Blessings.

When I woke up, yesterday morning....

I, was simply...drained.

I, felt so deflated, from the day before.

I'm so weary, from so many battles.

Seemingly...Unending... Battles.

I, turned to my little, 'worn' daily devotional, 

and asked The Lord, to guide my hands, to what I needed to 'see'.

I was given this book, 'Streams in the Desert', back when Daughter, Liz...was a Teen.

{She's 30, now. }

I've read it...over and over.

For the last, many years....I don't follow it by the dates, I...simply ask the Lord, to decide what I 'Need'...to 'see'.

I, don't turn to it, as often as I should.

I, let myself....get so beaten down...before I remember, to 'Look Up'. 

I opened it up, yesterday...to 

"My Father is the gardener"

{John 15:1 }
<3 <3 <3 

Here's a little, of what the message said.

It is a comforting thought, that trouble in whatever form it comes to us, is a heavenly messenger, that brings us something from God. Outwardly, it may appear painful or even destructive, but inwardly it's spiritual work produces blessings.

Many of the richest blessings we have inherited are the fruit of sorrow or pain.

We should never forget that redemption, the world's greatest blessing, is the fruit of the world's

greatest sorrow. And whenever a time of deep pruning comes and the knife cuts deeply and the pain is severe, what an inexpressible comfort it is to know 

"My Father is the gardener."

It goes on, to tell a story told by John Vincent, a Methodist Episcopal bishop of the late 19th and early twentieth centuries and a leader of the Sunday school movements in America, of once being in a large greenhouse where the clusters of grapes were hanging on each side.

The owner of the greenhouse told him,

 " When the new gardener came in here, he said he would not work the vines unless he could cut them down to the stalk. I allowed him to do so, and we had no grapes for two years, but this is now the result."

There is rich symbolism in this account of the pruning process when applied to the Christian life. 

Pruning seems to be destroying the vine, and the gardener appears to be cutting everything away. 

Yet he sees the future and knows that the final result will be the enrichment of the life of the vine,

and greater abundance of fruit.

There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them. { J.R. Miller}

It goes on, with a little poem, that I've seen written in other books.

I, thought... I understood it, when I read this poem, years ago.

It wasn't until....yesterday morning, that the full message set in.

' I walked a mile with Pleasure,

She chattered all the way;

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,

And never a word, said she;

But oh, the things I learned from her

When Sorrow walked with me. '

The Lord...Always...sends us to the 'Place', we Need to be, when we remember...

to ask.

Shortly after I read my 'Streams in the Desert', the phone rang.

It was a Dear Friend, I hadn't talked to, in a long time.

He called to ask, how I was doing. : )

He had read between the lines, on fb, and...here... I suppose. 

He said... he worries...about me.  : (

He said... "I hope you know, what a 'light' you are, to so many people, and how you help so many.

I hope you know, how much you are loved, by many."

I, wept....after we hung up the phone.

I, can't hardly.... write, the words...he spoke.

: ( : ( : (

I've tried, to be there, for others....but, the last few years...have been difficult.

It seems, everyday....has more and more...challenges.

I've said...after every 'Challenge', "I Know...there's a 'Lesson' to be learned by this.

The Lord, is putting these situations, in front of me...so I can 'learn', and grow."

They are so painful.

yet, I know...somehow.... they were blessings.

I, wish....I could do more, for Folks... 

but, most days... just getting 'myself'....suited up, for the battles....

is exhausting.

Yet, I know... 'The Gardner', 'Sees'.... with the Keenest Eye.

<3 

I had to meet with someone, from the City, yesterday afternoon....to drop off my packets, I'd prepared for the Council, and Mayor.

I, didn't want to go.

She doesn't like me, much.

She, and others...working with the City...have been pretty tuff on me.

{I know... I, too... can be abrasive, when I'm passionate, about a Cause. }

After I read my Streams, I thought about 'Thanking' her, for being so hard on me.

They, have made me stronger... in many ways.

I've learned so much...in the last ten months, of doing research.

Looking back, I truly need to Thank, all of those...who have been 'Difficult', in my life.

They, all...are 'Blessings'.  : ) <3

{I, need to remember that...at the 'time'...'moment' when I'm being 'pruned' by those 'Blessings'. }

Another, Dear Friend, called...yesterday, too. <3

She Prays for me, every day. <3 

She has her Prayer group...Praying for me, too. 

<3 <3 <3 

Bless Their Hearts, along with Everyone...whom, I know...are Praying for me.

<3 <3 <3 

I told her... I Pray for Her, too.

I, Pray...for Everyone...in this world. <3 <3 <3 

Everyone...who is Suffering, I especially...Pray.

I Pray, The Lord Envelops them...with His Comforting Spirit.

My Friend, told me to rest. : )

Simply...rest, for a few days.

I'm doing...just that.

: )

I'm going to work on getting the house cleaned up, this week.

It's in bad shape.

I haven't had any time...for a long time, to clean.

Thanksgiving, will be here, before we know it.

I don't want the Kids seeing our Home....this way.

I, wish everyone...had a copy of Streams in the Desert.

{I owe one, to The Queen of Hearts, I haven't forgotten. <3 }

It's been such a Gift, in my life.

Love to you...

Every Single One...

of You.

<3

Barb C.