A Fair Promise

Have you ever been in a situation where you told someone that you’d get back to them, and before you know it months have passed without you keeping your promise?  Good, I’m glad you can relate to my circumstances.

It's been a while since I've filled you in on some of my activities, but Hubby's illness and recent hospital stays really took us off course. Thankfully you have been wonderfully patient and hung around.

As many of you know, the summer months “fun-cations” are full of surprises around our neck of the woods, especially when it comes to weeks and weeks of gardening in preparation for the fair.  By the time it rolls around we’ve had our fill of fertilizer and dirt embedded under our nails.   

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Yet Another New Approach

Hubby and I actually begin planning what we want to enter in the county fair back in the winter months when we start our seedlings.  We review the previous year to see which items did well in the competition and what flopped. Believe me there have been some big ones that seriously, we don’t know why we entered them.  Strangely, one of those actually placed!

If an entry didn’t do well, we try to figure out a new approach for keeping the item for competing or revising it in some way so it will do better.  It often works, but not always and that’s what enables us to search avenues outside our comfort zone.  Here’s where it starts to get fun or freaky, depending on what we discover!

Each year I like to enter a new category or do something I’ve never done before, just so I can keep growing and learning from the best.  Succulents and cucumbers were a first for me … it may be the last, who knows. Ugh … it didn’t go well.   Let’s say it was 50/50, one did okay and the other I never entered.

Sadly, I had to let a few crafts go unfinished, because there simply wasn’t enough time with the rebuilding of the garden after the flood in 2017. We still have a ways to go in getting it back in order.  The good thing though is that I’ve got them started for future craft fairs! (I just have to remember where I put them by that time.)

The Money Tree

Chinese Money Tree

With so many fabulous plants to select from, it’s hard to say no to some of God’s beautiful creations. On the other hand, if we’re not wise in our decision making it can become quite costly or turn into a prideful event that the Lord will not bless.

At times it can be difficult staying in the allotted budget, because I keep adding to the list of things I want in the garden.  After all, money doesn’t grow on trees (… or does it?)  Maybe I should research growing that money tree, people say it is a sign of wealth! (Note to self – add it to the list.)

A Fair Promise

Through prayerfully seeking the Lord for favor in accomplishing His plans, He has always led us to sales and great “finds” in exploring the plant world, which allowed us to expand our entries in the fair.

It is God’s desire to bless the Righteous with favor and never withhold anything good from His children.  So why wouldn’t we ask for His advice, counsel and favor?  He wants to be a part of everything we do and He isn’t afraid of a little gardening! 

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (are in right standing with Him).  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You!” (Psalm 84:11-12 ESV)

Keeping My Promise

This week I wanted to share some of the Daily Favor we experience from the Lord when it comes to the desires of our heart, which in this case is gardening and the yearly county fair competitions.  God is more than willing to direct us in the way we should go so that our efforts do not fail and we have victory.

Psalm 37:4 tells us that if we delight (enjoy, take pleasure) in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.  In order for Jesus to do that we must maintain a close relationship with God, and that means including Him in everything.

God wants to keep His promises to us, but sometimes we make it difficult by not allowing Him to take part in our lives and everyday activities.  It takes commitment to our Savior, obedience and faith in God to release favor on our situation at the right time.

This year was exceptional and in keeping my promise I began posting some of our entries for the competition on my Facebook site.  I’d love it if you would hit the follow and like tab on the page to be notified of all the posts.  

Throughout the week you’ll see entries in several categories, but not all of them because some the pics really didn’t turn out that great.  (Sorry about that; I still need a camera.)  

Frankly, it's impossible to know how plants will thrive during the hot or stormy weather.  We step out in faith as we pray, believing God for an abundant harvest and that He would bless the work of our hands.  We weren’t disappointed.  

It's Grace! God’s Amazing Grace! He never ceases to lavish us with His mercy and unmerited favor.  Jesus makes a way and continues blessing us over and over … I am so thankful!  Although I may fail to follow through with a keeping a promise at times, God is always faithful to His Word.

He says that He will establish and bless the work of our hands when we seek to do His will (including succeeding in a competition).  That promise was fulfilled for us, and soon I’ll share even more about the outpouring of favor that was shown to us this year.

Only the Lord knows the future, but we can faithfully trust Him to see us through all the “seasons” we may experience.

“Let us see Your miracles again; let our children see glorious things, 

the kind You used to do, and let the Lord our God favor us and give

us success.  May He give permanence to all we do."

(Psalm 90:16-17 TLB)

Now that’s a fair promise I can cling to for everything in my life.  How about you?  

Love this song - God’s Grace: The Favor of God

by Rev. Luther Barnes & The Restoration Worship Center Choir

Read more county fair entries and the Open Flower Show competition.

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Until next time, God’s favor is always fair! 

“I will give favor to the Righteous.”

- Jesus Christ

*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 link.

                 

The Favor of God CD (includes God’s Grace)

by Rev. Luther Barnes & The Restoration Worship Center Choir

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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 About Jesus” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.

Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.

Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.

Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.

Image credit: Google Images Creative Common License if not specified.

Image:  Monkey  Chinese Money Tree

Labels: Victory, Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Promises of God, A New Approach, Favor, Fair Favor, Relationship, County Fair, Gardening, Garden of Eden