no matter how you slice it….

God’s grace does not depend entirely on our efforts; in fact,
it depends very little on us.
We are simply the witnesses of grace,
and the clergy are simply the channels of sacramental grace.
How narrow-minded we would be to think that God’s grace is limited to our efforts”
Fr Benedict Groeschel

(meyer lemon / Julie Cook / 2017)

St Cahterine of Siena made a startling statement that I used to find overly severe.
She said that the Lord revealed to her that she was nothing and that He was everything.
Some of us learn the hard way…
Fr Benedict Groeshcel

No matter how you slice it, God’s Grace is sufficient…
It does not depend upon anything from us.

We will, however, never understand such until we empty ourselves of ourselves.

He is everything and we are nothing.
We are not gods.
We are not our god.
We do not impart saving Grace
We cannot and will not ever be able to save ourselves, from ourselves.
We are limited.
He is not…

Most of us never figure any of this out until it’s entirely too late.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9

The gratitude of rain

“The rain to the wind said,
You push and I’ll pelt.’
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged–though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.”
― Robert Frost

(impatiens with fresh rains / Julie Cook / 2014)

Refreshing
Life Giving
Satisfying
Cleansing

Just as Nature begins to lose all hope,
as leaves wither and fall away. . .
When insect and animal vie for rapidly evaporating morning dew
a dry parched land finds a much needed renewal of life.

The heavens descend in the form of life giving waters.
A healing silence fills the air.
The earth, as a massive dry sponge, drinks her fill
as every living creature rejoices in relief

volunteer impatiens with fresh rain / Julie Cook / 2014)

(meyer lemon buds / Julie Cook / 2014)

(volunteer impatiens with fresh rain /Julie Cook / 2014)

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case

We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Nicole Nordeman
Gratitude

“Lemon tree very pretty…

….and the flower smells very sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat”

Photograph of my struggling Meyer tree who has spent the winter being wheeled in and out of the carport–the Kumquat tree looks much healthier. We will see if either tree will bear fruit this year.