The south end of our house is sheltered from the strongest winds and provides a sunny spot to grow vines.  I planted some kiwis this spring in the hopes of harvesting fruit from them in a couple years.  We’ll see if that happens!  I also have some grapevines which have been growing for a few seasons.  They produced prolific leaves on intertwining vines that crawled up the trellis and cascaded across the basement window, almost obscuring the view. 

With the very hot summer we had, regular watering, and the…

I’ve had so many thoughts, meditations and songs going through my mind of late.  It’s been a very hectic couple weeks, so have not had time to sit down and expand on them until now. 

In the middle of the turnaround in front of our house, I have a rock garden, with a back hedge of haskap bushes.  They are quite tall and full, and with the amount of rain we had earlier in the spring, followed by a lot of sun and heat, they have produced a bountiful crop of the tart berries.  I was keeping an eye on the…

The Rain Barrel 

Early this morning I woke up and almost immediately a simple analogy dropped into my heart.  I wasn’t thinking about it – it simply came to my mind.  A God breathed inspiration. 

I recently bought a new rain barrel, to catch the rain water from our roof  to use for watering my plants.  Of course it has to be positioned properly under a downspout, so the water can simply pour in through the screened in opening. The thoughts came like this: 

I want to be like a rain barrel!  It is positioned…

God’s “Green Room”

God is the ultimate “recycler”!  He uses everything we experience or journey through to shape us, teach us and equip us for future encounters.  He is often preparing us even when we don’t realize it.  Nothing is wasted in God’s economy!

Several weeks ago this simple chorus filled my heart.

You are my rock, my refuge in the storm

My fortress, my shelter

You are my rock, my strong and mighty Tower

God of grace and power, my helper

You are my shield, You are my hiding place

Lord I’m held…

Well, it's May 2nd, but spring seems very far away right now!  Snowing the last two days, and our once dry yard is now covered in a new blanket of heavy, wet snow!  In everything give thanks, right?!  We can definitely give thanks for the moisture, as there was a fire ban in our area due to dry conditions.  So.  Thank you Lord for the snow.  The garden will wait, the yard will dry out again, and, for now, the thirsty ground will soak up the needed moisture, ready to awaken the dormant seeds and burst…

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:12,13 (NKJV)

Last week I had some amazing and deep times of prayer.  I had a prayer burden for requests both known and unknown.  That’s one of the best parts of meeting with God – He knows our deepest needs and concerns…

This song expresses what I’ve been experiencing of late.  The deep need for more of God, and my awareness of my complete dependence on Hm.

https://soundcloud.com/cyndiaar/where-the-living-water-flows

So the recurring theme that’s been speaking to my heart and life the last couple weeks has been “delighting in God”, desiring His presence and the power and blessing that comes with waiting on God.   I’ve read it in various devotions, in the Word and felt its impact on my personal prayer times.  His presence…

Lately I’ve been working on some small wooden scroll-saw projects for Christmas gifts.  It’s a time consuming process, depending on how much detail is involved in the pattern.  Usually, I trace the design onto the wood using carbon paper.  Then small holes have to be drilled in all the places that have to be cut out.  In each of those tiny openings, a thin sawblade is inserted and the required cuts are carefully made.  The saw is shut off, the blade removed and then reinserted into the next hole…

If there ever was a time to pray...it's now.  More than ever, we need to seek God, to call upon His name, to draw close to Him, to bring the countless needs and petitions to Him, and to spend time in His presence, drawing upon the endless resources available to those who wait on Him.  2 Chronicles 7:14 is a well-known and often quoted scripture that describes what will move God's heart and hand and bring healing to our nations.  Humility, prayer, repentance. There is no other formula.  There is no option…

Come and receive, all that you need, for I am here

Walk in My strength, rest in My grace, for I am here

Abiding life and joy and peace, are only found in Me

For I am Truth and Love and Hope that never dies

I am here, seek Me and you will find

© Cyndi Aarrestad, June 20, 2017

This morning I listened to a devotional about Job - how it demonstrates to us that even in the middle of our times of deepest struggle, sorrow, or suffering, we can be certain God is there with us. There was a hidden purpose in…