Gather! Keeping, Gardening & A Give Away!

With warmer weather on its way I am hopeful that the rains are behind us here on the Central Coast of California. It's time for gatherings and garden parties, brunches and backyard campouts, celebrations and coffee together. It's time for lingering... with that in mind I thought it was time to move a little furniture around and do some dusting. I have changed my blog title from Sunday Afternoon Pause to Gather! I'm praying that you will take more than a quick glance at my offering. I hope you enjoy sitting down and taking in what I've prepared for you, especially you.

It's time to throw open the windows and swing wide the doors!

With the beautiful weather I have been pondering this season of new growth and renewal. I am reminded that we are gatherers and keepers of so many things aren't we? Certainly our homes – small or large, quiet or noisy, tidy or cluttered. But it's so much more than that. We are keepers of important relationships. Our marriages and our families. Our friendships at work, in our neighborhoods, our brethren, the lost, broken and mending.

We are doorkeepers, gatekeepers and peacekeepers. We are keepers of our thoughts, words and actions. And most importantly Ingrid Trobisch tells us we are to be “keepers of the springs of our hearts.” Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes that point -

"Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life."

Like a garden our hearts need tending. As we nurture, protect, and care for a garden it reminds us of the importance of tending to the garden of our soul, the springs of our hearts. As I said earlier, we are keepers and gatherers of many things, sometimes we keep things we should let go of - weeds of bitterness, hurt, rejection, anger and resentment to name a few. They need to be ripped out from the roots! Our precious Lord loves us too much to let those things remain and cause rot and mold. He will prune areas of complacency and uselessness from our lives as we abide in Him and stay connected to the vine! We will have seasons of dormancy and waiting, preparation and weeding, growth and harvest. So how do we cultivate a growing walk with our Master Gardener?

Click here for these 3 Ways to Stay Deeply Rooted in the Lord and learn how to amend the anemic and depleted soil of your heart through the:

Garden of God's Word

Garden of Worship

Garden of Prayer

Garden Twig Canopy Centerpiece

Fun days are springing up! Mark your calendar - and get your gift list out - for this springtime garden craft. Click here for this simple and beautiful Garden Twig Canopy Centerpiece.

Click here to learn about a book I'd like to recommend to you. "If your story isn't turning

out the way you planned. Sharon Jaynes will help you have hope for your future, strength for your current circumstances, and peace even when you don't understand. An encouraging reminder that: the Author of your life is good, you are loved, and He alone holds the pen that gets to write your story." by Holley Gerth. Sharon Jaynes challenges us to ask:

"What if God doesn't want us to rip out our difficult stories

but instead repurpose them for good?"

And a Give Away! I can't wait to send this out to one of YOU! A beautiful "Gather" necklace. Just leave a comment below.

So gather your loved ones and hold them tight. Gather your words and use them to build each other up. Gather and love deeply and generously.

From my home to yours, Linda

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11