GCR Women

We've had this tree for a couple of months now.  We've been meaning to plant it but one thing leads to another and it doesn't get done.  Anyway, last week's rain had the ground softened up just right, so today, we planted it. It's not easy to plant a tree at my age.  But having waited so long to get started, I dug and dug like I did it everyday. Well, kind of.  West Texas dirt is hard even after it's been softened up a little by rain.  But you lay into it with a pick/ax and shovel and you can do amazing things! My main obstacles were the roots of the old trees that used to be there.  We had planted two beautiful crepe myrtle trees years ago but drought and cold killed them. We finally got tired of looking at the dead canes and cut them back.  Then, finally, last week, a guy we know was able to get the stumps out. However, under the surface, many roots of those old trees remained.  And they were just where we wanted to plant the new tree. ...

Do you know what dead-heading is?  It's the process of removing the spent blooms from a plant to encourage more blooms.  If the old blooms are left in place till they fall off on their own, the next wave of blooms will be less showy and may not even happen. When we do good works for the Lord, He lets those beautiful offerings show off His glory for a time, but then He expects us to set those aside and do more good works.  He doesn't want us to bask in the works of the past.  Instead, He gently prunes us to make us ready for more good works, for bigger glories. Like a master gardener, His focus is always on making His hot house beauties ready for the flowerbed of life where we can really reflect His glory.  Then, once in the field, He prunes us as needed us to strengthen us and help us grow into healthy, vibrant creatures of His design. So, don't dread being pruned, if the Lord God is your master.  You're going to thrive! Submitting to His care, P...