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A Lesson in Flowers

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Beth came in from dumping out the scrap bucket and handed me a little bunch of white flowers that put me in mind of stars.

“I’ve never seen these in our yard before. They’re so pretty, and since Dad said he might mow tonight, I wanted to pick them before they were cut down.”

I don’t know how many flowers do this, a lot I imagine, but these ones open during the day and are closed at night. Beth was relieved to see them open the next day as she feared that picking them had ruined them. That was last week.

The girls and I went for a walk near where the in-laws live. Again, Beth couldn’t resist picking a pretty little Buttercup and giving it to me. Then along the way, Laura did the same. By the time we reached our car the flowers were wilted.

“You may as well toss them,” Beth said, “they look about dead.”

“They’ll perk up in some water,” I said, putting them on the dash where I’d see them and remember to tend to them when we got home.

They were standing straight and tall in their glass of water the following morning.

Lessons learned from these flowers:

Open up to Jesus, Light of the world, and shut out the darkness that opposes Him. Close yourself to mainstream media, social media, doctor’s reports that are contrary to God’s word concerning you, the well meaning advice of those dearest to you that don’t line up to the Word, and especially the toxic chatter that may be taking place in your mind. Take a break. Be still. Make the time to listen to what God is saying. Malachi 4:2 says, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…” We know Jesus is the Son of God, but isn’t it interesting to find here that He is referred to as the Sun of righteousness? Open up and get your daily dose of the Sun today!
In John 4:7-15 Jesus has an in depth discussion at a well with a Samaritan woman about water. Not just any water, but “the gift of God”. The water He offers He calls “living water” and says whoever drinks it “will never thirst”. “But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life,” says Jesus. Now that’s water worth drinking!

I know this seems simple for God’s Word Girl, perhaps even a little trite, but I like to look at things around me and learn simple life lessons from them; or, be reminded of things I’ve learned. I’ve had many an epiphany going through life with this type of outlook and you will, too.

Are you feeling frazzled? Frustrated? Fatigued? Then join me in taking a lesson from the flowers: Let’s open ourselves up to the gift of God, the Son, and take and drink from the water He offers.

Oh, the Humanity!

O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake!

~from the hymn: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High attributed to Thomas a Kempis

This verse coupled with these scriptures from the Message Bible brought tears to my eyes:

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself … When the time came He set aside the privileges of deity and … became human! … He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges … He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death …

… Keep on doing what you’ve done, … redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.
Philippians 2:5-8: 12-13 The Message Bible (I capitalized the “God” pronouns)

Think of it, Jesus sacrificially laid down His deity to become the thing He came to save … humanity. What god in their right mind would do such a thing but the God? King of Kings, LORD of Lords, Master and Creator of all, ultimately, Lover — Lover of the crown of His creation — mankind.

That He would stoop from the heights of Heaven to walk with us here in: hunger, fatigue, sickness, disease, weakness, rejection, aging, anxiety, depression, the incessant barrage of the enemy against our bodies and our souls in attempt to break our spirits is beyond comprehension, but this, Jesus did. Such humility! In Philippians 2:5 in the Message version we are told to think of ourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself; He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that He clung to the advantages of that status no matter what.

He came to us and He also brought Heaven down.

He showed us by example how to live in our “human condition” without caving to the temptations of our enemy. He then demonstrated how to: remain pure, how to live in this world without becoming part of the world; how to heal the sick; how to cast out demons; how to raise the dead; how to defeat the enemy in death; and how to love without measure, even at the expense of ourselves, our own lives; and how to live again. He is Risen! He has ascended to His Father, our Father, where we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

Our end will be glorious, too. Yes, getting from Point A to Point B is crushing at times; true discipleship is not for the faint of heart. What are we to to do while we travel here? As Paul wrote, Keep on keeping on. I add part of the LORD’s prayer: Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. No matter how it appears we need to keep looking for God’s will here. There is no sickness, disease, heartache, mental illness, or lack of any kind in Heaven, so look for the Cure to meet us here …

… because part of our prayer is to look for His kingdom here, I also add this admonition from Paul in Philippians 4:4 to: Rejoice in the LORD always; and again I say REJOICE! …

… why rejoice? Because it is finished (John 19:30). Whatever it is we are suffering here, It is finished. Whatever we commit to Jesus at the foot of the cross, to be covered with His precious Blood, It is finished. And whether we see and receive our answers to prayer while we are here, I trust that anything asked according to His will will be done.

Regardless, our focus is this: Jesus became one of us. He totally gets us. From birth to death, He was despised, rejected, a Man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief; because of us He was stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded, bruised, and beaten. He purchased with His precious Blood our peace, healing, deliverance, wholeness, forgiveness, prosperity, and an eternal home with Him in Heaven. Join me today in bowing before Him, thanking Him for His humility, for becoming one of us. Let us take it a step further and ask if there is a particular matter in which we might humble ourselves before Him this day. It’s the least we can do.

Some of the Saddest Words Ever

²⁶For the king himself knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner.

²⁷King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said unto Paul, “Thou almost persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:26-28 KJV

Almost persuaded.

Several years ago we were at one of our “go-to” campgrounds. It was quiet, the campground nearly empty, when the host dropped by for an extended visit at our picnic table. How our conversation got to where it did is a mystery to me, but the point is, we ended up witnessing to him about Jesus. I felt compelled to reinforce how much God loves him. And yes, life doesn’t make sense, and bad things happen, and we make bad choices that sometimes lead to bad consequences, but that doesn’t change the truth that God is a good, loving God and yearns to have relationship with us.

Jim was “on the line”. I could tell by his tender expression and quiet contemplative engagement with us that Holy Spirit was moving upon him. I could also feel his hesitancy. I sensed about him that once he’s committed to something he’s committed, which is good and proper, especially where relationships are concerned. In Luke 14:28 we are told to “consider the cost”, maybe that’s what Jim was internally doing. Not wanting to push, and feeling a window instead of a full-fledged door of entry, I asked him to consider what we discussed, he said he would; I offered prayer, which he welcomed; I gave him a ministry magazine that I had with me that he received.

We still go to that campground, but we have never returned to those weighty, spiritual conversations and I have yet to know whether he has made a decision for Jesus. I wish I had that assurance, for I know God was reaching out to him that day.

Are you one of those who are almost persuaded to be a Christian? I hope not. If Holy Spirit has moved upon you I hope that you will be wholly persuaded and open the door and let Him in. If you wish to consider the cost, do so; that is a good, wise choice. I ensure you that true discipleship is costly, it is also worth the price. If you are willing to embark on a relationship with Jesus, please say this prayer with me:

God, thank You for sending Jesus, Your only begotten Son. I believe that He suffered and died for my sins, that He received all the punishment I deserve. I also believe that he is risen from the grave and is seated at Your right hand, and is preparing a place for me with You in eternity.

I’m sorry for the way I’ve lived, for the things I’ve done that have hurt You and others. Please forgive me and come into my life. Lead me, strengthen me to the live the life that You have purposed for me. I know I won’t do life perfect, but from here on out, I want to do it with You.

Thank You, I love You. Amen.

Perhaps today’s post made you think of someone that is almost persuaded. Join me in a prayer for them today:

Dear LORD, You have called us to be salt and light and we are doing that. There are dear souls that You have brought into our lives to point them to You. We pray that we drop seed, water seed, shine on seed, and gather seed as You direct. Oh, my God, cause us to do no harm but only good to all of our fellow man, but especially to those who would walk this pilgrim path with us. May “you almost persuade me” not be heard in our ears, but rather a “Yes” for You.

Thank Your for Your goodness and Your faithfulness to us all. Amen.