FLOWERBED

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 58:11

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

FLOWERBED

As I worked in my flowerbed, I began to think of all the scriptures I had heard that referred to gardens. Planting. Flowers. Vines. As I deadheaded flowers and pulled weeds. As I cut fresh flowers to brighten our kitchen. As I worked, I thought how much these flowers and Christians had in common.

Some of the flowers have deep roots. Deep roots that will hold them tall and will draw water and feed from the ground to make their blooms full and colorful. These deep roots keep the flower firmly planted when the winds blow and reaches deep when the weather is dry. Many Christians are like this. They are rooted in the word and have a strong faith. A faith that stands when life throws them wind and dry spells.

Some of the flowers do not have deep roots and they have rather flimsy stalks. These flowers do not fare too well unless conditions are perfect. They fall over when anything more than a gentle breeze blows. They wither. Their flowers do not last long. Many Christians are like this. They believe. They think that is enough. But when life doesn't go just as they think it should, they don't know what to do. They have no strong, deep faith. So they fall over. They wither. They do not last long.

Some flowers have bright, big, beautiful blossoms. They almost glow in the dark. They have energy. You cannot miss them. Some Christians are like that. They just beam with joy. They have energy to sing in the choir, fix dinner for a shut-in and say yes every time they are asked to help. They are big, bright and beautiful.

Some flowers are delicate. They are soft. They fill in all the empty places. You almost do not notice them. Some Christians are like that. They are just there. They fill in all the empty places. They just do their job.

I do not have the green thumb my mother had. I just do the best I can. Bill puts on fertilizer and waters. I cut some here, thin some there and hope for the best. I enjoy the flowers but the care these flowers get is not even a drop in the bucket to the care God gives the Christians in His flower garden.

God knows just how to tend each flower. He knows how to make the deep roots even deeper. He knows how to help and nurture the flowers that have not developed deep roots. He knows how to celebrate with the big, bright and beautiful outgoing flowers and He knows how to gently appreciate and cultivate the delicate, soft flowers that just do their job.

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. How wonderful to be a flower in God's garden.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What type of flower/Christian are you?

LET US PRAY

Today, say your own prayer. Ask God to tend you. To give you strong roots. To give you His living water. Tell God you want to be planted in His garden.