No Weapon...

"No weapon formed against me will prosper."(Isaiah 54:17)

I love being outside, but this summer has been unusually mosquito infested. Mosquitos love me. Every time I venture outdoors, they have their forks and knives ready to chow down on my skin! I always have to have tiki torches flamin', Off sprayed, or my new Off Clip On Fan nearby to ward off the mosquitos.

It was a beautiful morning today, so I was bound and determined to sit outside to have some time with Jesus. As I was sitting under my carport with all of my ammunition ready for the mosquitos, this picture caught my eye next to me. It was a sweet reminder from God to persevere. A reminder that He's got this life under control, and that nothing, not even mosquitos, should keep me from seeking hard after Him.

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." Psalm 108:13

I know that I will have more mosquito bites, but Jesus is always the healing salve.

Watered and Fed

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." (Psalm 1:3)

Planting in containers poses many challenges. It is very exciting at the beginning of Spring and Summer to go the nursery and stock up on new plants to make my yard look beautiful. I am very diligent when I first plant to water regularly to ensure growth. The problem with container plants like these ferns are that they need constant attention because they don't have enough soil to keep them from drying out quickly and not much room for their roots to spread out and flourish. The fern on the left has been neglected, while the fern on the right has been fed regularly.

I am reminded that taking time to focus on my relationship with Christ keeps me fed and healthy. Keeping watered by staying in His Word, looking for Him in His Creation, and basically being preoccupied with Him throughout the day keeps the soil of my heart moist and ready for growth.

Restored, Renewed

"Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

(Romans 11:19)

Several years ago, the sweet warmth of Spring crept in before its usual time, and this Crepe Myrtle, along with many other plants in my yard made an early appearance. Not long after that, a verocious cold snap covered our area and virtually killed every bit of the new growth that my plants had. That summer, I wondered if this tree and others would ever recover. No life appeared in those shocked plants.

Two years later, this is the picture that I look at when I go outside. What I felt couldn't recover is more beautiful than ever!

The verse above reminds me that in our journey in this life with Christ, there are times when a quick and mighty wave of adversity can absolutely make us snap and appear that there is no life left in us. Unfortunately, our timetable is not God's, and restoratation may not be immediate...it may even take years, as with this Crepe Myrtle, but just as the picture shows, when it comes, it is more beautiful and healthy, because it was in God's timing. The blooms of our lives are so much prettier when the Savior is grafted in.