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
Monday, August 09, 2010
The Storm Eventually Ends!
When you are in the midst of a storm, it seems like the sun will never shine again. Especially when it has been raining for a very long time. Your countenance changes entirely...your eyes no longer look up because you know the sun is not radiating its warmth any longer. Your ears cease to hear the birds chirping, for the thunder crowds out their beautiful singing. A chilled heaviness drags you down. Yet, at times, you lift your head a few degrees, in search of a sign of promise. You scan the skies for a rainbow.
Out in the distance, you think you see some red...maybe some orange, and even a little ray of yellow. But, you don't. Nothing but darkness and shadows fill the skies. Another week goes by and then a month, and then even a year. Still darkness. Still raining. Thunder is all that you hear pounding on your heart and upon your circumstances. But hope remains. You still pine for some green, some blue, and a bit of purple out in the distance. You wonder where God is and why He has refused to end the storm that entangles you. Your faith begins to waiver.
But you remain faithful. You question. You doubt. You become angry. But, you remain faithful. You listen for His still, small voice. Even a whisper would do. You search for His wisdom. You continue to glance for signs of His promises...but the rainbow still hides itself behind the clouds. It is still dreary. It is still raining. The wind howls and the birds' chorus is still muted.
One morning, you drop to your knees, yet again. The tears intermix with raindrops. Your eyes close and your heart begins to seek once more... and then... it happens. The rainbow appears! Your prayers of power command the storm away. The clouds flee. The thunder and lightning disappear. The bright colors and blinding light flood your heart. You ARE healed. God's glory fills you and satan's lies sprint away in terror. The birds ARE singing again. You look up and smile! You dance! You believe!
*********************************************************************
When God flexes His power, we are changed. We are restored. We are healed and renewed. Why do we have to wait for His perfect timing for this to happen? Why is one day different than another and one prayer more authoritative than the previous one? I'm not really sure. But, I know this...that God healed my heart from an intense season of depression and that I felt His physical presence come upon me when it happened.
We can question the Lord's will and His timing, but we shouldn't stay there too long. Instead, we should turn our hearts into an attitude of praise and adoration, knowing that He is always good. Knowing that He is always loving. Knowing that He will step in when it is His will and timing to do so. Knowing that He has perfected us and transformed us along the way.
If you are fretting today dear believer, don't lose heart. God is still the same today as He was yesterday. He is the one who created the whole earth and the universe beyond. He is the one who parted the Red Sea. He is the one who raised Lazarus from the dead and then raised Himself from the dead when sin was defeated once and for all on the cross at Calvary.
When you do lose sight of His power, remind yourself of the God He has been throughout history. He was faithful to Abraham. He restored Joseph from his brothers' betrayal. He gave hope to Esther and her people. He transformed Saul into Paul. He empowered simple fishermen to become the leaders of our mighty faith. And He has shown His faithfulness in your own life hundreds and thousands of times as well.
After you remind yourself of these redeemed people, set your eyes upon the hope that the Lord offers today. He will never leave you. He always hears your prayers. He loves you no matter what you have done. He offers rest when you are weary. He gives abundant life in this lifetime. He extends forgiveness and eternal life!
The storm will end! The rainbow will come! And you will be able to proclaim His goodness to others as a result. Share how God has brought hope during a dark circumstance or season in your life. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Out in the distance, you think you see some red...maybe some orange, and even a little ray of yellow. But, you don't. Nothing but darkness and shadows fill the skies. Another week goes by and then a month, and then even a year. Still darkness. Still raining. Thunder is all that you hear pounding on your heart and upon your circumstances. But hope remains. You still pine for some green, some blue, and a bit of purple out in the distance. You wonder where God is and why He has refused to end the storm that entangles you. Your faith begins to waiver.
But you remain faithful. You question. You doubt. You become angry. But, you remain faithful. You listen for His still, small voice. Even a whisper would do. You search for His wisdom. You continue to glance for signs of His promises...but the rainbow still hides itself behind the clouds. It is still dreary. It is still raining. The wind howls and the birds' chorus is still muted.
One morning, you drop to your knees, yet again. The tears intermix with raindrops. Your eyes close and your heart begins to seek once more... and then... it happens. The rainbow appears! Your prayers of power command the storm away. The clouds flee. The thunder and lightning disappear. The bright colors and blinding light flood your heart. You ARE healed. God's glory fills you and satan's lies sprint away in terror. The birds ARE singing again. You look up and smile! You dance! You believe!
*********************************************************************
When God flexes His power, we are changed. We are restored. We are healed and renewed. Why do we have to wait for His perfect timing for this to happen? Why is one day different than another and one prayer more authoritative than the previous one? I'm not really sure. But, I know this...that God healed my heart from an intense season of depression and that I felt His physical presence come upon me when it happened.
We can question the Lord's will and His timing, but we shouldn't stay there too long. Instead, we should turn our hearts into an attitude of praise and adoration, knowing that He is always good. Knowing that He is always loving. Knowing that He will step in when it is His will and timing to do so. Knowing that He has perfected us and transformed us along the way.
If you are fretting today dear believer, don't lose heart. God is still the same today as He was yesterday. He is the one who created the whole earth and the universe beyond. He is the one who parted the Red Sea. He is the one who raised Lazarus from the dead and then raised Himself from the dead when sin was defeated once and for all on the cross at Calvary.
When you do lose sight of His power, remind yourself of the God He has been throughout history. He was faithful to Abraham. He restored Joseph from his brothers' betrayal. He gave hope to Esther and her people. He transformed Saul into Paul. He empowered simple fishermen to become the leaders of our mighty faith. And He has shown His faithfulness in your own life hundreds and thousands of times as well.
After you remind yourself of these redeemed people, set your eyes upon the hope that the Lord offers today. He will never leave you. He always hears your prayers. He loves you no matter what you have done. He offers rest when you are weary. He gives abundant life in this lifetime. He extends forgiveness and eternal life!
The storm will end! The rainbow will come! And you will be able to proclaim His goodness to others as a result. Share how God has brought hope during a dark circumstance or season in your life. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Labels: faith, healing, rainbows, rainstorm
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Rain and the Rainbow
The rain calls us indoors. We must take shelter from the downpour or we will get soaking wet. For those living in the midst of a storm, they know that taking cover means protection from the harsh wind, rain, and hail. But, some people refuse to stay inside; instead they resist the storm's darkness and fury. After hours of effort, they collapse from exhaustion and eventually crawl into a warm place where they can find rest.
When the Lord calls us to rest, it means He has good plans for us. He has not forgotten our dreams or our investments in this world, for He uses all things to the good of the one that is to come. The Lord calls us to slow down so that we may hear from Him. As stated in a quiet time from Streams in the Desert, "There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. He (God) counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there" (selected).
While experiencing the most rain we've had in one week here in Southern California during my three decades of life, I've been inside a lot. Last night, I couldn't even sleep well because the rain beat against my windows with such passion and fervor. Instead of the tranquility that the droplets might usually bring, I felt anxiety and darkness. And that is how I've felt in some areas of my life as well: anxious and dark. God's voice has been very quiet over the past three to four years and I have been waiting to hear it clearly for some time now.
But, then I was reminded of a sign the Lord gave to me yesterday during a slight respite from this crazy storm. A beam of light shone through my upstairs window, calling me to the outdoors. I said to my kids, "Let's go, there must be a rainbow outside." And to my wondering eyes, there appeared the most dazzling rainbow, as if it had been colored with brand new Crayola markers. Its beauty took my breath away, but as I called my neighbor to inform her of the colorful beams of light, it vanished. The rain started up again. It was gone.
Though the rainbows of life occasionally come and go, their significance never leaves us. The symbol of the rainbow represents hope and promise. It reminds people of God's mercy and compassion. While in the midst of the tempest, we must keep our eyes fixed on what we know, that the rainbow is still there, waiting to peek through the clouds. Similarly, the Lord is ALWAYS there, especially during the storms! In truth, a rainstorm is a sign of hope as well because it reflects what is yet to come, the colors of promise and for we who believe, eternal life with our KING.
So, don't give up friend. That is what Satan would want you to do. He would call you to hide your head, to quit dreaming, and to shut down. That is not the message of the God of Israel. God calls you to "Trust in (Him) with all your heart and (to) lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, (to) acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5+6). In the New Testament, the hope continues on. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full."
Share how you've weathered a tough storm. Give some stories of the rainbows that God has placed in your path. I'd love to hear from you. To God be the glory for the storms and the rainbows! :)
When the Lord calls us to rest, it means He has good plans for us. He has not forgotten our dreams or our investments in this world, for He uses all things to the good of the one that is to come. The Lord calls us to slow down so that we may hear from Him. As stated in a quiet time from Streams in the Desert, "There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. He (God) counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there" (selected).
While experiencing the most rain we've had in one week here in Southern California during my three decades of life, I've been inside a lot. Last night, I couldn't even sleep well because the rain beat against my windows with such passion and fervor. Instead of the tranquility that the droplets might usually bring, I felt anxiety and darkness. And that is how I've felt in some areas of my life as well: anxious and dark. God's voice has been very quiet over the past three to four years and I have been waiting to hear it clearly for some time now.
But, then I was reminded of a sign the Lord gave to me yesterday during a slight respite from this crazy storm. A beam of light shone through my upstairs window, calling me to the outdoors. I said to my kids, "Let's go, there must be a rainbow outside." And to my wondering eyes, there appeared the most dazzling rainbow, as if it had been colored with brand new Crayola markers. Its beauty took my breath away, but as I called my neighbor to inform her of the colorful beams of light, it vanished. The rain started up again. It was gone.
Though the rainbows of life occasionally come and go, their significance never leaves us. The symbol of the rainbow represents hope and promise. It reminds people of God's mercy and compassion. While in the midst of the tempest, we must keep our eyes fixed on what we know, that the rainbow is still there, waiting to peek through the clouds. Similarly, the Lord is ALWAYS there, especially during the storms! In truth, a rainstorm is a sign of hope as well because it reflects what is yet to come, the colors of promise and for we who believe, eternal life with our KING.
So, don't give up friend. That is what Satan would want you to do. He would call you to hide your head, to quit dreaming, and to shut down. That is not the message of the God of Israel. God calls you to "Trust in (Him) with all your heart and (to) lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, (to) acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5+6). In the New Testament, the hope continues on. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full."
Share how you've weathered a tough storm. Give some stories of the rainbows that God has placed in your path. I'd love to hear from you. To God be the glory for the storms and the rainbows! :)
Labels: Bible, family, rainbows, rainstorm
