Flowers.  Beauty.  Happy.  Dream. Dance.  Praise.

Oh, the beauty of a flower garden.  All the beautiful colors of heaven arrayed in the glory of God.  

When I have flowers – just to arise in the morning to walk into the kitchen to start coffee – it brings sweet joy to my heart to see a vase of flowers.  It melts away sleepiness.  It melts away a possible complaint.

Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)

Paul suffered through many trials and tribulations and he learned to be content in any and every circumstance.

Easier said than done at times.

In a garden, where the gardener has not been around to take care of the weeds – discontentment, grumbling, jealousy, murmuring take over the flowers in the garden.  No one has to cultivate these weeds – they come up naturally within us.  It is not necessary to teach these things.

But the precious things of earth – need the care of the Master Gardener.

Contentment.  A flower of heaven.  Needs the Gardener.  

Paul learned how to be content in every circumstance.  It is the same for us.  Contentment is a learned discipline.  Like Paul, for many of us, the gray hairs are coming through before that beautiful flower starts growing in all its glory – it becomes as a flower of heaven.  Without discipline in our gardens, there will be no flowers of heaven.  We need the Gardener to come and help us pull up weeds of discontentment – of complaining – of jealousy.

When we take that last verse – verse 13 and start believing it – then we will find an arrangement of glorious flowers blooming in our lives:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me!

Don’t be afraid to allow the Gardener to come into your life and start cultivating the soil around you and showing you the weeds that need to be pulled out – for soon you will see the blooms of contentment flowering up and showing the beauty of heaven right here on earth.

Today I share a beautiful song written by Kari Jobe: The Garden

Today ends my challenge of writing for 31-days. I pray that you have been as blessed as I have by the words of the Father.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the beauty of your Creation that surrounds me. Oh how I love to see the flowers and trees and then add in the beauty of the birds and other animals that fill the garden of delight around me. Help us to focus upon You – your love and your kindness – beyond anything earthly that we have witnessed. May our lives be filled with the beautiful flowers of love and peace. I love you, Lord. I ask this in Christ Jesus’ name, amen.