above). I didn’t want to risk another hail storm. Yup, that could happen in Colorado even in July.

Again, back home to re-stock, a profusion of beauty welcomed me. I was overwhelmed, amazed and profoundly thankful for the work of our Creator with the help of a bit of fertilizer.

The plants …
chosen,
cared for,
fertilized,
and protected, led to abundance.

I identify. Do you?

As a chosen child of God, I too can experience abundant beauty as I care for, fertilize, and protect who God created me to be. This was the gift of our Sanctuary this summer. It provided the setting. I’m learning.

Rest isn’t something I only need when I’m tired;
rest is a spiritual discipline I need to practice every day.

The solitude and quietness of the Wet Mountains helped me re-discover the joy and the need of connecting daily with my Creator. It is the daily pause of re-visiting and remembering God’s love for me.

My fertilizer came from an unexpected source–a series of novels some friends pointed me to. I mentioned them last week (scroll down if you missed it). They are easy reads showcasing God’s ability to grow us. In the midst of the stories, the author shares actual spiritual practices that God used in transforming the main characters.

Like the plan of moving the table over my flowers, my plan of intentionally meeting with God was my protection.

Jean Fleming, one of the older women in my life wisely asked me about a year ago, “Sue, where are you, what are you doing when you’re most apt to hear the voice of God? Is it time in the Word, a walk in the woods, listening to Christian music?” Yes, yes, and yes. But the bottom line is the plan.

“I want to show you how God works in you life …
and what you can do to cooperate with Him …
You’ll be surprised to discover how much God wants abundance for you.
Bruce Wilkinson

“I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me, you can do nothing.”
John 15:5

 

 

Once again under the protection of our table. You just got to be flexible when you live in Colorado. My wardrobe was summer on Monday and winter on Tuesday. LOL! But my shorts will be back in style; winter will again revert to summer; my plants will be uncovered.

What protections do you put on your time with God? Let’s help each other.

 

Hmmmm, those delicate summer blooms did not survive last week’s snow. Updated picture to the right. I’m appreciating their gift of autumn beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

Coming next Thursday, a wonderful story of the ministry of friendship.

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2020