“God’s creation is beautiful!”

Earlier this week, I couldn’t keep from heading outside to weed the flower bed.

Of course I’m not really supposed to be taxing myself with yard work so I told Jase he was coming along.

I expressed my joy at how well the tulips he planted were doing.

Busily pulling weeds, I began explaining the difference between them and the plants coming up.

As my energy began to wane, I stopped talking.

My eyes were on the weeds, all around me.

My mind was warning me not to overdo it.

The task started to feel over bearing.

Silence settled around us as I kept working and wondering how much more I should do.

Then his voice broke the air.

“God’s creation really is beautiful!”

“Isn’t it, Mom!”

I was startled.

I looked up.

His face was aglow with wonder and appreciation.

His eyes were looking above me, focused on the two blooming trees in the neighbor’s yard.

They’re bountifully blossomed in pink.

Showing the glory and creativity of our Master in their tiny bright flowers.

He wasn’t hindered by the weeds.

He was able to lift his eyes to the beauty above us.

What a wonderful reminder!

Our son, one of God’s creations, rejoicing in another of God’s creations.

Jesus said it best:

Matthew 21:16b NKJV …And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

Our son was an example to me.

It’s important to look for God’s beauty and not get bogged down by the weeds.

A chance to grow

This lovely flower is an example of the surprising things which can occur in life.

We had lived at our present home for almost a year when I noticed a strange plant in the yard.

It was really very small and odd looking, because it had been mowed more than once.

I really didn’t give it much thought as I passed by.

However, last year I decided to dig it up and move it to a place it would be away from the mower.

It wasn’t in a prominent spot and I didn’t even water the thing.

In fact I forgot about it altogether.

When I walked around the house, the following spring, it was there, 3xs the size.

Imagine my surprise when it burst into beautiful flowers.

Afterwards, I began moving other plants from the lawn to various flowerbeds.

Every plant has grown and bloomed.

It made me think.

In life there are different  circumstances which stunt our growth or cut off our ability.

There are places where just survival is all that seems to be occurring.

(Like the tiny mowed down rose campion in my yard.)

But then the Gardner comes along.

He transplants, waters, and causes beauty to spring forth.

(Unlike my half hearted move of the first plant.)

Jesus knows exactly what each one of us was created for.

Jesus knows the beauty yet to burst forth.

Jesus understands exactly what place, what people, and what He wants for each of us.

But we are different from the flower.

We have a choice.

We get to either follow His plan or continue in the lawn, being mowed down by circumstances which come from being away from His garden.

Dear Reader,

May you follow Jesus. May you benefit from being watered by the Word of God.  May your life bloom.

In the cleft of the rock

How amazing the way plants and trees can grow in the smallest crack with the harshest conditions.

Yet here is this little plant.

And it’s blooming.

What an inspiring picture of walking through difficult circumstances.

God doesn’t promise us a cushy home or an easy life,
but He promised to never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus warned: “In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. ”
John 16:33b

The question comes when one is living in the turmoil of tribulation:

“Why is this happening?  How does one walk through this!”

They are very reasonable questions and each person who walks through could tell their own testimony of how God was faithful. 

Personally I have found an answer which holds no matter the circumstance, no matter the tribulation.
It is made up of 3 things:
prayer,
reading the Bible,
and
thankfulness.

With each painful experience God has walked me through I have been comforted by these things.

And the days I felt like giving up were invariably days I had neglected to seek God in each of these ways for just doing one didn’t give me all I needed to bloom through the storm.

I can hear the question.

What kind of blooming am I talking about?

I mean the kind which is honest enough to answer, “How are you doing? ” with a “Not very well,  if you think of me please pray.”

I mean the kind of love which refuses to “unload” on the acquaintance who said some cutting remark unknowingly.

I mean being able to cry when there is need without excuse,  because Jesus showed us it is okay and healthy to grieve.

I mean the kind of blooming which gets up and continues to look to God instead of falling into self pity.

These kinds of blooming are difficult even in the normal busy everyday,
but to walk through a tribulation and still feel for the needs of those around you is truly a fruit of a personal relationship with God.

After all,
only He is able to teach us how to grow in the cleft of the rock.