It’s been a month of conifer delight, and no better way to finish off Isaiah’s Evergreens than to plant pines: [The wood-carver] cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a […]
Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us […]
Today our orchard walk takes us through a figurative journey, with fruit-filled, real-orchard images to accompany us along the way. PaRDeS is an acrostic—spelling the Hebrew word for orchard—which depicts a method of Jewish Biblical interpretation that presumes multiple layers of meaning to exist in the phrases and paragraphs, the expression and recounting of Scripture. Touches […]
In fall gardens, mustards are a must! These leafy greens will become a beloved part of your vegetable garden, sprouting quickly in the cooler fall weather, lingering though mild winters or under colder climate row covers, and seeing you through to a spring flourish. There are several ways to enjoy this plant in your garden-to-table […]
I hope the story never gets old—that astonishing embrace, the father’s widely enfolding welcome to his returning son. Destitute and down-and-out, yet mindful of his father’s decency, the son returns to his father’s estate in hopes of taking a small place among those who care for his land. There, the son determines to be grateful […]
Garden tools serve as handy metaphors for the disciplines of the faith. Just as tools help cultivate a garden, faith disciplines help us nurture a relationship with God. Though often they amplify the heart cry for God to fix things! Likewise, today’s featured tools help highlight and reinforce the cultivating, nurturing, coaxing, waiting, tending nature […]
Garden “volunteers” is a term with two meanings. Surely, we are fortunate when others volunteer to help us with our work in the garden! However, horticulture holds its own unique definition, describing with quaint expression a subtle yet delightful discovery: seeds lingering from last year’s annuals sprouting and growing all on their own, poised to […]
We are at the last, dear gardeners—the last of Lent and the day commemorating the Last Supper. Likewise, what is the last “flower of the field” to bloom in the succession of red wildflowers in Israel? Poppies! Papaver rhoeas, the common poppy, flourishes at the end of the Holy Land’s brief, brilliant, springtime bloom, in […]
Does anything draw in quite like the daffodil—to all that is bright to behold? Their little trumpets seem to loudly proclaim spring joy and the sweet relief of flowers returning to the earth. Bursting sunshine in a flower, flourishing hopes of all sorts…All hail, in this week of Happy Spring, daffodil’s bold appeal to be […]
Easter lilies are filling up florists and grocers’ floral departments, in anticipation of the glorious celebration ahead! May we take their trumpet shape as a megaphone to our hearts: Listen! Listen to the still, steadfast voice, the Lord’s leading us in his blessing and direction: “Are you listening, dear people? Psalm 50:7 The Message Just […]
