Does it matter who is watching?

While driving the other day I was reminded of something that has happened to each one of us that has a driver's license. I cop pulled up beside me in the double lane. I started watching something and this post came to my mind. The cars I had been traveling with prior to the car arriving were driving fine, but some were faster some were slower. Some didn't seem to know where exactly they were going. Some were following others closely and still others seemed to be in hurry. Yet, when Mr. Policeman showed up, somehow we all remembered the rules of the road and were polite to one another. He was not "after" anyone, just simply going from point A to point B. He stayed with our group of cars for some time. There wasn't an ounce of road rage. Quite nice actually. I then thought back to grade school, when the teacher or oh my, the principal, walked in the room or hallway, we all could remember the rules and were so nice to one another. One final example, our pastor at church. Ever notice when he walks past, how nice conversations are? No one is gossiping, or if they were, it is suddenly changed to something better? We have all been there, including policemen, pastors, teachers and principals.

I realized something that day that stuck. Why is it that those in leadership or authority make us behave differently? Why is it, that when they are around we are on our best behavior, but have them leave and all of a sudden we go back to our old ways. Is it because deep down we all know what is right, but if they can't see us, then they won't know and if they don't know, they won't find out and if they don't find out, they won't make us feel guilty?

We know the rules of the road, we know the rules of the classroom and we know the rules of the bible. Yet, if God's chosen leaders aren't watching, then surely, we can get away with it, right? WRONG, if we are saved in Jesus, then the Holy Spirit lives in us. If He lives in us, then he travels with us. Do I go places, say things and do things as if Jesus were with me? What if your pastor followed your every move for just one day? Would you act the same with your pastor as you did yesterday? If you would act differently with your pastor, why on earth would we not act differently with Jesus following us!! Remember the beginning of my post? I cop car suddenly showing up and staying with our group of cars? We all had a visual. We knew we were being watched. The same for the classroom and the church lobby.

Just because we don't see Jesus, doesn't mean He isn't watching. I am challenged to remember that. I think sometimes we convince ourselves, that no one else saw it, I must have gotten away with it. We don't confess it, because no one saw it. We can put on a smile and say all is well, but deep down inside the pain is still there. You know what, there isn't a corner of your mind or soul that you can hide from God. He sees it. We stumble and fumble and think no one knows, but He knows. It is crazy what we put ourselves through trying to impress people, excuse actions and justify things, that truth be told, if Jesus walked into the room and stood face to face, we some how would spill the whole thing. I want to encourage you this week to picture Jesus riding with you in your car. Walking into our workplaces. Standing in line at the grocery store, maybe even pushing the cart for you (being the gentleman He is, he probably would do it for you if you saw Him in person anyway). When everyone goes to bed and you are still awake, Jesus is sitting beside you while you have remote in hand, what will you choose? I could keep listing examples, you get the idea. My point is this. It does matter who is watching. Our behaviors proved that. We are different people when certain authorities are in the room or in our presence. Where will you and Jesus go this week? What type person will you be? Makes a difference I promise you. On the positive side, you will be a person you feel better being and you won't have the weight of guilt and shame on your shoulders. You will be more inclined to help others and the smile you receive will be well worth it. You will live a more freeing life. That my friend is what Christ wants for us. To live a life of freedom and not bound by the strongholds of Satan. He paid a price for your freedom, lets show him how grateful we are for that freedom.

On a side note: our actions are seen by many. Even if we don't think they care. I teach fourth grade at our church. Today, one of my students was being baptized. As we left the classroom, he looked at me with his big brown eyes and said, "are you going to be there to watch me?". I had to count the offering today, which meant that I would not be in the second service, however how could I say no. So, I made arrangements to leave the counting room and stand in the back. I told him I would try to be there, but once in the counting room, they don't want you to leave. This was important and I wanted to be there for him, yet I did feel, there will be 500+ people in the service, he won't know if I am there or not. I set my alarm on my phone and at the appropriate time I slipped out of the room, with the assistant treasurer's blessings and stood in the back. I was only there a few minutes when I saw him turn around in his seat, from the front row I might add, and waved with a big arm wave. I waved back. A smile from ear to ear was on his face. I walked down the side isle as our pastor was getting ready to introduce a song and then the service was going to begin and he was first. I worked my way to sit by his side. As I arrived, he smiled and said, "did you see me wave?" I said," I sure did". I told him I would sit beside him the entire time if he wanted. He said he did. I had to fight tears. I couldn't have been prouder. He was beaming and of all the people in the sanctuary, I was the one sitting beside him on the day he will never forget. God worked it out for this happen. I was going to just simply stand in the back and leave. But for my student, he was watching and for him, it mattered greatly that I was watching. I sometimes wonder if I am to keep teaching. I have been doing this for over 10 years. However, as I sat in my bench and watched him be obedient in Christ, I felt the Spirit whisper in my soul, "see this is why you do what you do". Yes, the Holy Spirit did the work, I am merely a servant. However, He allows us to share in the work and there isn't anything as wonderful as watching one who was at one time lost, join the fold and know they will be with me in Heaven. As I said, it has been 10 years of teaching and this Fall, I have seen three precious young ones come to Christ and tell me they want to be baptized. I have never had a student tell me this in 10 years. When you don't see fruit from your efforts, it makes you question if you are making a difference. Yet, I knew that is where I was to be, teaching fourth grade.  I can't stop smiling. The fact that God allows us to join Him in this, leaves me speechless. It has been a good day! It does matter who is watching and while I don't want this post to be about legalism and feeling good behavior is what matters and that good behavior is all that God wants, I want to remind you  it is about relationship. I just was reminded how that relationship should look, even when I "think" no one is watching. Don't feel guilt and shame, confess it and live in freedom. He sees it anyway and wants to take it all away, so you don't feel you need to hide from him like Adam and Eve did. If you feel guilt, have a talk with Jesus this week, He is crazy about you and loves every minute you take out of your schedule to spend with Him, He is watching and waiting.

Ducks and Geese

Fall has arrived and with it many things are happening. But there is one part of Fall, that always makes me stop what I am doing and look up. The sound of geese flying overhead. Their cry can sound lonely or stressful. But it can also sound like chatter or that maybe they are sounding the alarm for others to join them. Join them? For what? Well, you see like many of God's creatures, they know the signs to look for when the daylight gets shorter and the temperatures start to dip. It is time to move. To migrate. Now, not all the ducks and geese leave, but they certainly know the weather is changing and some do have miles and miles to travel for warmer climates while others just need to get ready for winter.

The other week as I watched them fly over, they were so much lower than usual. I could actually hear their wings flapping as they glided effortlessly through the evening sky. They were changing positions and the leader was taking a break. I am sure they do that often because the leader would have to take a break or fight the wind much more than the others that are behind. So, they need breaks. Anyway, I was thinking about blogging again and if there is a message in the geese that I could write.

Here are my thoughts. They come and go every spring and winter. I know they are coming, yet, I still look to see them. They are beautiful to watch and I actually like their honking. Their honking. Yes, it is as if they are calling out to make sure all that want to come along know they are invited. If one has stayed on the lake too long, it isn't too late. They could still join in the journey. Also, the honking signals that they are still all together as a group. It gives the others the endurance to keep flying. To keep up with the journey. I always feel sorry when you see one flying by itself and honking with no reply. I just hope they find others a few miles downstream.

Do we as Christians know the signs to look for Christ's return. We are called Christians because we are Christ followers. Do we know the signs we are to be looking for, for His return? Are we calling out to others to join us for the journey? Are we giving our leaders a break and taking our turn in helping keep the group together? There will come a day when the sky will be silent and be no more.  I was reminded of a song that is playing a lot on the radio. It is by Newsboys, called "We Believe". I love the lyrics to the entire song, but the chorus gets me every time. It goes something like this:

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He has given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again

Here is my challenge for both you and myself. If we believe those things listed and as followers of Christ we should, where is room for fear or being left behind? Fear of any kind? If we have new life, if death has been conquered and resurrection has happened and He is coming back for us, what is there to fear? Yet, we live in fear don't we at times? Do we realize that this world will end, whether we see the warnings or not.

If I turn on the news, I am at times overwhelmed. I am glad to be informed but so much is out of my control. Wars continue and people hate other people- people they don't even know and health concerns. We fear others won't like us if we show the real deal in public. We fear we can't handle a job or task because we have never done it before. We fall for Satan's lies and we feel we aren't good enough. We fear we will miss the mark. We read scripture and get confused. End time events are overwhelming. I don't understand them all. I can't tell you for certain the exact order of all events and who will be where or who will see what. But I can tell you, I believe in God the Father, I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe in the Holy Spirit and that is where I rest my fear and worry. They are still following the original plan they had when the Earth was spoken into existence. Yes, we have free will and yes there have been twists and turns with mankind, but not one thing is a surprise to God. When I get a bit anxious, I repeat that chorus to myself. Sometimes out loud. You see, that is all we really need. Because if we believe that, then the Holy Spirit lives in us and the Holy Spirit has conquered death and has given me new life. He that is in me, is greater than he that is in this world. If you can't say with confidence that you believe those things listed in the above chorus, then I ask you to please seek someone out who can share with you the message of Jesus. The world tries to complicate it. But all God ever asked, was for us to believe in his Son and believe that he paid the price for our sins. To ask for forgiveness of those sins and to trust in Him. He never asked us to walk this path alone, but somehow, we think we must.

Lets look around us and be like the geese, giving out a call for those searching and wondering. Those waiting for someone to call them to join them on this journey. We as followers know some of the signs that scriptures tells us to look for. I know every generation could say those things were happening in their time frame, but we are getting closer and closer. I am amazed at the number of books and movies being written by the secular world about end days. It is coming. Whether you are ready or not, it is happening. Are you ready? He is calling you to his side. If he already has called you and you accepted please tell others so they too can join us.

One final request. When you read this, our daughters will be getting ready to fly to Africa. I can't type all the details, but I ask you to pray for them to have safety and a fruitful trip. The world is dark all over, here as well as there. I read the same newspapers you do and I hear the same updates on the television, but they are in God's hands and God's plans. He has given my husband and I peace. The world would have me pacing the floor, but with God, I have slept every night in peace.

A recap of Summer via photographs

I had some time this morning to go through my summer pictures. I have decided to post some highlights here. I hope your summer was a good one. Mine went by quickly. I am ready for Fall and the colors it brings with it. For those new to my blog, I post pictures of nature from time to time. I love photography and enjoy capturing the things our Creator has given us. See you next week!

Summer began with the graduation of our daughters. They are a gift from God that I can't thank Him enough for. They are a miracle. They bring us much joy, much laughter, and much happiness!

A Gift

When you think of gifts you think of presents. They are wrapped in pretty paper or shiny bows. A couple of weeks ago, I received a gift. It didn't come in a box. It didn't come in a bag. It didn't even have a bow. It also didn't come on a holiday or a celebration. It came at 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The gift I received was Time...

My day was as your day. I had laundry to do. Lists to make and schedules to keep. I had emails to send, items to purchase and suit cases to pack for a family vacation. We were leaving the following day. I was watching TV with the kids and curled up with my favorite blanket. I was surprised I was so wide awake at 11:00 p.m. I had taken my usual allergy pill a few hours prior and that usually makes me extremely tired for the first 6 to 8 hours. That is why I take it in the evening. We were changing channels and laughing and then the phone rang. We looked at each other because 11:00 p.m. calls are never that good. Mine wasn't. Time froze for me from that moment until the following day. The call was the call I just knew one day I would receive. I had thought what I would do when that call came and I simply wasn't ready. My dad has having chest/heart issues. I watched his father die of the same thing. I remember so well the hospital visit and sitting on the edge of the bed and saying good bye. I knew when I turned the handle on the door, I would never see him again this side of Heaven. I had tears as I left, yet he was suffering and in pain. Now all these years later, it was his son, my dad. My dad. Not someone else's dad. My dad. The man I am so much like. The man you makes me laugh. The man who discusses nature stories with me. The man who discusses politics with me. The man who discusses the bible with me and challenges me. The man who was never going to die and always be in my life.

I got changed and grabbed a water bottle and blanket. I got my keys and kissed my family good bye with a lump in my throat and drove the quiet streets of Lancaster. I was calm and prepared. It was going to be a false alarm and they were going to send him home and regulate everything with meds and we were still going on vacation. I met my sister and her family in the parking lot and was ready to see Dad. She was heading home and I was staying for the night. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Time still seemed frozen as I headed up the elevator. I had flash backs of all my visits with my three month stay all those years ago. I had some concerns, but was on autopilot. I simply wasn't ready for what was coming.

I walked into the room and he looked good. The nurses were caring for him and he even smiled at me. Mom was great. Sitting by his side and helping answer questions. Then the reports started coming in. He was staying. Numbers were not matching last round of tests. Things were calm and steady. They got him hooked up and in his bed. By now it is 3:00 a.m. I was still wide awake. They got a cot for mom. I had the chair in the corner, but thankfully it reclined. My mom was ready for some rest and as she crawled into bed, she realized she hadn't said good night to dad. She hopped back out, walked to his bed and kissed him good night and said "I love you". He did the same. Then in a few minutes, they were both sleeping. Snoring began moments later and that is when my gift came. In the quiet corner of a hospital room I felt its presence. Time. "I am giving you time Sue". I can't say how long, but time is yours right now. Spend it as you wish. My mind drifted back 19 years to the same hospital only one floor up. That same voice whispered, "you are never alone and I will never leave you, but will you trust me? Fully trust me?" I looked out the hospital window and saw the night sky and all the street lights. Just I had all those years ago, night after night. I drifted back to current day and I watched as both my parents slept. One to my right and one to my left.

I realized in that moment the man who taught me so much and loved me so much was laying in a bed for the first time in his life hooked up to life saving meds. I didn't know what the night would bring or how I would ever say good bye. Are we ever ready? I thought about all the things we have done together and all the questions we have discussed. I thought about people who never knew their dads, didn't have a relationship with their dads and then I thought of how my dad loved Jesus and because of that love, taught me about Jesus. I could list so many things and I know this means more to me than anyone else. I also know unless it is you walking it, it really isn't the same. But in that moment I realized I have been given the gift of two loving parents. They have loved each other completely for 50 plus years. The one needs the other as much as the other needs them. I hope our daughters can say the same about my husband and I.

Life doesn't stop because you are in the hospital. The sun started to rise and morning was coming. He was still breathing and still with me. I had not lost him. The tests would show later in the day that he needed double bypass surgery. In the moments I sat in the hospital under the night sky were moments I will never forget. God really does care and he really gives you what you need when you need it. I needed to face the hospital again after all those years and I needed to realize my dad is in his care.

Dad has had his surgery and continues to heal well. We are grateful that surgery was an option and that his future looks great.

I learned something else through all this. God still loves us even if we don't always act the way we should. I felt in a strange way like Peter. I didn't deny Christ these past few weeks, but prior to this, I would have said my faith was strong and that Jesus will get me through life's circumstances. All those items are true. But like Peter who just minutes before told Jesus he would stand beside him and fight for him, how quickly things changed he couldn't stay awake to pray and when solider came he ran. When I got news of my dad's condition, I would like to say, I prayed and was filled with peace and understanding and calmness. But, I immediately became selfish. I wanted my Dad longer. I didn't want to have to say good-bye. I was worried what was going to happen. I found I would let my thoughts wonder, instead of praying for peace. I tried to keep myself busy so I didn't have to face the facts. Where is faith in that? But you know what, God didn't stop loving me because of that, He chose me and knew my weaknesses. He knew when life would throw me curve balls, that my human nature would be to run, to fear, to doubt. As the day of surgery arrived I had such mixed feelings. What if it is worse then they say? What if he has a heart attack on the operating table, what if he has a stroke and can't speak? What if? And then that still small voice whispered again, "Sue, do you trust me? It is a win-win for you today. Either you will see your Dad again or he will see Me face to face". I had peace the rest of the day. God even gave me another gift later that same night. We were told by the nursing staff that Dad would be medicated most of the night and we should all go home and rest. We did just that. I now know a new level of exhaustion. However, at 8:30 p.m. I just had the feeling I needed to call and get an update from his nurse, so I could sleep better. When I called, she put him on the phone! I was able to ask how he was and to tell him I loved him. I was able to hear his voice and know that he hadn't had a stroke and that he remembered things and that his speech was fine. I cried when I hung up the phone, the stress of the week was taking its toll. I then felt such guilt that I was the one who heard his voice, not my siblings, not my mom, but me. Immediately, I heard the words, "Really after all we have been through today, you are going to let guilt have its way with you. I gave you a gift. I left you hear with your own ears that he is fine and will be fine. It is a gift meant for you to enjoy". You see God knew I was mentally drained. I hadn't had a good nights rest in days. I went to bed with a smile on my face and slept for a straight 8 hours. God is Good ALL the time.

My dad is 75. I have no idea how long we will have together, I hope a very long time, but I was faced with the fact, that life has an end, we live life like it doesn't. We plan as if it doesn't, but it does. We attend others funerals, but don't realize some day it will be us or our family. We always assume it will be others. We know this to be true, but we don't live like we believe it. We need to cherish the time we have for as long as we have it. I heard several times while sitting by Dad's bedside, "Code Blue", "Trauma", etc. We are never promised tomorrow. I saw so many people laying in beds with no hope or visitors. My heart was and is still heavy for them.

I have learned that things that were important yesterday aren't so much today. Love your family and don't rush time. Time is a gift. Use it wisely.

~Dad, I know you will read this and I want to say, I am proud to be your daughter. Thanks for being a wonderful husband to mom and showing us kids how a loving marriage looks as well as loving us kids enough to work hard, discipline us, encourage us, teach us about Christ and for always loving us. I love you dad!

A Simple Smile

Sometimes I think we struggle on how to share our love of Jesus. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves. If we are honest we don't want to hear a negative response. We don't want to be rejected. It doesn't matter how many times we are reminded that we aren't the ones being rejected, but Him. Still, I believe we are hesitant and go about our daily lives. We aren't all called to be missionaries. Or wait, are we? Scripture doesn't say, those called to be missionaries, spread the gospel, but we are all to go into the world and spread the good news. So how do we do that when we are called to be parents, employees, employers, etc. Those are callings too. May I suggest a smile.

This past week, I was having a very normal day. I had errands to run and like you, was on a time table. I had one more stop to make and honestly, I was not looking forward to it. I needed new capri pants and sadly if you don't get them now in a few weeks, you won't find them among all the winter clothes. Drives me crazy when you can't find seasonal clothes during the actual season. I am getting sidetracked.  Anyway, I entered the store, tried on several pair, found two that worked. I had to wait longer in line and I decided to just wait it out. It is in those moments that I remember usually God is behind the waiting and so I need to be patient.

I was coming out the door  and I heard him before I saw him. He shouted, "you should try smiling a bit more". I turned to him and actually wasn't sure if this was someone who was bitter at the world or if he truly liked my smile. I didn't even think about what came out of my mouth. My response, "I have much to be smiling about". He then shouted across the parking lot, which at this point people were starting to stare and stop. When you focus on things above instead of down, you can smile. He shared with me that 30 years ago, he and his wife were expecting a child and she lost the baby. He was very angry about that and he said it wasn't until recently that he heard "the Jeremiah guy" (Dr. David Jeremiah) tell him that his son would be in heaven. So, that got him to thinking. He said he can't get enough. He listens to every program he can that the Jeremiah guy speaks on. He also said he had literature in his car if I was interested. I told him I enjoy Dr. David Jeremiah very much as well and I would rather someone who needed it, received it. He then shared he had been waiting for his twin aunts who were shopping in the store. I shared I had twins. I want to keep this short so I will not share all the details of our conversation, but I want to share the end of our time together. I shared about my testimony of our daughters. He smiled from ear to ear. I can't put into words the joy it brings me to see the excitement of Christ on another believers face. He was close to 60 and I am guessing many of those years were not with Jesus. But he now lives with a relationship with him. Sadly, his wife doesn't. Pray for her. I don't know names, but Jesus does. He said again how much the Jeremiah guy means to him and he wishes he could be friends with him or meet him some day. I turned to him and said, but if you have a relationship with Jesus, that makes you and him brothers! He beamed and turned to me and said, I need to give you a hug and kiss on the cheek. I got the biggest bear hug. He was beaming for Jesus! No hesitation. No fear. People still watching, still listening, some even laughing with us because of the joy on our faces. His aunts came out and he shared with them about me and asked me to repeat my story. Then he said to them, I have been preaching in the parking lot while waiting for you.

On my drive home, I realized, Jesus was shared and discussed in a hot, sunny, parking lot. Not a bible in hand, no tracts, no prepared speech. Just one believer with a new believer. The wait in the store was so I wouldn't miss him, as I had going in the store. Is it really that easy? Yes, it is my friend. It all starts with a smile and why we are smiling. People don't want preached at. People want to hear how you have been impacted. They want to see Jesus in you. Jesus works out the details. Jesus gives the words and the appointed time. We just need to trust and show up, even on a busy already full day. You never know what a day could bring. I encourage you to look for interesting ways to share Jesus with others, sometimes you may not need to say a word. I bet 10 people or more watched and paused. We were shouting back and forth for awhile. I don't know what they thought or what our actions caused in them, but they were listening.

One final thought: this time of year we have many things getting ready for harvest. Whether it be crops in the fields or our gardens. As I picked the green beans this week and watched the combine gather the wheat, I was reminded of Christ telling the disciples that the fields were ready but the workers were few. How sad that there could be people ready to hear the gospel, but we the workers are so busy with our personal lives that the harvest can't be done. What if you planted, weeded, watered and prepared your garden and then just watched the fruit and veggies ripen only to drop to the ground because you never gathered them? Is that how it is for God? I want to think he would send other workers, but I don't know that. I don't want to hear that this person isn't in heaven because I was too busy. I want to always be looking for ways to serve Him and do the part he had for me. Remember, my part isn't your part and vice versa. Pray throughout the day asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Some days are quiet and other days you can feel His leading. Keep asking and being willing.

The harvest is ready. Are you a worker or a slacker?

A Packet of Seeds

A few months ago, we were dealing with freezing temperatures and snow, snow, snow. The wind would whip right through you and we needed to wear layers. On one of the cold March winter days, my husband and I went shopping for our garden supplies. We knew spring would be coming and we had the day to spend together running errands. While in the store we saw many, many goodies to be had. Seeds of sweet corn, green beans, onions, peas, lima beans, potatoes, etc. It helped to think of things warmer as the snow piled up outside. As we approached the register to pay, a packet of seeds caught my eye. They weren't on my list and honestly I don't know what made me see them. A packet of "mixed wildflowers" it said on the outside. Both he and I looked at each other and decided it was a packet of weeds. But then, he said to me " you know, you could try them and if they are weeds we can just spray them with Roundup and start something else later". I thought about it for awhile and thought what was the harm? So, we left that day with arms full of goodies.

The weather changed and the garden was plowed, the seeds for veggies were planted. The potatoes were starting to pop from under the dirt and the onions were in nice neat rows. The sweet corn was coming up and we had to make sure the rabbits and groundhogs didn't eat it before it had a chance to grow! When I went to get the green bean seeds from the closet shelf I saw our packet of weeds, oh, I mean wildflowers. Oh no! I had forgotten to plant them. I asked Bob to till up the soil in a sunny location and thought I would just see what happens. I was later than the directions said and Maggie thought the fresh dirt and moist soil was something she could and should play in. I sprinkled the seeds on top and lightly hoed a bit of dirt over top and walked away.

Imagine my surprise when a few quick short weeks later, tall blades of green were taking over the mud bed. I still thought they sure look like weeds. Bob wasn't too sure either that flowers were coming, but we decided to wait it out.

Today I took pictures.

 

 



As you can see, they are not weeds. They are beautiful wildflowers! Just as the packet said they would be. I smile as I walk past them and I even had our daughters come look at them.

Where is all this going? If you have read my posts in the past, you know God is in this post. As I thought back over the process, we are like those seeds. We may at first glance not look like much. We may compare ourselves to others and think we have nothing to offer. We think we aren't able to speak like he does. We aren't able to play an instrument. We aren't able to write beautiful songs, poems or messages. We aren't wealthy like they are, so we can't begin to do the things "they" do. The world looks at us and we at them and we all look the same, like the seeds.

But you see, God doesn't see plain simple seeds. He sees the beautiful creation you will be. He plants us in a garden that needs us. He plants us in a place that needs the special qualities only we can perform. I couldn't play a single note of anything to save my life. But I can teach, I can study His Word and share it. I can't financially buy everything the church needs, but I can give each week and that all adds up to something the church can use.

If you look closely at the pictures, go ahead scroll up and look, I will wait...there are many types of flowers. They aren't all the same plants. Some are taller, some are more colorful, some are short and are barely taller than the grass. There are also bees, bugs and even a grasshopper living life to the fullest because of those flowers. If we all had the same gifts and talents, it would get boring. If I could play an instrument, would I enjoy the music as much as I do at church, or would I be listening so carefully to see if they played it correctly. I don't listen for the missed note, I listen for the beauty of it.

I believe that when God looks at His garden He sees the beautiful flowers we will become. He needs to pull some weeds every now and then, you know those bad habits we have and the sins we need to confess, and then He sends just enough rain (showers of blessings) and sun(His Son) to help us grow. We grow as long as we have breath. My flowers will die soon, but the flowers in His garden (you and I) will all live different lengths of time on earth, but we all have to face the question of eternity. He placed you in a garden here to flourish with His help, but you get to decide where you will spend eternity. Will it be Heaven or Hell. That is our only two choices. By not picking one, you pick the other.

As the saying goes...Bloom where you have been planted. Unlike me who almost forgot and then just sprinkled them on the ground and walked away more sure they wouldn't survive than survive, you have been placed exactly where you should be. With the Holy Spirit's help and guidance, you can bloom just where you are, or maybe it is time for you to be transplanted to another part of the Master's giant garden. If so, hold on tightly to His hand and look for His leading as you get used to your new surroundings. If He moved you, it was for His purpose.

Lilies of the Field

Many of you have told me you love my pictures. While I am taking a break from my weekly posting, I did come across some pictures I took while at Longwood Garden's a few years ago. Today, while it is pouring rain, I was reminded of the waterlilies that I love to photograph if I go during summer or fall. They are gorgeous and the detail in each one can't be captured on film. Let the words of Matthew give you encouragement and peace this week, as well as, the pictures of His creation. Many of you are going through big issues right now. Sometimes we forget just how much we are loved, cared for and planned for. God has this. He knew it was coming and He is preparing you and helping you through it.

Matthew 6:28-30 NLT - "Any why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"

 

 

God sees that the wildflowers have everything they need. Today, He is sending rain for them to have plenty to drink while the months of hazy and hot summer days are around the corner. He will send the sunshine so they don't drown in too much water. While some of my pictures are of waterlilies that live in constant water, they also need the right things in order for them to thrive and He will see to it.

 

Are we not much more precious to Him then flowers? How do we know you ask? He sent His Son to save us. So, while I know that there are things that frustrate us, worry us, scare us, consume our thoughts, He has a plan and a purpose for it or it would not be happening. He is not a time waster. He cares more about your character than your happiness. So, maybe the situation you are in isn't fun, it just may be building character. Have a blessed week!