Love is..

Love is a four-lettered word. Granted it is the most sought after word displaying the basic of all human needs. But it has become, like other four-lettered words, a warped expression of the depravity found in humanity. This word has been abused, overused, misused, and prostituted as the enemy of the Author of Love tries to negate this word's greatest purpose. So what does all the "fluff" mean? Simply that to understand and experience Love, you must know its Author...God, our Heavenly Father, Who has created all things. God, who has loved His creation and given His Blood for its life. God, in the form of Jesus, who has sacrificed that we might know Love. Yes, this four-lettered word has become the battlefield where God proves Himself. True Love cannot be denied. True Love cannot be broken and True Love cannot be counterfeited. And our command....to Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind that we might be one with Him.

Get Set

These are three of my Grandson's favorite words. He is always ready and on the go. As I think many of us are. Ready to jump into something that is over our heads....ready to butt in and give our opinions...ready to run away when called to complete something that seems impossible...ready to run when conflict raises its ugly head. Yes we are ready and often on the go but God calls us to be "set" too. "Ready" reminds us that God wants a willing heart open to His calling. We are to respond with joy and enthusiasm. "Set" means to be seasoned through His Word and equipped by His Mercy and Grace. Then, and only then, are we truly able to "Go". This Christ-like walk is no child's play! And it is not for the fainthearted. But, it is the grandest walk we will ever be part of and God promises to be right there with us! So, Christians, Start your engines! Are you out there?....write me.

Worship

Merry Christmas to all!!! For many this is a season when hearts turn towards the birth of the baby that changed the world. For others, it is the only time their hearts are tender and opened. Still, for some it is a time of worry and chaos. So how do we live victoriously in the midst of such diversity? Do we sing carols, pass out cookies and trust that the message of Christmas is revealed? I'm all for singing and cookies, but we need to show our love for God everyday...all the time...to everyone. Wow! How do we do that? Through worship! The Word tells us that we are to be living sacrifices....examples to all mankind. We do this by our worship. Not a song, not a church service...but by living the way Jesus lived, holy and acceptable to God. Our lives are a worship to Him. This Christmas decide to find fun and unusual ways to share your faith. Let people in on "the secret". Use your Christian t-shirts to worship. Use your voice to worship. Use your joy and inner peace as a worship to the Most High. People will see and believe. Be a living sacrifice for God! Be sure to visit GardenFire.net and tell me what you're thinking. Share your worship with us and let's start a "Fire in our Gardens!!"

Romans 5:8

As in any garden, there are weeds that hide in the midst of beautiful flowers. Sometimes the weeds are not hidden. In fact, they pass themselves off as cultured flowers sporting bright colors and enticing foliage. But do not be deceived...they are weeds just the same and must be plucked from the garden lest they overtake the more delicate flowers and choke the beauties that the gardener has so carefully selected and toiled over. So it is in life. We are the fertile soil that God tills and in which He plants the word of truth. He waters and nurtures our soil day and night. We are also the home for weeds that take root and soon try to overtake the truth that God has planted. But do not be discouraged or forlorn. God, the Greatest Gardener, has a plan. Romans tells us that all of us have sinned. We all are not worthy and wickedly turn to our own understanding. God, the Merciful, having seen that we would loose our way, sent Jesus to the rescue. Jesus would die for us so that the evil root could be weeded out of us and make us God-worthy once again. The cross is a symbol of death , sacrifice, and sin. But Jesus' love for us makes the cross bloom with hope, salvation, and a promise of forgiveness. Wear this flowered cross as a reminder of the ever growing love of God that reaches out to us all. Are you out there? Write me........

More Faith

I am reminded of a line from a Second Chapter of Acts song which states "taking the easy way isn't an easy way". It takes so much effort to live a lie and more strength to convince others to follow the lie. Yet, we do it day in and day out. The scripture tells us that we think ourselves wise. We have created our own story of creation and have deemed ourselves all powerful so that we are accountable to none. Don't you find it hard to believe that "chance "is to be given credit for all life and the universe? No, it is not hard to believe in God. From a simple butterfly wing to the mighty oceans to the expanse of the galaxies to the tenderness of a child's embrace...yes I believe in God. I see Him everywhere and marvel at His creation. I feel Him in joy and despair. I hear His voice in the silence and in the noise. I sense Him each day that dawns. I cannot believe a world without God. It is harder to believe that humanity began without a Great Maker. If I am wrong I lose nothing. If the unbeliever is wrong he or she loses everything!

Forever Peace

Every generation has cried for peace yet, I cannot think of a time in history where there was peace. There have been reminders that it exists, but we, as a human race, have never experienced complete and absolute peace. Can you imagine? No pain...no sorrow...no death...no shame...no fear...no regrets...no despair. Psalm 29:11 tells us that first, God gives us strength and then He blesses us with peace. "My peace I give to thee..." the scriptures tell us. These words were spoken by Jesus who knew no peace on this earth. Yet, as we abide in Him, He gives perfect peace for He takes our pain, our shame, our death, our sorrow, our fear, our despair on Himself that we might have everlasting life and peace through Him. What great love! God gives us strength to bear all things that He might bless us with His peace...forever! Feeling loved? Feeling peaceful? Tell me about it...anybody out there?

99

I can remember being "the one" in this equation and I did not think of myself as greater than ninety-nine. Yet in His mercy, God saw fit to put my well-being ahead of His flock... to find me and bring me back. This brought great wonderment and, yes, confusion to me. I couldn't understand why He cared so much. I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that the God of the Universe knew who I was and would come after me. Now I'm a "ninety-niner" and have never felt abandoned by God when He looks for the others. Us "ninety-niners" are content. We have all we need and could ever want in God. Our family grows and we grow with it. Are you a "one" or a "ninety-nine"? Either way...you are loved and blessed! Are you out there? Write me.....

Forgiveness

I've never deeply loved someone whom I've never met. I've never given love with abandonment to anyone without believing that somehow it would be returned in some measure. This is human love. Yet, the Creator of the Universe loves me beyond my understanding. He has called me to Himself and sent His Son to ransom me from darkness. Why? Because He has found worth in me? Because His happiness revolves around what my next move might be? Of course, the answer is a very loud "NO!!" to each of these questions. God loves for the pure joy of loving in all its richness and grace. He forgives utterly. When God's love and forgiveness walk together, there is no one who can hid from His Face. There is no one who need ever be alone or in sin or in pain or in the clutches of eternal damnation. God's love is so complete it can permeate any crevice...any depth...any darkness. God's love is free to all for the asking. And for those of us who have accepted His call, we are commanded to forgive as He does. This forgiveness runs in our blood as well for we have been adopted into God's Family. By taking Jesus' Blood as payment for our sins, we take on the yoke of Jesus as well. We must forgive as He forgives. We are compelled to love as He loves. We are commissioned to live as He lives...with abandonment and holiness. Anybody out there? Write and tell me what you're thinking

One Road

This is one of my favorite T-shirts because it always hits me blindside and causes me to reflect on the road I travel. I've traveled the "fame" road, the "get-ahead" road, the "poor me" road and, of course, the "what-about-me" road. Along the way I have had some bumps and some breakdowns. I've also had some successes and thrills. But the roads did not take me to a place of peace. Lately, I have been traveling the roads of "grieving and change." The truth is, only one road really does lead to peace and truth. That road is Jesus. Is everything in my life simple? No, life isn't simple! Do I have any answers to my problems? No, but I know who does...Jesus. So, I choose to walk on His road and cling to His hand as He leads me. Wear this shirt as a declaration that God is the Sustainer and the Constant in your life and that He is your road! Write me and let me know how you're doing...

Going Green

Been thinking about how the world is so "green" aware now when all along we've ignored the consequences of our actions. Then I remember that only God can truely set things straight and how we should be agents of His desires and will. I would never go to someone's house and trash it. So why do we go to our own God-created "house" Earth and trash this gift that all of life calls home? Back to the message on the shirt...if you love God, then you will care for all that He has done...all that He loves...all that He created. Anyone out there? Write me back....

Going Green

Shouldn't we all be striving to go green? Green is symbollic for life eternal ergo, as Christians, we go "green" as soon as we accept Jesus as our Savior. I am often reminded that Adam and Eve were commissioned to "Take dominion over all the Earth". Interesting word...domminion...does it mean to protect and care for with respect and understanding? Or does it mean to beat the life out of whatever is in our path making sure that we think of nothing but ourselves? I believe God meant for us to take care of His Creation in all its forms. Love the Earth and Love the Creator...but worship only the Creator!! Anybody listening? Write me back....

Spring 2009 Designs