For the past few nights
my husband and I have spent long hours in conversation. I asked him about how his week has been going
and where did he see the favor of God working.
One of the reasons I was
trying to pull something out of him was because my week has been rather uneventful
with not leaving the house. With the
weather turning cold again and not having central heating, someone has to stay
home to tend to the heaters … so other than with hubby and the pets it didn’t
leave much fellowshipping. After posing the question about God's favor he didn't have much to say.
When I got up on Thursday (April 14th,
2016) my husband was excited about having a list of things to share with me
after spending time with Jesus on his journey.
With that in mind I invited him to be the first guest writer on Daily
Favor. Please make him welcome by
sharing his post. Thanks in advance!
Welcome new friends this week from:
See if your city/state/country made the list.
New on DFB – Barbados; Denmark; Finland; Ukraine; Vanuatu;
Russia; India; Mexico; Romania; Australia; Bangladesh; Switzerland; China; Germany;
Spain; Cambodia; Philippines; United Kingdom; Kenya.
USA – Hickory & Randleman,
NC; Gerry, NY; Linglestown, PA; San Leanna, TX, Strasburg, VA.
I am so happy for your visit and hope that you come back
each week to participate in the weekly challenges. God has been faithful and we expect His favor
to abound in the lives of those who chose to Journey with Jesus on Daily Favor
Blog.
You are welcome to leave comments or prayer requests below. All are private. I would love to hear from
you and how Daily Favor has worked in your life. Contact me by leaving a message in the box at
the bottom of this week’s post.
Don't miss out on this week's challenge (below).
When a Man Loves a Woman
It’s the time of year when people feel they are about to
burst if they don’t get outdoors and do something, especially Fay. Some refer to it as “spring fever”, but my
wife calls it “spring favor”… a time where we can really see the goodness of
God in the land of the living.
We had a rather lengthy conversation, laughed a lot and
then my wife threw in the hook by asking me about my week. I should have seen it coming, but played
right into her sweet smile.
She always does this right at bedtime. I’m zonked and ready to go to sleep but she
wants to talk … not easy conversations either … deep philosophical ones that
make you have to think.
“How
and where have I seen God’s favor this week?” Really honey, at 3 a.m.? Guys don’t talk about
that stuff, everybody knows that. We go,
we do, come back home, eat, take naps and sleep. Seriously ladies, our lives aren’t that deep.
Understanding the teacher part of my wife, I knew she
would expect some sort of an answer in the morning. Seems we never escape the classroom no matter
what our age.
That night (Wednesday) I prayed for my wife and her work
on this week’s Daily Favor Blog, asking the Lord what He would have me share
with her that would help along this journey.
The Favor of Spring Time
Thursday morning I was like a proud kid waiting to show the
teacher his homework. I had written down
a list of things that demonstrated how God’s favor was working. “Lovey” didn’t even have her breakfast yet
and was already writing on the chalkboard of my brain. If Fay looked closer she would have noticed
it was a dry erase board!
A clue for those of you who aren’t familiar with the life
of a teacher, their goal isn’t to give you the answers, but to draw them out of
you. FYI – I don’t like drawing!
Once my wife listened to my list she had more questions for
me to consider and so my assignment wasn’t quite finished. This time she directed my focus to whether or
not “spring” was favor, natural law or both.
Was she messing with my head? I began to wonder whether
or not I was grasping the concept of favor at all. While I was taking out the
trash and doing some chores, I saw “spring” in a new light.
Many of us view the changes of seasons as the favor of God;
in some ways it is. However these things
occur because of the natural law that God put in motion way back in the Garden
of Eden. (See Genesis chapters 1-2)
 |
| Flowering Vinca Vine |
Because of the promises of God concerning sowing and reaping
we are able to sow seeds in the soil and depending upon the seed sown, get flowers,
plants or vegetables.
Plus, according to
2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV, God will “multiply the seed you have sown”. We see this all around us every day.
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food,
supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your
righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV)
It’s not like I didn’t know these things happen, but that
I stopped to see how God was at work showing favor even when we don’t see it as
such. For instance, take a look at perennial plants. We usually only have to plant
them once, and because of the law of nature they come up every year.
 |
| Hosta Plant 4/14/16 |
Let’s take it farther and consider another aspect like my
wife suggested. This is where I saw more
than a few plants and shrubbery growing in and around our yard.
God’s favor was on the hands that initially did the work
so that the beauty of the Lord could be established. The wonder of how these things continue to grow
is amazing in itself don’t you think?
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17 NKJV)
Our hostas, daffodils and vinca vine not only come up
yearly, but multiply so much that they have to be divided. One plant turns into dozens of new plantings. The initial plants were given to us; we’ve
been able to sow to others from seed that wasn’t ours extending the blessing.
 |
| Bird nest in walnut tree. |
Leaving the house I noticed that a dove had built its
nest in the lowest branches of the walnut tree in our front yard. We weren’t surprised by the inactivity of birds
or squirrels at the feeding station, but believed the spring babies have arrived. Growth is taking place all around us and with
it comes new life in abundance.
The trees we now enjoy were once seedling plants. Years
later we are reaping the benefits of the shade, beauty and delicious walnuts
that someone else labored to provide. Call
it natural law, favor or both. As for
me, anything I didn’t have to dig a hole for sure is favor.
So to answer my wife’s question on how have I seen the
favor of God in operation around me this week, all I need do is go to her place of rest and say:
“Honey,
look out the kitchen window. Who do you see
working?”
This Week’s Challenge:
Love God’s Spring Favor
Every spring we are
reminded of the bounty that is in the earth with each bud, blade of grass or blossom
that emerges.
Watching nature bloom
and change is something that we enjoy because of the grace of God. He allows us to reap the benefits of such
beauty whether or not we deserve it, simply because of His mercy (unmerited
favor). Read Psalm 104 and see.
Our challenge this week may not seem that impressive or challenging for that matter, but
is something we all need to take seriously.
Simply said, when you go outside grow in grace and knowledge by thanking
God for what you are seeing. In other words, go hug a tree!
“But grow in grace (chen – favor), and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and
forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV)
 |
| A friend of ours who is VERY thankful for spring favor! |
Whether it is an open
sky in the desert, lush gardens in a valley or plain grassy areas, no matter
what the “outdoors” looks like … give God praise for the spring favor we enjoy
through His natural law on the earth.
May favor spring forth and multiply as knowledge of our Creator
increases.
“Grow in
the loving-favor that Christ gives you.
Learn to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. He is the One Who saves. May He have all the shining greatness now and
forever. Let it be so. (2 Peter 3:18 NLV)
Hubby’s
“videos” of the week:
(He picked a poem about trees!)
BTW - Hug a Tree Day happens to be April 15th, but some celebrate it at other dates also!
If this article has
encouraged or helped you please consider sharing it by using the social media icons
provided at the end of this post.
Until
next time, grow in the grace (favor) of God!
“My favor was sown from the beginning.”
Jesus Christ
Notes:
“Trees” American poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer Wikipedia written in February 1913.
*Unless
noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Note: When used, the
words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no
place in our lives.
Disclaimer:
Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical
issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
What’s New This Week: Click
on product or link.
It
couldn’t be a book because that would require cutting down a tree!
Scripture:
2 Peter 3:18
Indoor
or Outdoor Resin 7.5” Figurine
Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I
know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more
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Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version
provided by Gateway Bible.
Image credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified.
Image: Head Dry Erase Board
“Trees”
Written by American poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer in February 1913.
Disclaimer
Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Grace, Loving Spring Favor, Seasons, Daily Favor Blog, In the Garden, Favor of God, Favored1, Perennials, Flowering Vinca Vine, Hosta Plant, Bird Nest, Walnut Tree, When A Man Loves A Woman, Teachers