God Provides More then Enough!

I love God's character. He is not a just enough, or almost enough, kind of God. He is over the top, flowing over, more then what we ask for. He surprises us. When we are going through a time of trial, struggle, or not enough, we need to hang on and trust Him. Let our heart depend on Him more fully to develop our faith, trust, and character. His promises are always true; more true then what we are experiencing. More true then what we see with our eyes. Trust the Lord, and watch Him do more with your life and your family then what you could have imagined. I know He has done that for me in so many ways and He is continuing to do that. I believe and put my trust in Him no matter what is going on in the world.

"Come to Me" Painting by Chelsea Carbonell

Contact me on Etsy.com for information about prints of this painting.

"The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil."Joel 2:24 NIV
"I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26 NIV
"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." 2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 NIV
"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20 NLT

Search the Bible at Biblos.com

Back to Eden Film

I just watched the Back to Eden Film last night and it was so good and interesting! I loved how the gardener, Paul, prays about his garden and hears from the God of the Universe. His story reminds me of George Washington Carver.
He had some great gardening tips on there that really make sense, and are mirrored more after nature then traditional gardening/farming techniques. His techniques save water, time and energy, and lead to healthier plants. It is not all new. I have read somewhat similar ideas in organic gardening magazines, but he takes it to a higher level and aligns his gardening with God's Word. He also talks about having a generous spirit and the health giving properties of home-grown organic produce.
I loved that it was free to watch online at http://backtoedenfilm.com/.
It is a must see for any gardener, whether your garden is a small backyard one like mine or you have a farm.
Here are a few photos from my garden taken this week. I live in the Pacific Northwest so our growing season is shorter then most- but I love to make the most of it!

Short season corn

Spinach and chard

poppies from seed from a neighbor

tomatoes

potatoes, and herbs and lettuce behind

zucchini

Here Comes the Sun

here comes the sun. . . do do do do. . . here comes the sun and I say, its all right. . . .

The sunflower in my garden today made me want to start singing the most wonderful Beatles song ever: Here Comes the Sun. This brave sunflower was starting to bloom on a day with rain and thunderstorms. I hope my attitude can be as strong and joyful as this through trials.

"Always be joyful." 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Imprisoned in Iran

I was amazed watching the story Dan Baumann, a missionary who was on a tourist trip to Iran when he was arrested with a friend while trying to leave the country. He was beaten, tortured, and repeatedly interrogated. He came to the place of complete despair in the prison cell and tried to kill himself. In that place of hopelessness, he had a face to face vision with Jesus. After this Dan regains hope and forgives his prison guards and even be-friends the one who beat him the most! The end of the story is so amazing and inspiring. I won't give it all away- go see it here.

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25
"Imprisoned in Iran" story can be found here on CBN news in video and written format.

Prayer for the Nations

Today I was led to pray some Psalms out loud- Psalm 116-118. Psalm 117 is one I prayed over many nations just by changing the word "nations" to "USA, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Moldova, Indonesia, Guatemala,. Haiti." It is a simple but powerful prayer from the Word of God.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 117

Your will be done and Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, LORD.

 Psalm 4:6

Love All

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. "

1 John 4:7

Don't Be Afraid: A Lesson from a Lost Dog

I was talking with a friend today who is dealing with health issues and she was feeling afraid and discouraged. After praying together, she told me a story. Her dog had ran away when the dog was with her husband at his work. She drove over there having no idea where to look, but she just prayed for God to help her. The first house she knocked at, the person had not seen the dog, but they had just been to a national website where people can post lost dogs and noticed that a dog fitting her description had just been posted in her area. The person looked up the post and sure enough it was my friend's dog and she was able to go get the dog and bring him home right away. What are the odds I wonder? She thanked God for his help and there was no doubt in her mind that it was God who had helped her and led her to that house. I remarked to her that if God is helping you watch out for your doggy, how much more does he care about your health and your life? I think God really spoke to her about his care, concern and action-love through that faith building experience. Prayer is powerful only because of who we are praying to. I reminded her of the verse where Jesus explains that God cares for every sparrow:

 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:5-6

Guide Me in Your Truth and Teach Me

Reading and listening to current news is enough to put anyone's emotions and head into a tailspin. What if? What is happening? Why? I can't believe that would happen, or how can anyone be so cruel, or greedy, or fill in the blank. God highlighted Psalm 25 to me a couple weeks ago and I have been meditating on the depth of promise and truth.

"No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:3-5 NIV

God this is my prayer, please show me your truth. Protect us, your are our God and I choose to trust you with my life. I choose to trust you with my family. I want my hope to be in you all day long and not to be afraid or focused on what is in this temporal world. Make my focus on the eternal not on what is passing away. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.