Living in a new subdivision has it's disadvantages. One is that we don't have a lot of trees. I've mentioned this before in one of my earlier blogs...about missing the falling of leaves. Well, a new season is upon us and we are a bloomin'.
As a friend left my home the other day I mentioned to her how I thought I had the best looking tree on the block. It leans a little to the side-but hey it adds character! It's nice and stocked! It will bud white flowers for a few days and home the neighborhood birds. I'm proud of my beauty. Like I said best looking tree on the block.
Coming home from work today I did what I do everyday-admired the vast allure that graced my yard. I couldn't help but feel lucky and a little bit of pride crept in and then all of sudden as I parked in the driveway there in the rock garden (yes, the rock garden because I have no green thumb-which is why I'm proud of the tree) are weeds. UGH!!!! Weeds peeking through-showing their ugly little faces. Giving my rock garden, which normally has a uniformed look, a patchy appearance. I'm sure for all of you who are avid gardeners (or OCD in nature) would know my annoyed feeling about these intruders.
As I sat down contemplating how I would get rid of these invaders I couldn't help but feel a tug at my heart. I saw myself one way-like the big beautiful tree, but definitely had many faults that lay hidden-like the weeds. I want so many times for people to only see the tree inside of me and pull at the weeds, however they keep returning. I guess that could be because I'm not fully trying to restore myself in those areas. Instead I'm covering them up with more rocks. All the rocks in the world will not get hide my weeds as they will still find their way to the surface.
Praying, I began to realize that I am not the gardener. I cannot remove these weeds on my own nor should I boast about the tree as it is not of my own making. It is all His. This life that I've been blessed with and live day in and day out belongs to Him. I am to live it in humility every day. This life is a rock garden-with bumps and rugged paths. Each of our lives are full of weeds and we will one day reach the perfect Tree. Until then I'll live my life humbled by His undeserving grace-asking Him to fully restore each and every ugly weed.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
WHY
It's human nature to question. We are inquisitive souls and we should be-it's how we learn. Our minds were meant to develop this way. As parents, we encourage our children to ask questions (then there are times we want them to just stop).
So, do you think our Lord thinks any different when we ask Him questions? I'm sure the number one question that comes to mind is in the form of three letters-
W-H-Y
There usually isn't a complete sentence that has to come after because He already knows the rest before it hits your heart. Most of the time the inquiry comes with a bundle of affection: passion, regret, confusion, heartbreak, etc. Feelings that you seem to want Him to just take away, however you know that there's a lesson that you must learn-the only thing-you don't feel like instruction. You don't want to be coached on this one-you've seen it enough through the eyes of others.
You begin to plead, cry and eventually every ounce of your soul is wailing. Before long you've run out of tears and the stamina that kept you on your feet is no longer. It's just you, the Lord and the three letters that barely slip off your lips. You can't imagine His plan-you can't begin to understand what good would come from this quest.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
His warmth begins to take hold in the middle of your heart break. Life begins to breath into your being and your "Why's" lead into worship. He has not forsaken you and you are reminded of His love for you. A love that is both unconditional and everlasting. You know the "Why's" are not over, they will creep back into your life, but every war is won with Him leading your battle. He picks you up and lifts you right where you stand. You are not standing on your own strength, but on His alone.
You've made it through today and tomorrow...well, tomorrow you will leave to for Him to worry about. One why at a time.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today-Matthew 6:34
So, do you think our Lord thinks any different when we ask Him questions? I'm sure the number one question that comes to mind is in the form of three letters-
W-H-Y
There usually isn't a complete sentence that has to come after because He already knows the rest before it hits your heart. Most of the time the inquiry comes with a bundle of affection: passion, regret, confusion, heartbreak, etc. Feelings that you seem to want Him to just take away, however you know that there's a lesson that you must learn-the only thing-you don't feel like instruction. You don't want to be coached on this one-you've seen it enough through the eyes of others.
You begin to plead, cry and eventually every ounce of your soul is wailing. Before long you've run out of tears and the stamina that kept you on your feet is no longer. It's just you, the Lord and the three letters that barely slip off your lips. You can't imagine His plan-you can't begin to understand what good would come from this quest.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
His warmth begins to take hold in the middle of your heart break. Life begins to breath into your being and your "Why's" lead into worship. He has not forsaken you and you are reminded of His love for you. A love that is both unconditional and everlasting. You know the "Why's" are not over, they will creep back into your life, but every war is won with Him leading your battle. He picks you up and lifts you right where you stand. You are not standing on your own strength, but on His alone.
You've made it through today and tomorrow...well, tomorrow you will leave to for Him to worry about. One why at a time.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today-Matthew 6:34
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