Fruit ID

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“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” – Matthew 7:18, 20 (NIV)

“Fruit takes time to develop and grow. Over time we will get to know others by the fruit that the Holy Spirit grows not only in them but in us as well. The apostle Paul lists that fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23, CEB).”

*art by Rena Oynes -garden fruit grown by Chris Holton 2016

June Graduates

June, you remind me of flash cards.
You flash into our lives with a host
of flair and fanfare!
Birds sing with summer flowers
harmonizing; signaling summer
fruit is just a pick away!
June, the brightest card of your flash
is when graduates show us their
embossed diplomas making
12, 14, 16 or even 18 years
of study
look like a flash of lightening!
Congrats are in order for
all our Grads.
You have done your family, community and
Nation Proud!
We stand and applaud your June, 2016,
With Hope for all your June’s!
Thank you, June
for stopping by each year.
Our hearts are lighter,
our eyes are brighter
when June greets us
each and every year!
Sara Craddock M (c)2013

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Laughter or angry?

What makes you angry? What make you laugh! Is a smile laughter? Is angry a smirk? What mechanical devise flares inside of a human to light a fire or smoke a fire!

Sarah, of ancient times laughed from the thought of having a baby at age 90. God laughed at foolishness of man? Cain became angry with his brother and death for another ensued. Jesus became angry and had a temple fight.

I really don’t know if our sign below is true or not as it has no tag from where info came. But, when I saw it this am it sure got my attention to pay attention. I thought it would be interesting to tell our stories of laughter or angry or both?

My greatest laughter thought comes from the taste of coconut pie on my tongue. Even the thought of a coconut makes me laugh because my mind travels back to memories of childhood with a chisel and hammer fighting with a hairy brown hard shell to release the greatest taste I had or have ever had. Hum, and my brother stealing my coconut as it was his joy also gave me a little fire of angry. YAY, let’s hear your story!

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Spiritual Gardening

I have often asked myself questions in my prayer time as well as other times throughout my day. Questions like;  what does fear look like? Most often I am not able to draw or paint the flowering beauty of fear. Yes, I said that, “flowering beauty of fear”.  At times my husband walks in the house with a freshly dug flourishing green with blooms,  asking, is this a weed or not? I ask around and we all are just not sure. A weed often delays our gardening time much like fear delays our spiritual heart growth time.

When we have friends, mentors, or others that plants seeds of honesty in our lives fear really has no breeding ground. Maybe, I would call honest words, “Roundup”! Yes, spray Roundup! When words are honest they become fewer because self-importance has decreased. Hopefully, Roundup will burn off the impurities of my soul. And, I will come to a greater knowledge of increased faith.

“If possible, spend time in nature today and find ways to reconnect with God. Share your thoughts.”  Upper Room Devotional.

My thoughts; my friend, Tammy Holton has sent me in the last few days photos of her husband, Chris’ vegetable garden. Now, I know the kind of gardener he is because I have had over the years perfect vegetables without a flaw from his garden. Therefore, when I see his garden in progress I pause to dream of perfect fresh vegetables. I also know it’s time to work on my heart and its earth pockets.

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Spring Plant Sale

CS Monroe Tech Spring Plant Sale

Drone video by ChristopherMar

The Spring Plant Sale at Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg, Virginia is on! There is a great assortment of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, small fruits and fruit trees, aquatic plants and fish; over 500 hanging baskets; and 1200+ tomato plants to choose from. But what makes this sale especially exciting is the new kiosk of air plants, many of which are displayed in colorful 3Dprinter jellyfish and other unique designs by Christopher Mar! So stop in and see it all. You will find students and volunteers in bright orange T-shirts by CustomInk ready to assist. Sale days and times are Wednesday, April 27 from 10-8pm; Thursday, April 28 from 10-6pm and Friday, April 29 from 10-5pm.

Mark 4:11-12

“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand.”- Mark 4:11-12 (NRSV)

Do you ever read scripture and feel perplexed? I do. And, this scripture happens to be one of those. What do you do at times like this? I often start talking with the scripture.     In talking with this scripture I tend to hear; “communication for you is totally impossible with either the you or the those.” First, am I a you or a those? I hope I am a YOU! Therefore, I know and understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. Now, how do I identify the those? Seemly, anyone outside the Kingdom of God. They sure have a comprehensible problem wouldn’t you say?

Now what?