How to give yourself a reward or a Nightmare

Those who are kind reward themselves,
but the cruel do themselves harm. (Proverbs 11:17 (NRSVUE)

“An unforgiving heart is an unforgiven heart, and if you can’t forgive, you haven’t sensed His forgiveness.” Timothy Keller

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.

Reward or Nightmare?

What is this thing that fell in my garden while I was at work planting seeds wonders the child?
A Nightmare

This “thing will give me nightmares” says the child!

I was gardening with my granddaughter and the help from a friend when I heard her little voice that had minutes before been shrilling with delight quietly say, “this thing will give me nightmares!” I quickly asked, what will give you nightmares when I saw a blob of dirt with what looked like to me ‘forever roots’ that was falling on her well manicured garden spot!

Does anything give you nightmares?

As I continued to hear the child wonder why do we need this ‘monster with too many legs’ in our garden? I thought of the words I have often cherished and quoted, “And, a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11.6)

I googled the Bible verse and AI responded with an overview:

“And a little child shall lead them” is a famous phrase from Isaiah 11:6 in the Bible, depicting a future peaceful kingdom where predators and prey live in harmony, and even a child can lead animals like wolves and lions safely. It symbolizes a, perfect peace and restoration where innocent trust overcomes fear. 

Key Themes and Interpretations

  • Prophecy of Peace: The passage Isaiah 11:6-9 describes the “Peaceable Kingdom,” where the, knowledge of the Lord covers the earth, resulting in total safety.
  • Vulnerability over Power: It highlights that God’s kingdom is characterized by the innocence and vulnerability of children rather than, worldly power.
  • The Context: The verse describes a toddler leading a group of animals—such as a wolf with a lamb, and a leopard with a goat—rather than children leading adults.
  • Common Usage: The phrase is often used to suggest that children can teach adults about, simplicity, trust, and love. “

My late brother, Chet of Nags Head, NC, a good gardener, taught me when a tree or plant is root bound in a pot and I wanted to ground plant be sure to cut and break up the roots.

At times I find my thinking is root bound to old ways of thinking about many things but most often faith. Maybe I have been blinded by my sins. Taught by a flawed teacher? Parent? Friend? How to cut the ‘root bound mind roots’ that seem to give us nightmares as the child just taught me! Is it a reward or nightmare?

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
*Romans 12:2 (NRSVUE)

*Recommended Reading; Proverbs 12 and if your time permits flip back and Read Proverbs 11! Reward yourself!🙏💛

One Another

  • John 13:34 (NIV): “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”.
  • John 15:12 (NIV): “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”.
  • 1 John 4:7 (NIV): “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”.
  • Romans 12:10 (NIV): “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves”.
  • Ephesians 4:32 (NIV): “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. 
  • I have been thinking on the above scriptures and I began to see my thinking was a bit distorted when it came to words like, “just as in Christ God forgave you.  Love others like He loves me! Honor others above myself!” Does anyone else have troubling thoughts about such language? I realized I need to gently rubber band stretch my distorted thinking.
  • I paused to think on the gentleness of Jesus when He would respond to others that might have been church pew sitting with me for years.
  • The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4 had a mind-action changing experience after a conversation with Jesus. Jesus pushed aside social, gender, and racial barriers by communicating to her an offer of God’s living water
  • Jesus responded to her, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.”
    —John 4:10 (CEB)

In a Morning Devotion I read; “The kind of drinking that Jesus invites us to is not the polite, sipping from our teacups with pinkies extended kind of drinking. It’s a drinking that drenches us, that causes rivers of living water to flow out of our hearts.” By Jan L. Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women: A Companion for Reflection and Prayer 

Today, we are told by religious leaders, politicians, news shows as well as neighbors, family and friends we are broken apart and shattered rather than whole and healed.

Seems to be true but not hopeless when I allow these scriptures to change my way of thinking!

2026 Leesburg Va Spring Plant Sale

You are invited:

ACADEMIES

OF LOUDOUN

2026 Spring Plant Sale

Wednesday, April 29 10:00am-6pm

Thursday, April 30 10:00am-6pm

Friday, May 1 10:00am-5pm

Ask for Debi Chaves and let her know you found her on the Daily Lily

“And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

(Isaiah 6:3 (NRSV)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.19.1-2.NKJV

A TREE has a voice;

Autumn -Winter
Winter

Spring – Summer

“The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful. Instead of doing those things, these persons love the LORD’s Instruction, and they recite God’s Instruction day and night! They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CEB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/37/psa.1.1-3.CEB

“The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.1.4.ESV

We are told; “Trees are mentioned over 800 times in the Bible, serving as vital symbols of life, wisdom, righteousness, and God’s presence, appearing from Genesis to Revelation.”

Here in No Va early Spring has arrived and I have been watching my ‘Japanese Maple Tree’ that is right outside my front door. I love this tree in all seasons but I seem to appreciate it a little more when it dresses in its Spring-Summer attire.

Have you ever tried seeing yourself as a tree that shows its dress attire and actions as recorded in Psalms 1? Let’s have a Tree conversation!

Adventure Awaits

Wall in Orthopedic Office

I saw this wall recently in an Orthopedic Doctor’s office where one might just get a new knee or other medical help to make one able to move better without pain. I thought that’s a real hopeful idea to think about as one makes changes with help and maybe a little more pain to accomplish their goal.

New adventures; awaits for one as they seek and receive medical help for a new knee and that’s exciting. I began to ponder as exciting as medical help for knees might be think about the same help and hope for our aching souls.

It’s there, always there! Jesus is waiting for our surrender. The Holy Spirit is waiting to guide us into truth, love, peace and joy. This scripture just seems to be the prescription for our new adventure to begin;

“a) Don’t lie to each other. b) Take off the old human nature with its practices and ((c) put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by (d) conforming to the image of the (e) one (Christ) who created it.” (Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CEB)‬‬

To continue with our therapy; You might find studying Chaper 3 of Colossians to be helpful.

“And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭CEB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/37/col.3.14.CEB

Fill My Cup Lord

A song written and sung by the late Jessy Dixon;

🎵🎤Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.🎵

Song of Songs (A wood carving by (PC)

“The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come,…” (SOS 2:12)

The Psalmist gives us a word picture of our thirsting soul. Psalm 23:5;

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
‭‭

Beautiful place and space to be with our souls where our cup is overflowing with love, peace and joy and, much more. Yet, we may not be there but yearn to know how. Jessy Dixon ends his Song, “Fill My Cup Lord” with instructions with how to begin our journey;

🎶“… if the things that this world gives you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray—🎵

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_8ykaEdfiZ4&t=89s&pp=2AFZkAIB

God said;

“…God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.3-4.NKJV

Have you ever wondered and thought things seem so dark, overwhelming and beyond hope and help?

The Lord’s prayer is truly a salve for hopelessness. Jesus taught us to pray to our Heavenly Father “let your will be done on earth as in heaven.”

I’ve been praying, “let there be light! Why, you might ask? Because God saw light and said it’s very good.

Light vs Dark

My devotional group prayer this week from “Today’s Reflections” collectively prayed;

“God, you are always bringing about your kingdom on earth. Give me the presence of mind to see your grace and love all around me. Amen”

I invite you to “Join” us this week as we pray this prayer together.

I’m beginning to feel the Hope of Grace and Love from Jesus, the Light, giving me “presence of mind” to be and do as I share my light for others to see through words of truth.

Yes, let there be light! Let your light shine!

Not about perfection but connection

Let Love Grow

“Frosty and Friends Sweater Amaryllis Flower Bulb with Stand, No Water Needed, Gift Ready”

“And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.
—Hebrews 10:24-25 (CEB)

The words “meeting together” and “encourage one another” has great significance for me.

A few years ago about Christmas gift giving time I discovered this little, Amaryllis Flower Bulb, and each year it wears a message sock! I saw the best part for friends that travel and ones with very busy schedules, needs no water! We were still struggling with churches not meeting together partially because of Covid 19. Also, often our friends in the Believer category has moved to various locations and many in Heaven. Yet, our thoughts and love for one another remain. My 🩷 asked how to meet together and encourage one another. And, I discovered the sharing of a Bulb.

As I sit in my home today with snow and ice here and in various other locales where my little bulb gifts have travelled I am having a cup of tea, watching my Amaryllis bloom and connect with a spot light from my view I’m thinking of many of you! I’m drinking from a snowman cup with a message given to me by a friend, MG, now in heaven. I’m offering prayers of praise for those that received my humble bulb gift and cared enough to meet with me around our window sill. One is in Charlotte, NC waiting for snow to clear to get home to Raleigh to enjoy their bloom. No worry, no watering needed. Others with their stories connecting to us by encouraging us. We are meeting together and encouraging one another.

My Cup of Tea and 🙏 for you

What is your “cup of tea” to help others shine! Maybe you have a local church to gather and offer your gift to help others shine. There are so many ways to connect. It’s not about “perfection but connection.”

As BELIEVERS, Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world, and give the good news to everyone.”

Imagine the brightness of “The Light” when we connect to one another in love and deed not looking for perfection!