Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
God shows us in so many ways that he is near and wants to
be involved in our lives. Perhaps the most visible way is in
our children and grandchildren. This is a picture of our
granddaughter, Katie, when she little. She is wearing her
'lady bug,' costume that her grandma Jeannie, made her
for one Halloween. Note, the lady bug painted on her cheek.
The title of today's poem will be familiar to some of you;
it is the title of one of Max Lacado's books, although the
content is not from the book.

GOD CAME NEAR
Did you ever wonder why God came near
To be with you on earth?
Don't you know that He was there,
At the miracle of your birth?

As you began to toddle
And take your first step,
God came near, in your mother's love,
As she reached out to help.

In your teen years...
When you thought God was far away.
God came near to be with you...
As your mother knelt to pray.

When life's troubles came
And you felt the whole world let you down,
God came near to be with you...
To turn your life around.

When sorrow came like ocean waves,
To wash you out to sea.
God came near  and said,
"My child, I shall always be with thee."

So, like the Scriptures say,
God is the same today...
As yesterday and tomorrow,
FOR GOD CAME NEAR TO STAY!

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is Niagara Springs in Wendell, ID. The springs flow
right out of the mountain into the Snake River. Water is
certainly life! They say bread is the staff of life, but you
can live longer without food than you can without water!

The water I give you will become an eternal spring of water
welling up to eternal life. John 4:14

I AM THE WATER OF LIFE
I am the water of life
Jesus gently whispers.
I am the water of life,
Come drink of me.

I am the water of life,
Come drink of me.
I am the water of life,
You'll thirst no more, you see.

I am the water of life,
Come, this water's free.
I am the water of life,
Salvation flows from me!

Freda Fullerton
August 30, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is a calendar picture of two cute friends. Friends are
wonderful, but they will not always be with you. But God
Is always with you.
Today's poem is taken from Matthew 28:20

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
I am with you always,
Through sunshine and showers,
Through long weary hours.
I am with you always.

I am with you always,
Through smiles and through tears,
Through good and bad years.
I am with you always.

I am with you always
Through things great or small,
I see them all ...
I am with you always.

I am with you always,
When the pain you must bear,
Do you know that I care?
I am with you always.

Freda Fullerton
August 29, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is me and in the background, Mt. Shasta below a cloudless sky.
Today's poem taken from Mark 8:22-25

A SCEOND TOUCH
Do we sometimes need a second touch
So that we may see,
All the blessings here on earth
That God provides for you and me?

When life seems all rosy
And there's no cloud in sight,
Are we as thankful as we would be,
On a dark and gloomy night?

Do we bow our heads in prayer
And get on bended knee,
When things are going right
And we sail a calm, calm sea?

Do we only call "Dear Lord,
Please hear my plea,"
When our sails are tattered
On a wild and restless sea?"

If we're not as thankful as we should be,
Than what we need so much...
Is the Great Physician's  healing hand,
A loving second touch!"

Freda Fullerton
August 28, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is me at the Featherdale Wildlife Park near Sydney, Australia.
Those cute little birds are fairy penguins. We had the privilege of
visiting Phillip Island and seeing the fairy penguins in the wild.
Every evening at the same time, they come in on the tide to nest
in burrows in the sand dunes along the shore. We were asked not to
use flash cameras. If the birds become confused, they go back out
on the tide and tire out and drown. Since they are flightless, they can
cannot fly to safety. We are like that, if we do not keep connected to
our Lord and Savior!

LIKE A FLIGHTLESS BIRD

When I fail to pray
And take matters in my own hand,
My life holds much confusion,
I fail to understand,

I'm like a ship with a rudder,
A boat without a sail,
There is no power to sustain me,
On which I can prevail.

I will wander in the desert,
With no love to quench my thirst
If I look not to my Savior
And I fail to put Him first.

If I feed not on the manna
Of His Holy Word
Or commune not with the Father,
I am like a flightless bird.

It matters not the effort,
If the flight is all my own
Without God's compass there to guide me
I will never reach my home!

Freda Fullerton
August 27, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is a picture of a crocodile, from a missionary friend
in Zambia, Africa. Words can sometimes be as vicious
as these animals. Words are very powerful, they can heal
or wound. James says, "All kinds of animals are being
tamed and have been tamed, but no man can tame the
tongue. it is restless evil, full of deadly poison."
James 3: 7-8 Be careful of your words!

HURTFUL WORDS
"Sicks and stones my hurt my bones,
But words will never hurt me."
This saying is not true...
Words do hurt, you see.

Hurtful words can cut deep into the heart,
Just as any sword or knife.
Hurtful words cause such sorrow.
Hurtful words cause much strife.

Hurtful words, have caused divorce.
Suicide, estrangement, wars and such,
Because of hurtful words
Families fail to keep in touch.

The good Book tells us,
That the tongue, no man can tame.
It is a living fire,
An everlasting flame.

Hurtful words are like a vicious animal,
Perhaps, like a crocodile,
That will consume its victims
In very short while!

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

This is a picture of my husband Jim and our son, John. When
John was little he told his grandpa, "My daddy can fix everything!"
What faith little children have in their parents. That must be why
Jesus said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3
Of course earthly parents can't fix everything, but our heavenly
Father can!

YOU CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING
Remember: You can't fix everything
In this life.
You can't shield your loved ones
From sorrow and from strife.

You can't shield them from each hurt
And from each heartache,
But you can be there for them,
When mistakes they make.

You can't protect them
From illness or from pain.
You can't fix everything.
Your efforts are in vain.

Those you love,
Must stand on their own feet.
They must learn to grow
And suffer some defeat.

They will conquer through,
The mistakes that they make,
If you let them grow
And their own way make!

Freda Fullerton
August 25, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is our granddaughter Katie when she was little, getting
a hug from Pooh Bear at Disneyland.
My formula for world peace:
The countries that are fighting each other, cease fire and
go to Disneyland, get a hug from Pooh Bear, hug each
other! They become friends, instead of enemies!

BE A FRIEND
I had rather be a friend,
Than to be a foe.
Why some pick on others,
This I'll never know?

Long ago, Christ proclaimed,
"I have come to bring peace."
If the world would listen
Fighting everywhere would cease.

If we offer love instead of hate
To people everywhere,
Wear a smile and not a frown,
To show others that we care.

We could  conquer much of the hurt,
Forlornness and strife,
That to so many people
Have become a way of life.

We could become the candle light,
That sets upon the hill,
If we practice the 'golden rule,'
Carry out God's will.

Desolation and loneliness,
We could surely end...
For no one in this life
Should be without a friend!

Freda Fullerton
August 24, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

This is a country road in beautiful, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY
Life is a journey...
As we travel through this land,
We are on a spiritual quest,
We must understand.

We are told to be in the world,
But not of it too.
Our homeland is not here,
It lies beyond the blue.

We must not feel...
That here, we are meant to stay,
It is just a dressing room
For one eternal day.

We are just passing through
looking forward to the day,
When we will meet with loved ones,
Who have passed along this way!

Freda Fullerton
August 23, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

This is a doll house my talented husband, Jim, built from a kit,
for our granddaughter, Katie, when she was small. He built three
of these one for our daughter, Janet and one for me and this one.

PRAISING OTHERS
Never be afraid to offer praise
To your fellowman.
In the eyes of God,
A little taller you will stand.

Never be afraid to say,
"I am sorry, it was my mistake,"
A little better person,
Of you it shall make.

Congratulate an opponent,
When he wins from you.
Be forgiving to others,
When they ask you to.

For those who want to hurt you,
Get down on your knees and pray,
Ask God to send a blessing...
To them right away.

I know that this is not so easy,
In reality, it is hard to do.
But it can be done,
When the Holy Spirit dwells in you.

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is a grandpa with a grateful heart. My husband Jim, with our
two oldest grandsons, Rich and Russ. They are now, 30 and 32

A GRATEFUL HEART
Lord give me a grateful heart,
Instead if stocks and bonds.
Help me to be thankful,
For each new day that dawns.

I ask you not for annuities
And other monetary stuff
Just to walk with you, each day,
Dear Lord, will be enough.

Help me to worry less
Of what the future holds for me.
Give me a stronger faith to say,
"Not my will, but Thy will be."

Lord I know I'm not so smart,
Nor filled with sophistication,
But I'd rather have a grateful heart,
Filled with appreciation.

Freda Fullerton
August 21, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is wildflowers growing on Block Island, Rhode Island.
If God takes care of these beautiful flowers, without the help
of man, how much more will He care for you and me?

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon and all his splendor was
dressed like on of these. If that is how God clothes the grass
of the field, how much more will he clothe you? Luke 12:27

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Did you ever feel so unhappy,
That you could fill eternity with your sorrow,
That you can't go on...
And there will be no tomorrow?

Do you feel the tears you shed,
Are unseen by anyone?
That there's nothing to look forward to
When the day is done?

Do you think that no one cares
If you live or die?
And of your purpose here,
You just wonder why?

God has for you a purpose.
He created it, before you were born.
He planned a life for you...
And will not leave you forlorn.

You need not feel so purposeless.
You need not feel so blue.
God has made a promise...
He will TAKE CARE of you!

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is Crater Lake in Oregon. It is a beautiful, peaceful place.
It was created by a volcano. It's creation was far from peaceful!
Sometimes our anger is like a volcano and explodes, hurting those
around us! As Christians, the end results of our anger should be
as peaceful as this beautiful lake.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
Proverbs 15:1

ANGER
Life has many Acids,
One of which is anger.
It takes a lot of love
To neutralize this danger.

Hurt and pain, are the side effects
Of this caustic waste,
That cause spiteful words
To be spit out in haste.

For this kind of acid,
There's only one antidote or potion,
Patient words of kindness,
That are softly spoken.

Freda Fullerton
August 19, 2011
  

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is our granddaughter, Katie, when she was
a baby. She arrived 3 months early and had to
stay the first 2 months in the hospital. Her
homecoming was a grand occasion! She
was certainly loved and  welcomed home.
God loves and welcomes us in just this way!

Taken from 1 John 4:16

GOD IS LOVE
God is love:
From Genesis to Revelation
God expresses His love,
His care, and consolation.

"Do not love this world,"
Was what Jesus had to say.
"If you follow them,
You will be led astray.

If you hate your brother,
You can't love Me, you see,
For loving others,
Must begin with loving Me."

God is love:
The way He showed, that to you and me.
He sacrificed His only Son,
Upon a cross on Calvary.
Freda Fullerton
August 18, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

This is a picture of the Narraganestt Bay, taken from
Beavertail, Rhode Island. It looks very peaceful and you
would not get washed out to sea in a bay like this.
When I have to have dental work done or some other
unpleasant task, I try, in my mind's eye, to transport myself
to some peaceful place like this.  It works when you're
discouraged as well.

DON'T BE DISCOURAGED
When you're discouraged
And think all is lost,
Take the time to remember
Who died on the cross.

When you're down
And feeling so blue,
Remember Jesus promised
To be there with you.

When life floods you with trouble
And you seem washed out to sea,
Just remember the One
Who hung on the tree.

When you feel you can't go,
Another step of the way,
Just remember, Christ Jesus,
Is living today.

He is changing the hearts
Of people, you see...
So don't be discouraged
He will not forsake thee.

Freda Fullerton
August 17, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
In 2002 I was named queen of my TOPS chapter.
I had achieved my goal weight. It was fun, but had no
momentary value or no fame. Fame and money are not
the things that bring peace and happiness. Read Paul's
account in the third chapter of Philippians, He had
achieved both of these in the Jewish world, but gave
them up to follow Christ!

I AM RICH
I was born without a title,
I am not of royalty.
"She was born of peasant stock,"
One might say of me.

I'm not poor at all,
And titles don't bother me
I belong to the house of God,
Part of His royal family.

What if my clothes are plain,
My house not made of gold?
My Father has vast fortunes,
That are mine to have and hold.

His bank is filled with love,
He bestows on me.
So I can pass the dividend,
On to you, you see.

In me, He has made a large investment,
He gave His only Son,
That I might live forever,
When my work on earth is done.

So you see I have vast riches,
Not of fortune or of fame,
They are wrought within my Savior,
For I wear His Holy Name!

Freda Fullerton
August 16, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is another view from Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.
You can see both valley and mountain top. At one time or another,
in this life, we will walk both the valley deep and the mountain peak.

YOUR COMPASSION'S NEVER FAIL
Your compassion's never fail,
Every morning they are new.
Great is Your faithfulness,
My portion, my hope is in You.

I will seek You in the morning,
As I quietly wait.
I will will seek You at eventide,
When the day is late.

As I set alone in silence.
I know that You are near.
You see my yoke, my burden,
You see my every tear.

Though I will know grief and sorrow,
As I walk the valley deep,
I will also know peace and joy,
When I climb the mountain peak.

So whatever lies before me,
Both valley or mountain climb,
I know You will walk beside me.
I shall know that I am Thine!

Freda Fullerton
August 15, 2011
Taken from Lamentations 3: 22:23

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is the beautiful Greek countryside. If you're able to travel and
see all the beauty that God has created for our enjoyment, count
your blessings. But you don't have to travel to see beauty; it's all
around us, if we will just open our eyes!

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS NOT YOUR SORROWS
Are you feeling down
And don't know what to do?
Just take a look around,
See those less fortunate than you.

Can you see the beauty,
Of this another day?
Can you hear sweet, music,
Or what people say?

Can you walk or run?
Can you use your arms and feet?
Can you give a great, big hug,
To loved ones that you meet?

When you lie down at night,
Do you fear for life or limb?
Are you persecuted for Jesus sake,
Because you follow him?

Know that in some countries,
You are never free to roam.
People die of starvation
And are never safe within their home!

So, count your blessings,
Not your sorrows...
And know that the loving God,
Will take care of all your tomorrows.

Freda Fullerton
August 14, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
Just one more poem about summer, before we welcome fall.

THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER
Summer's almost over.
One more beach trip in the plan.
New school clothes in the closet,
Cheering baseball heroes from the stand.

A BBQ in the offering,
Evening concerts in the park.
One more three-day holiday,
Before Autumn we embark.

Sun-burned nose, mosquito bites,
An extra pound or two,
Are  all part of every summer,
With the fun things that we do.

The last days of summer
Are met with no regret at all,
We're looking forward to Thanksgiving
And the cooler days of fall.

Freda Fullerton
August 13, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is the ruins of Corinth. Paul certainly had to walk by
faith when he entered this city. It was at the height of its
glory and its sinfulness!

"Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and
certain of what you do not see" Hebrews 11:1

WALK BY FAITH
When we experience testing,
We really want to ask,
"Is this from you God,
Are you taking me to task?

Or is it Satan's whisper,
That you're not really there,
And if I seem to suffer,
Who's around to care?"

The flesh, often speaks louder than the spirit,
We want to do what's right.
It is hard to walk by faith,
When we want to walk by sight!

But God works behind the scenes,
His purpose, not always clear,
For He wants us to walk by faith
And believe that He is near.

He will complete His plan,
That He has for you and me,
If we patiently wait for Him
To lead us to eternity!

Freda Fullerton
August 12, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
This is Honolulu, Hawaii, taken from the look-out
above the Punchbowl Cemetery. It makes you
wonder, in a city this size, how many people live
their lives without God?

LIFE WITHOUT GOD
Life without God...
Is like a desert wasteland,
Where souls forever thirst,
As they tread trouble's sand.

Hungry, thirsty lives...
Ebb and flow away.
They cry in their distress,
For a redemption day!

Those without God
Are in dark's deepest gloom,
And the chains of sin
Seems to be their doom.

But thanks be to God,
The redeemed can surely say,
"His love endures forever."
His blood will wash their sins away!

Taken from Psalm 107
Freda Fullerton
August 11, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:
Summer is almost gone, so here is one more summer poem!

SUMMERTIME
Summertime is...
Ripe peaches in the orchard,
Sweet corn in the field,
Tomatoes in the garden,
Watermelon's bountiful yield.

Summer showers on distant hill,
A welcome to summer fruit and flowers,
Birds singing in the trees,
You can listen to for hours.

Fireflies at sunset,
A whopper-will's distant call,
Bees buzzing in the hives,
Making honey for the fall.

Yes, lazy days of summer,
When the heat is on the rise
And the days are long and peaceful,
You know that God's bounty has arrived!

Freda Fullerton,
August 10, 2011