LIFE IN BLOOM

Learning How to Flourish in God's Grace

Tag Archives: Faith


by Leave a comment

Easter Thoughts

Today is Good Friday.  When I was a kid, Good Friday was little more than the day off before Easter.  While I understood what the day meant, I didn’t feel the significance of the day.  I’m glad that I feel the significance of the day now.

Good Friday and Easter are part of the core beliefs of Christians.  That God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins, and that three days later, he rose from the dead with all power in His hands.  This morning as I prayed, part of my prayer was for God to continuously help me to be mindful of the sacrifice.  And while I do want to be mindful of the sacrifice, I also want to continuously be mindful of the power of God.

Part of the Good Friday story is one, that I believe, represents struggle.  Yet Jesus, who was ever mindful of his purpose endures the struggle so that the purpose and the prophecy may be fulfilled.  That’s a lesson for all of us- we will endure many challenges on the road to our purpose.  However, we must stay diligent and endure so that our own purpose and the prophecy over our own life may be fulfilled.

I am limited.  I am a human with very real limitations and inabilities.  Yet, I serve a God who is completely limitless in the range of things that He can do.  As I reflect on how God has moved in my life, just over the past weeks and months, I’m in awe.  And for me, that is the other side of the Easter story- the power of God to accomplish anything.  The resurrection of Christ, for those who don’t belief, is perhaps a bunch of loony crap.  But for me, it fully encompasses the ultimate sacrifice and simultaneously expresses the love and power of God.

My prayer is that I’m always mindful and thankful of God’s expression of love; and that my heart is always open enough to yield to Him so that His power may work in my life.


by 2 Comments

Planting the Right Seeds

I grew up in the country, and around about this time of year, we’d be preparing to plant some flowers.  My maternal grandmother was the quintessential gardener, and always had impeccable flowers around the yard.  One of my fondest memories of my grandmother is of her working in her flowers.  It was something she took great pride in, and I recall several afternoons from spring, and into the early summer, of getting off of the school bus and finding her in some obscure nook and cranny of the yard, figuring out what type of plant would be perfect for that spot.

As a tomboy who loved to be outdoors, helping my grandmother with the flowers was a nice activity.  Perhaps, not my favorite in terms of what actually took place.  However, the quality time that I shared with my grandmother made it all worthwhile.  It was in these moments that I truly understood the value of planting the right seeds.  Not just in the ground, so that one could have beautiful flowers; but also in life.

Anyone who halfway knows The Bible most likely has a general understanding of reaping what you sow.  In Galatians 6:7-10, you can find the following:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

That scripture speaks to the value of planting the right seeds, and the effects of not.  However it also encourages us to not give up in doing good- which I would say can be a challenge.  At least I know it’s a challenge for me.  Yet and still, if I would study the first part, and recall that I’m reaping what I’m sowing , it’s some encouragement for me to stay on the right path.

All of these thoughts were sparked by an email that I received from Mrs. Reba.  Mrs. Reba is a delightful woman who I met at my church when I was living in Athens.  She truly has a wonderful spirit, and always seeks to encourage others.  And, I will say that what I love most about her is her willingness to tell the truth in love.  I think it’s wonderful for people to care enough about you to tell you the truth.  But I digress.

In Mrs. Reba’s email, it included some thoughts about planting the right seeds.  Here’s the snippet that I enjoyed the most:

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

* If you plant faith in God , you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Well said, Mrs. Reba, well said.  This has renewed my focus on what happens later, because as Christians, this life is only a glimpse of what to come.  We’re preparing for eternity.  It just might be useful to plant the right seeds for it.