Saturday, December 25, 2010
A plant graveyard
The rainfall from last week leaves us all feeling a little bit chilly still. Wasn't it amazing? I knew God would never flood the earth again, but I was starting to wonder. On a positive note, my trees and plants look quite nourished, even though they sang a different whiny tune when they almost drowned from all the pools of water around them.
They got what they TRULY needed though, a refreshing dose of cold H20. They look green and vibrant today in the sunshine, almost hopeful really, which is strange to say about a plant. But, if you are a plant-lover like I am, you know what I mean.
In contrast to those healthy plants, I happened to notice two others as I walked up my driveway to the front door today. Two of my potted hanging plants look like sad members of a plant graveyard. You see, even though they were mere inches from the downpour that came with four days of non-stop rain, they couldn't benefit from the free heavenly drops.
It's ironic that those two hanging baskets missed all of those free "drinks on the house." Even the craziest part of the storm could not reach them under the eaves. So, they could hear it and long for it, but to no avail, they remained bone dry.
With three kids, one dog and a packed holiday schedule, those two plants in particular were a low priority to me; they've been on their way out for awhile, if you know what I mean. To avoid death though, all they needed was a good soaking to catch them up from their season of starvation. But I didn't stop to put those plants under the storm's path.
That's kind of how it is for people who say they just don't believe in God. They can't understand why all of those weird Christian people look so joyful and peaceful all the time. Even when Carrie-Christian gets a flat tire, she's like, "Jesus will bless this; maybe I'll get to help save a lost kitten while I'm stranded here."
It can be irritating when non-Christians simply want to moan and suffer in silence. Just when the pity party gets jamming, one of those wacky believers texts them to say, "(You) can do everything through Christ who strengthens (you)" (Philippians 4:13). But, its perfect timing does actually help to soften the blow from that recent $2000 car repair bill.
When some non-believers hear the Christian-eze around them, it just makes them want to puke. Because it simply doesn't make sense! "To gain your life you must lose it..." What is that, anyways? But the reality is that we all have to put ourselves out there, just like my sad plants... who couldn't. Lucky that we get a choice about where we stand.
When it comes to issues of faith, God certainly doesn't push, pull, or cajole anyone into His presence. If someone wants to stay a member of the "plant graveyard," he or she certainly can; it's totally their call. If a person wants to starve to death, God won't force-feed her because true love doesn't do that. If God demanded our love, would that really be love at all? More like totalitarianism, don't you think?
But He actually does have an awesome plan for each one of us. He wants to bless us and sustain us while we go through our own plethora of storms. But, if we stubbornly refuse to put ourselves under His loving presence, He won't force us. Even if we choose death and drought over serenity and satisfaction, He won't coerce us to join His feast of abundance: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).
When I compare the watered plants out front to the two hanging ones that still need a drink so badly, the solution seems so obvious. "Drink some water, you dumb plants!" And that's all that some of us need as well, a tall glass of water. Jesus wants to give us a living source of water though, one where we will drink and never be thirsty again. It's the hope of eternal life where we begin to live and grow spiritually from this day forward.
Since the new year quickly approaches, think about which kind of plant you want to be this coming year: the healthy one or the dead one. This post might seem harsh to some of you, but this is my post-Christmas gift to you dear reader. Please accept it as a free gift of love, that cost my best friend His earthly life!
John 10:10 says, "The thief (satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Go for the full life! Live it no holds barred. That's what Jesus did and that's what we crazy Christians are called to do as well! Join the party; you are all invited!
Share your thoughts! We'd love to hear from you. Happy New Year! :)
They got what they TRULY needed though, a refreshing dose of cold H20. They look green and vibrant today in the sunshine, almost hopeful really, which is strange to say about a plant. But, if you are a plant-lover like I am, you know what I mean.
In contrast to those healthy plants, I happened to notice two others as I walked up my driveway to the front door today. Two of my potted hanging plants look like sad members of a plant graveyard. You see, even though they were mere inches from the downpour that came with four days of non-stop rain, they couldn't benefit from the free heavenly drops.
It's ironic that those two hanging baskets missed all of those free "drinks on the house." Even the craziest part of the storm could not reach them under the eaves. So, they could hear it and long for it, but to no avail, they remained bone dry.
With three kids, one dog and a packed holiday schedule, those two plants in particular were a low priority to me; they've been on their way out for awhile, if you know what I mean. To avoid death though, all they needed was a good soaking to catch them up from their season of starvation. But I didn't stop to put those plants under the storm's path.
That's kind of how it is for people who say they just don't believe in God. They can't understand why all of those weird Christian people look so joyful and peaceful all the time. Even when Carrie-Christian gets a flat tire, she's like, "Jesus will bless this; maybe I'll get to help save a lost kitten while I'm stranded here."
It can be irritating when non-Christians simply want to moan and suffer in silence. Just when the pity party gets jamming, one of those wacky believers texts them to say, "(You) can do everything through Christ who strengthens (you)" (Philippians 4:13). But, its perfect timing does actually help to soften the blow from that recent $2000 car repair bill.
When some non-believers hear the Christian-eze around them, it just makes them want to puke. Because it simply doesn't make sense! "To gain your life you must lose it..." What is that, anyways? But the reality is that we all have to put ourselves out there, just like my sad plants... who couldn't. Lucky that we get a choice about where we stand.
When it comes to issues of faith, God certainly doesn't push, pull, or cajole anyone into His presence. If someone wants to stay a member of the "plant graveyard," he or she certainly can; it's totally their call. If a person wants to starve to death, God won't force-feed her because true love doesn't do that. If God demanded our love, would that really be love at all? More like totalitarianism, don't you think?
But He actually does have an awesome plan for each one of us. He wants to bless us and sustain us while we go through our own plethora of storms. But, if we stubbornly refuse to put ourselves under His loving presence, He won't force us. Even if we choose death and drought over serenity and satisfaction, He won't coerce us to join His feast of abundance: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).
When I compare the watered plants out front to the two hanging ones that still need a drink so badly, the solution seems so obvious. "Drink some water, you dumb plants!" And that's all that some of us need as well, a tall glass of water. Jesus wants to give us a living source of water though, one where we will drink and never be thirsty again. It's the hope of eternal life where we begin to live and grow spiritually from this day forward.
Since the new year quickly approaches, think about which kind of plant you want to be this coming year: the healthy one or the dead one. This post might seem harsh to some of you, but this is my post-Christmas gift to you dear reader. Please accept it as a free gift of love, that cost my best friend His earthly life!
John 10:10 says, "The thief (satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Go for the full life! Live it no holds barred. That's what Jesus did and that's what we crazy Christians are called to do as well! Join the party; you are all invited!
Share your thoughts! We'd love to hear from you. Happy New Year! :)
Labels: faith, family, New Year, rainstorm
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