God Nourishes Us
The black poly-pipe tubing was being untangled so as to complete some reticulation. Bruce and I had planted some plants that needed watering. Bruce was snapping connection pieces together to cover the whole area. I was boiling hot water to soften the ends of the pipe so that Bruce could mould them. This meant the connection pieces could snap on more easily. We were working as a team with Bruce definitely being the leader and me the apprentice.
We had started this chore at about 6.30pm at night when the sun was going down and completed it using a torch when the light began to fade. It had been too hot during the day to venture into the yard. Lately it had been on average 36C or 96.8 F, the hottest day being 44C or 111.2F!
We had planted some trees in our backyard a few months ago and we really wanted to make sure that they would survive the heat. Hopefully only a few more weeks of this very dry, hot heat and then the temperatures would start coming down and the regular rainfalls would begin.
The temperature was still 32C or 89.6F while we were working so we were replenishing our thirst with cold water. The end result was to water all the plants. As we finished up, I was putting the reticulation program through the sections, while Bruce was walking around and checking whether all the connections were holding and not leaking. If the plants were as thirsty as Bruce and me, they were ‘ahhing’ as the sprinklers came on. Well, that’s what my imagination thought.
In the heat of the day that the plants are in for months on end, they need water for nourishment, for life. I looked up at the star lit sky and acknowledged to God, “Oh God, in the heat of the day, that we are often in, months on end, where our lives are pushed, prodded…. In the heat of the day in just trying to pay the bills, keep a roof over our heads……. In the heat of our lives trying to survive this Cancer, this disease, this heart-attack, this mental depression…… In the heat of life, where many are in war-torn countries just trying to survive… Holy Spirit come and refresh their souls….. refresh my soul. God come and miraculously save, miraculously heal. We need your nourishment, your life saving water that will never make us thirsty again…..”
I had a moment.
I walked in my garden with the Lord that night. It made me feel like Adam and Eve. One with God.
Praying quietly.
Smiling at Him.
Knowing that He was replenishing me.
Knowing that God sees.
Knowing that God has compassion for us.
Knowing that God is merciful.
Have you experienced God even when you are just doing chores?
He comes to us wherever we are.
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you experienced God in the every day tasks of your life? What did He say to you?
How did God use this experience to nourish you?
As we begin Lent, what area of your life could you do with some nourishment from God?
6 Comments
john
Yes sometime .. I was cruel at one nice plant for a long time beacuse I didnt water that plant .. somehow God must have look after it as it grow nice ly .. Thank you Lord
Vivienne Chapman
Thanks be to God for His daily nourishment, moment by moment.
Thank you Rosemary. Happy Ash Wednesday. God Bless. 🙏🙏📿
Lisa Cimilluca
I have been mindful of offering up praise and thanksgiving to our Lord all during my days, even during mundane and menial tasks. My husband and I are struggling so much with our teen girl who has denounced God and has embraced (as much as a 15 year old can) he LGBTQ+ lifestyle, etc. I try very hard to count this season as joy and to offer up our sufferings to Him. I just don’t know what else to do sometimes because as a mom I feel helpless. My heart breaks, but I pray incessantly and I know God is with me always. He makes all things new!
Lisa
I have been mindful of offering up praise and thanksgiving to our Lord all during my days, even during mundane and menial tasks. My husband and I are struggling so much with our teen girl who has denounced God and has embraced (as much as a 15 year old can) he LGBTQ+ lifestyle, etc. I try very hard to count this season as joy and to offer up our sufferings to Him. I just don’t know what else to do sometimes because as a mom I feel helpless. My heart breaks, but I pray incessantly and I know God is with me always. He makes all things new!
Di
As I sit on my veranda after Mass having a quiet moment, the only sounds I hear are mostly sounds of the bush around me. Dominant sound though, is the butcherbirds. Since they started visiting a few months ago the little birds have disappeared, the wrens, the thornbills, the scarlet honeyeaters, just to name a few. Where have they gone? Have they found somewhere to make a new life with plenty of food and resettled? It reminds me of how life can be like that. Despite differences in colour and some size, harmony reigns until some loud mouth comes along and causes displacement. And so the human exodus begins. They seek refuge in neighbouring territory, just as the birds do. Unfortunately they often aren’t welcome and life becomes a bigger struggle while the loud mouth becomes more destructive and hungry for power.
What can we do about the loud mouth butcher bird, so the little ones can return? What can we do about the loud mouth committing genocide and sending troops into neighbouring countries? Can I do more than praying?
I pray that the Holy Spirit will intervene with guidance to solve the issues, that the love of God, the Father, and Jesus the Son accompany all in the journey to peace and resettlement. That hearts do not carry hurt and revenge and all given the opportunity to develop.
Di
Lisa,
Praying for you and your family as you struggle with your daughter’s current decisions. May the Holy Spirit be a source of guidance and comfort to you all. Amen