Thursday, July 17, 2008

flower talk

i am once again rejoicing in the flowers that are blooming in my garden ... they are a feast for the eyes ...

they also provide little life lessons ... take for example my two planters ... the exact same flowers were put in each planter ... one started growing right away ( see picture below) ... and today you can barely see the planter itself - because of all the glorious, cascading flowers!

unfortunately, the other plant didn't take (see pic below) ... i replanted it ... fed it ... did everything i could think of - but it sputtered and died ... just like some who profess to follow Christ ...
even though others may have helped them along ... babied and nurtured them ... if their own root system is lacking - their faith will shrivel up ... they could have lead fruitful lives too ... but they didn't dig in for the long haul!



notice the sweet little flower on this hardy plant? without anyone's help, it found a place to grow ... God can sustain us anywhere! we can grow in any circumstance - regardless of how inhospitable it may seem ... if God is the ONE who waters, tends and feeds us - the only thing left for us to do is to bloom ...



Mark 4: 1-9; 13-20 (21st Century King James Version)

1And He began again to teach by the seaside. And there was gathered unto Him a great multitude, so that He entered into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2And He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in His doctrine:

3"Hearken! Behold, there went out a sower to sow.

4And it came to pass as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.

6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8And other fell on good ground; and it yielded fruit that sprang up and increased and brought forth: some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundredfold."

9And He said unto them, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."


13And He said unto them, "Know you not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables?

14The sower soweth the Word.

15And these are they by the wayside, where the Word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the Word that was sown in their hearts.

16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17but they have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18And these are they which are sown among thorns, such as hear the Word,

19but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20And these are they which are sown on good ground, such as hear the Word and receive it and bring forth fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."


8 comments:

Mari said...

I love the message you put with the pictures - great point!

Felisol said...

Dear Saija,
the plant I admire the most is the Dandelion. Have you seen it blossoming like a yellow sun, right through the asphalt?
It has a special power from God the Almighty.
I praise him every year for the power of growth in that tiny little seed, and the willingness to bloom and spread the news about spring emerging. Also for the children to pick and play with.
How can one avoid finding God in the nature.
From Felisol

Anonymous said...

Scripture often comes to my mind when gardening, too, especially when pruning or weeding. I hope your sweet little petunia is not on "stony ground" and that it has some earth underneath there for its roots. A petunia would be one of the last things I'd think could grow in the crack of a sidewalk.

You have 'Lollipop' lilies, too! They are one of my favourites. I posted a picture of mine on my post about 'Balance'.

daisymarie said...

Great visiual on the familiar lesson. I love the determination of the little purple petunia. May we show the same determination and may our ears be open and our hearts ready to recieve.

Sita said...

It was a flower that convinced a Hindu friend that there had to be a Creator who was 'personal'. he was mesmerized by the attention to detail and beauty that could not never just 'have happened'...the creation spoke of a love behind it. Thnak you for posting such evidence of His love.

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

What a great way to look at things!! Thanks for this!! Hope your weekend goes great...sandy

Cathy said...

A wonderful post, Saija ~ and lesson ~
Your planter is very pretty and the lilies gorgeous.

Pat said...

You have really given the old saying "bloom where your planted" a much more visual and meaningful way of looking at it. What a great lesson you have taught. If our roots aren't deep, healthy and holding tight, we don't have much hope of blooming and growing.