My Garden To Date

I am much more encouraged about my garden this year than lasts. I believe I only harvested corn and cherry tomatoes last year. But, it was my first and it gave me something to do.

This year, however, looks like I'll be getting a better harvest. I'm trying to do everything as organically as possible, but I did end up having to pick up a couple of tomato plants from the store because of bad seed. And then I was blessed with a few more plants from a friend at church :) They are not super tall yet, but getting there!

Beef Steak

(Honestly, I'm not really sure why I am dedicating a whole post to plants. I guess it's the gardener thing to do. I wouldn't blame you if you stopped reading right here :) ) 

These are green bell peppers...or at least I hope they will be someday. Feels like they are taking forever to grow! I believe our soil may have a lack of magnesium, so last month I ended up watering them with an Epsom salt mixture. It seems to be helping! The leaves went from yellowish brown to bright green and they are growing taller.

Of course the sun makes them still look yellow.

Just picked these cucumbers this morning! They are the very first I have ever grown and they taste delicious. Yay!

I think the part of my garden that I am the most "excited" about are the pumpkins. I am really hoping to make homemade pumpkin pies this Fall! 

Blossoms

Baby pumpkin about the size of a baseball.
Kind of looks like a watermelon right now.

There are three pumpkin vines growing. There were four,  until...ahem...Jeremiah decided to pull one out. But we won't talk about that...ahem. 

Seriously, could YOU stay upset with this face???

Here's my sweet corn. I always enjoy watching the stalks grow. I think it's because their growth is so noticeable from day to day.

And last, but not least, is my fennel plant. It was given to me by the same friend who gave me the tomatoes. So happy to have some variety in the garden! 

Have a great day!

Megan

The wind of the Spirit

By Amy Carmichael

Excerpt from 'Candles in the darkness'. 

How I rejoice. Yes, now your boat will go out to sea in a new way. We have not to make the Wind or to beseech it to blow. We have nothing to do with the wonder of it. Our one work is to set our sails to catch the least whisper of it. 'Blow, blow O Breath' really only means, 'O Breath, my sails are set; according to the promise of my Lord, fill them now.'

   And what is it to Him if the boat be small or great? All the wind asks for is a sail set to catch that which is ready to fill the merest nothing of us all. The one condition for receiving is obedience; and the one condition for going on is the same. Yield to the impulse to pray, to sing, to speak, to be silent - to be or to do anything. Never stifle the Spirit. Never grieve Him by arguing or disregarding. Quench not the Spirit, vex not the Spirit. All the verbs are gentle. It is as if our God would have us understand that the blessed filling of the Blessed Spirit is a very tender thing, that He is very tender. A very slight dimness on the glass obscures the image. A very little rust on the blade mars its perfection. So with all sensitive things. So with Him and His power to effect through us what He will. If we disregard some quiet inward admonition, then suddenly or gradually (but surely) our sail starts flapping against the mast. We make no headway, and we seek for Him, but there is a sense of absence. And that is pain to the loving heart. 

    But if ever this should be, go back to where you were when you first set your sail. 'To them that obey Him.' Then, oh so quickly, so gladly, the Wind will blow again. He never keeps us waiting, unless indeed we have kept Him long waiting, and then sometimes, as in the Song of Songs (chapter 5, the third wandering), there is a pause between missing Him and welcoming Him again. But may such an experence never be yours. It need never, never be.  

Faith in His timing

   The other day, after mentioning that I believe God's call on my life is to someday be a wife and mother, someone stated/asked me, "Ohh, so you're on the hunt for a man, huh?!".  Haha! How do you answer that? I think I just chuckled and ended up saying something about believing that God's timing is best. And although I wish I had some more eloquent words to say at the time, I truly meant that statement.

After all these years, I'm still not very good at explaining to people my reasons for not casually entering into a relationship with a man (versus with a purpose) and currently being a stay at home daughter. I can imagine that I have probably been misunderstood on countless occasions. But, I think that could be possibly said about anyone who is following what they believe to be God's calling on their life at the time. That's why we do it for God and not man. I just pray that no matter what people got from their conversations with me, that my words came across humbly. 

I am not on the hunt for a man, EVEN THOUGH I desire an earthly husband very much. I look forward to the day when I can hold his hand and look into his eyes with love and faithfulness. I am no different that any other woman. I desire to one day hold a darling baby in my arms and have a home of my own with a kitchen big enough to bake in all day ;)  
Though these things are on my heart and mind every day, I can't necessarily let them rule my life. 

Yes, everything I do in and out of my home is more than likely preparation for my future home and family, and I will continue to live as such unless God speaks otherwise. Of which, He could, and I must stand prepared for that too. You see, Christ is the One that ultimately satisfies the deepest needs and desires of my heart. He is the One I lean upon for fulfillment, strength and security. He knows my heart even better than I do – because He created me.  He will never fail me.  He will never disappoint me.  And He will always be the most perfect Prince my feminine heart could ever desire.  But, He is not merely a stand-in until my husband-to-be comes along.   I know, beyond a shadow and a doubt, that my future husband will be a wonderful joy and fulfillment in my life. But, I also know my love story with him will never be able to compare to my love story with the King of all kings. Christ, simply put, is my true Prince, my ultimate Bridegroom, and my all in all. 

 I sincerely and humbly believe these years of singleness are a gift to be treasured. Leslie Ludy describes it well in one of her online devotionals: 

Singleness is an incredible opportunity to be fully consecrated in body and spirit to Jesus Christ alone – to be undistracted by any other romance and free to be consumed with Him alone. (see 1 Cor. 7:34)  This is not only an amazing opportunity for our single years, but it is the absolute best way we could ever prepare for marriage.  When Jesus Christ is our all in all, we will never place unhealthy pressure upon our spouse to meet the needs only He can fill.  And if our husband is ever taken from us, we will not lose our confidence, hope or security – because it’s in Jesus Christ. 

I am on a journey. I long to surrender my time as a twenty-two year old single woman to my Lord. I long for all my hopes, dreams and plans to belong to Him because He is worthy of them. I must be willing to give it all up. He gave everything up for me, how could I not be willing to do likewise for Him? It's not easy, but it is a joy and a privilege. I want you to realize though, that I am not expecting God to take away these desires. I just know that if the are not in His will for my life, and all these years of preparation are for something else only known to Him, that He has my heart and I believe He will give me the grace to give them up and step out to do what He has planned for me :) 

Blessings!

In Him,

Megan 

P.S. As an answer to those who have asked a certain question of me many times -  I promise, I really do meet, hang out with (in a group setting), and have friends that are guys! I just try my best to not look at every young man as a potential husband. The Lord will reveal him, once again, in His perfect timing :) 

Africa Bound

       Please keep my dad, Tom Zurowski, and our good friend, Tucker Mcalpin, in your prayers as they take off for South Sudan today! They are excited about their trip and pray that God receives much glory through it. They ask for prayer for their safety, as South Sudan is still a volatile country. Thank you! 

Did you know that the high priest in olden days was just an ordinary man except when he wore his priestly garments? I had thought of Aaron as walking about in some of them, at least, much as a clergyman wears his dog collar. But it wan't so. 

  Our Lord, the beauty of our Lord and His Righteousness - these are our priestly garments. Without that clothing we have no priestly rights, powers or virtues whatsoever. It is just another illustration of 'Without Me ye can do nothing', be nothing too. ~ Amy Carmichael  

 

The Zurowski Family Travelers

   I am happily breaking my blog fast today. Yeah, I went a little past the one month mark. Oops!  I guess I got a little fast happy ;)

   (March 16th - 22nd) - While I was "away",  I had the wonderful opportunity to really go away and travel to North Carolina to visit with some of my closest friends, the Hoar family!

I love these people!!!

I met the Hoars back when I lived in Thailand and have only grown in my love for them and their hearts for God and the Thai people. I am so thankful that they invited me to be a part of their furlough. They are the beeeest! (That's for you, Marg ;) 

   Let's see, oh, next I was sick with...something. I'm still not sure what it was. Strep maybe? It was horrible and that's pretty much all I can say about that. 

   Easter! How was yours? Ours was so nice! We even got a new family picture taken of us. Not professional of course, but will have to suffice for now:

Dad took a ton of other pictures, but I'll just share the most embarrassing funniest one with you for now :)

Yep. John's idea. Can you tell which one of us is the basketball player? ....Show-off :P 

Also, during this time, our good friend, Andrew, from New York spent a week with us. It is always so much fun to have him here :) 

   (April 16th - 27th) Next up was a trip up to New York and Dad leaving the same day for South Sudan. Both trips were wonderful in of themselves and it was great being with our loved ones (on both sides of the globe!). But then we were told the devastating news that a very good and long time friend of ours had passed away. So, Mom and the boys and I drove the 14 hours home and Mom and John were right back on the road the next morning to drive to our friends funeral which was several states away as well. Needless to say, my mother was rather tired by the time they came home. And yesterday my dad came home! It's always so wonderful to have him back safe and sound. It's also great to be back together as a family again, especially after such a whirlwind week. The Lord is good! 

   Now that I'm home, I'm anxious to get started on my garden! I just need to borrow a rototiller and then I'll be set. This years crop will (hopefully) consist of pumpkins, cucumbers, corn, bell peppers, beef steak tomatoes and carrots. Plus I plan on adding some flowers around the edges that are supposed to help keep the pests away. 

   Well, I must go now, but I will leave you with this beautiful Psalm first - 

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 

The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. - Psalm 121

Blessings to you!

Abolitionist - Part 3

"But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands." ~ Isaiah 32:8

Abolitionist – Part 3

Interrupted

I interrupt this month-long internet fast (yes, the one I forgot to write about) to take the time for rooting my brother on for his desire to unashamedly share about a burden that God has placed upon his heart. While I am not writing on here for the rest of this month, I would highly encourage you to please head over to John's blog Unashamed.

His two newest posts are VERY interesting reads and ones that I hope you will take the time to look at. They are kind of long, but please don't skim! Every word written is vital and leading up to his point. Below are easy links to his posts from yesterday and today. I know he would appreciate a comment or two :) 

Abolitionist – Part 1

Abolitionist – Part 2