Category: Seeds

But a Moment

4/18/2013

When a person receives unforeseen news that is of a devastating nature, the world takes on quite a different look than it had only a moment prior. The darker colors outdoors appear to be abnormally dismal, the still-leafless branches on the trees seem to be in the foreground of any view regardless of where one looks, and the jaggedness of last year’s thistles stand out in stark relief against the background of the pale, new growth of spring. The world looks ‘off’ and seems to match the numbness from the intense pain residing in the heart.

Psalm 31:9-10 “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.”

Such was the case today for me. Numb from the news of the telephone call, I wandered outside to retreat into the privacy of the garden where my tears could flow freely and I could speak plainly to the Lord of the deep pain in my heart. I sought for some tangible sign of hope to ease the ache that had suddenly taken up residence in my soul. And, as is just like our Father, I found it in quite an unexpected way.

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

It was not that many days ago that I had been in the yard and saw a lone dandelion standing proud and tall against the edging where it was safe from the blade of the lawnmower. Its bright yellow flower petals had been gleaming in the sunshine and it seemed to live unmindful of its reputation as a weed that people spent so much time and effort trying to eradicate from their perfectly manicured lawns.

During my trip to the garden today, I espied it again, only to find the remnants of that happy-colored flower of yesterday in the form of a perfectly rounded seed head.   Its blooming season had ended and the seeds were poised so as to be caught up by the wind and borne to a new home where they could patiently wait for the next season to show their bright yellow heads to the world once more.

It was in this dandelion that I saw a reminder of the assurance of hope that has been promised to us as God’s children.

Job 14:5 “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”

Just like the dandelion, we each have our season on this earth. God alone knows the length of time given to every one of us. For that brief span of time, we grow, bloom and shine brightly in the life He has gifted to us. And when the time allotted to us has been fulfilled, He calls us home to Him.

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

During our lifetime, we release seeds (figuratively speaking) into other people’s lives that will remain long after we are gone. While an individual may no longer be physically present with us, these seeds will gently remain in us as sweet reminders of the one who released them.

Psalm 112:7 “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

I thought that after the news of today that I would be full of ‘why’ questions. Why her? Why when she was so young? Yet I could not question the God who knew the length of her life before she was ever born. We were blessed to have her for nineteen years. Instead, with tears streaming from my eyes, I looked heavenward then proclaimed loudly through the sobs caused from the deep ache in my heart, “Even so, I trust in You and in Your timing. And I trust in the promise You gave of everlasting life for all those who believe. I will see her again one day.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Until the time comes for us to begin everlasting life with Him, we have His promises of complete care for all that we need in this life.

Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Truly we are here for but a moment. What will you do with it? What will you do with Him? The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

                                        Dedicated to Maria Kathleen Elias
                                               February 22, 1994 – April 18, 2013
                            Look for us by the gate. We’ll be there before we know it.

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"Why me, Lord?"

3/26/2013

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Have you ever asked this question during a time in your life when it seemed as if the whole world was against you and one thing after another went wrong?  Everything from failed relationships, mechanical issues and an unexpected
medical report to those smaller, nit-picky things such as oversleeping the alarm, dropping an over-ripe berry onto a new outfit (the outfit being white, of course), or stubbing your toe.  While some of these things happen because of our poor choices, some of them are not. You know that if one more piece of bad news is received, or one more thing doesn’t work as it was designed to do, you would scream as you ‘went down for the third time’ beneath the tidal wave of life-circumstances to never again resurface.  While this sentiment is over-exaggerated, I think we have all been there at varying times and unanimously agree that we would prefer to not repeat
them.

Job 8:11 “Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?   Can reeds thrive without
water?”

A recent bout of personal challenges made me think about the flower and vegetable seeds I have diligently tended to over the last few weeks while trying to get them to germinate indoors so I could have seedlings to plant outdoors at the proper time. Some of the seeds began to grow and pop their little green heads through the soil almost immediately without me having to do more than simply poke them into the dirt and apply a squirt of water.   But, with other seeds, it was not so. Day after day, these seeds didn’t make any show of growth. And finally, after many weeks of no apparent sign of germination – and feeling great frustration over having, once again, wasted time, effort and materials over one more growing season – I carefully researched why these seeds had not sprouted and discovered that, while most seeds need no special treatment to germinate, other seeds have very specific requirements that must be met before
germination could occur.

Seeds with a coat so hard that it cannot absorb moisture have to go through a process called ‘scarification.’ This means that their coats needs to be broken or scratched either by something sharp (i.e. knife, fingernail file or sandpaper), by passing through an animal’s digestive tract, or by enduring heat (such as in a forest fire) that results in chemical changes to the seed so that germination can take place.

Other seeds need to go through a ‘stratification’ process which is where seeds are exposed to cold, moist conditions that trigger the growth process. Still other seeds benefit by soaking in water, or by being in either total darkness or complete light for a specified period of time. Once the proper conditions are met for each seed’s requirement, germination is almost sure to
follow.

1 Corinthians 15:38 “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.”

God designed both seeds and humans with specific requirements for all the stages of life. Each – both seeds and humans - exhibits similar characteristics in the growth process.  While every human has exactly the same life lessons to learn, we come to understand specific skills through differing circumstances, usually at varying speeds and at dissimilar times.  It is God who provides the proper conditions for each of us during specific seasons in our life.  While we may not understand why we experience certain situations or events, God does have a reason for them even if we cannot see what that reason is right now, or even if we won’t see it until some distant point in the future, if ever.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

Some of us may require a passage through darkness. Yet God is there illuminating the path.

Psalm 18:28 “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

Sometimes our path takes us through the heat of the fire or into deep waters. Yet God is right there with us – protecting us all the way.

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through
the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Every circumstance is an opportunity for our growth and, always, for God’s glory to shine. If we don’t lose heart, God will renew us day by day …

2 Corinthians 4:16 “ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

… and will also reveal to us the wisdom we need to glean for growth from each situation if we but ask Him.

James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.   Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

In the midst of the seasons full of “why me” questions, He longs to show you His kindness and compassion.

Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you
compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Will you wait for Him? Once your seed germinates, a beautiful garden of fragrant blooms is just on the other side of this period of growth.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

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Spring Cleaning

2/7/2013

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While much of the country is still deep in the grip of old man winter, the southern areas are just beginning to see the first promises of spring’s arrival as buds appear on trees and bushes, the grass begins to lose some of its brownness as the first blush of green appears, and early flowers begin to show their eye-popping colors of yellows and deep pinks as they spread wide their petals to bathe in the warmth of the sunshine.

Though many of us have several weeks of the winter whites and grays ahead of us, the first vestiges of spring fever are starting to stir deep within us.   Gardeners everywhere – who have probably been forming this year’s planting strategy since late last fall – are eagerly watching the calendar for the perfect date to begin their seeds indoors and to also schedule the transplantation of the anticipated seedlings outdoors a few weeks later.

Full of enthusiasm and visions of lushness for the upcoming growing season, the
hopeful gardener looks over their outdoor space only to realize that prior to
planting anything – seed or otherwise – the cleanup that should have been
performed in the fall and wasn’t done because of time or weather constraints now
needs to have some serious time spent on it to remove the damages caused by the
wear and tear of the winter weather on shrubs and trees.

Pruning isn’t a bad word, though by the time many hours are spent lopping off wayward branches or dead limbs and expending much energy in carting off the amputated appendages, you may think that it is.  I assure you that it is not.  Quite the opposit in fact.  By making the effort and taking the time to invest in the spring clean-up process, you make conditions more favorable for your tree, bush or shrub to not
only be more esthetically pleasing, but also to reap the benefits for a healthier, more productive life.

What are some of the benefits of pruning?    Irregular growing habits can be corrected; it can bring about an earlier bloom period; it can encourage larger flowers and fruits to be produced; it can cause a tighter root structure to form thus increasing the chance for greater survival if the plant should be transplanted elsewhere; it can aid in controlling disease and pests; and it is also vital to keep the plant’s energy from being drained by trying to keep the dying or dead portion(s) alive.

When each person makes the choice to accept Christ into their heart as their Lord and Savior, immediately he/she stands spiritually perfect before the Father at that
moment of acceptance. What remains oftentimes, however, are the previous habits, responses, attitudes and behaviors of our physical existence that have been learned over a lifetime of living in everyday life that need to be broken as well as new ones formed that are more pleasing to God and that better reflect our new status as His child.

What is needed is pruning. It is just as vital of a process in a person’s life as it is for the survival and flourishing of the vegetation as listed above. And the very same benefits mentioned earlier for the plants are equally beneficial to us.   Spiritually speaking, acceptance of the pruning process ensures better health, greater strength and more vitality that will be evidenced by the size of the fruit (i.e. love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23)) that we bear.

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

As long as we let Him, pruning remains a life-long process as He consistently molds
us more and more into what He’s designed us to be.

Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

For people, pruning can be a painful process as we strive to hold onto what is familiar; it (whatever ‘it’ may signify for you) is what we have always known and have gotten used to living with.   But greater life – healthier, stronger and more fruitful – lies within the process of letting go of what is at best mediocre (or else completely
life-draining unto death at worst) and grasping hold of the better living which is ours through the trusting acceptance of Him and His reshaping of us.

John 15:1-4 “I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts
off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear  fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.   Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

This spring, as you spruce up your outdoor environment in preparation of the planting
and growing of your chosen vegetation, I would encourage you to also spend time
allowing Him to tend to the garden of your heart.  You won’t be disappointed in the lushness of your harvest.

John 10:10b “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

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But a Moment

"Why me, Lord?"

Spring Cleaning

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