?
Why is it that we,
in the very kingdom of grace,
surrounded by angels,
and preceded by saints,
nevertheless, can do so little,
and, instead of mounting with wings like eagles,
grovel in the dust,
and do but sin, and confess sin alternately?
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Is it that the power of God is not within us?
Is it literally that we are not able to perform God's commandments?
God forbid.
We are able.
We have that given us which makes us able.
We do have a power within us to do what we are commanded to do.
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What is it we lack?
The power?
No; the will.
What we lack is the simple, earnest, sincere inclination and aim to use what God has given us, and what we have in us. (John Henry Newman)

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Put another way: We don't know what we are, nor what is the battle that is raging...For surely, if we did comprehend these things, we would act! Open our eyes, LORD!

Early Spring Pruning--February at A Thousand Hills Farm

Hey Y'All! During my last stay at home in between trips to help my Mother-in-Law with her battle with lung CA, there was a LOT to do around our place!...It was time to prune all of those plants that were still dormant while I had time:) The variegated privet along the pool fence was WAY overgrown!...Several feet above the fence top and into the deck area! I went ahead and pruned it back fairly severely, as they can take it pretty well, and figured I wouldn't have to fuss with them for the rest of the year. The deck will need to be pressure-washed this year, as the wood hasn't been weatherproofed in the last few years, and unsightly mildew has grown on it as well as the white vinyl lattice which forms the walls. That is a project for a sunny, warm day in the not-so-distant future, maybe this next trip home? Also, the crepe myrtles around the property, (I haven't counted how many we have...roughly about 25...) needed to be trimmed back. I used some of the nearly 10ft. long spires to form the pole bean tee pee in the previous post...Just to the right of the above photo would be the gate entrance to what I call my "secret garden". The tree in the foreground is a redbud, and I am hoping to see it in full purple/pink bloom when I return for this next week. This is the tree that I hang my hummingbird feeder from. There are delicate, yellow,Japanese(?) irises along the picket, along with butterfly bush, assorted lillies, rose of Sharon, nandina, and several other grasses and plants that I am still unsure of!! The previous owners of the property who planted all of these wonderful things spent 20yrs creating all of this!! They don't live too far from us, and came by after we moved in to show us some pictures of the house and property through the years...It was so neat!! She was very happy that someone bought the place who appreciated it :) It was sort of likeI imagine the Isrealites felt going into the Promised Land as I kept/keep discovering new things that they had planted...Literally eating of the crops that we had not planted...Drinking from cisterns that we had not dug. Thank you God for allowing us to find/purchase this little corner of Your green earth :) I often walk the property, or just find a place on the upper portion, and look out and dream of the new earth when all things will be made right and Jesus will be our King among us forever!

I Know I'm in Good Company...Dreaming of My Summer Garden!

These are the tomatoes and peppers that I'm hoping to transplant...Will move them outside under tree in the garden soon so that they can get some real sunshine!
Ah...the sight of "babies" growing in the spring garden! 2 rows of brussels sprouts and 2 rows of broccoli in the forground. Toward the back, you can see the "bean pee" that I made from the trimmings from the crepe myrtles. I plan to plant pole beans so that they grow up the wood and form a shady, hide out for my 9yr old daughter. She can help to harvest the beans too! At the foot of the fence, is a row of 3" snow peas. I'll need to supply an additional, lower structure for them to grab onto before they are tall enough to reach the wire fencing (barely visible) that is attatched to the wooden one...Behind them is a row of garlic against the block base. A newly planted 10" rosemary is planted to the far left end of the snowpeas. I had a much older rosemary which finally died a year ago.

At the moment, I am not home, but at my Mother-in-Law's home about 2hrs away helping her as she undergoes chemotherapy for lung cancer :( This is her 3rd round. We are having to play many things "by ear" as far as making many plans, but that's OK, and I am privileged to be able to help her at this time...Hopefully, I will take more pix around our place as things progress, and I am home.

Today, my DH told me that he bought 2 apple trees, 2 peach trees, 2 more figs, more blueberries, and 8 raspberry plants!! Someone is going to be VERY busy ;)

It Has Been a LONG Time!!

Just wanted to get back into blog-world with this quote from my morning devos:

"We fight not for ourselves alone. These are they-our brethren-the cloud wherewith we walk encompassed; It is for them that we wrestle through the long night; they count on the strength that we might bring them, if we so wrestle that we prevail. The morning that follows the night of our lonely trial would, if we be faithful, find us new men, with a new name of help, and of promise, and of comfort, in the memory of which others would endure bravely, and fight as we had fought. Oh! turn to God in fear, lest through hidden disloyalty we have not a cup of cold water to give those who turn to us for succor in their sore need." Henry Scott Holland