Grass ... what a concept. Who came up with that? It's either too dry or too wet, with attacks from insects, grubs, Red Thread, Brown Patch, "the biggest mushrooms ever seen" or some other killer fungus constantly posing challenges. The colored flowers on the clover and dandelions are pretty but frowned upon by the neighbors. A lot of work, time, frustration and money are spent trying to grow "perfect" grass.
Jesus said, "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). Did He really mean that? Or we often hear, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Really? I like my grass just as it is. With all of its weeds and bugs and fungus, like me, it's perfect! How is your "grass"? "Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you." - Isaiah 60:1 Aren't geraniums fascinating? They start with a cluster of droopy buds, and then, one by one, they strengthen, rise up, and open. What an amazing work of God! All of this happens on its own ... "nature" we call it. Babies shine in a similar fashion. They slowly are able to raise their head, then they strengthen, rise up, and blossom into crawling and walking toddlers. Do we carry this practice into adulthood? Can we step aside from our own inhibitions to "let go and let God"? Do we allow God to strengthen us, rise us up, and open us to His will? Do we let God be God and let "nature" take its course? Holy, Almighty God, your awesome power is amazing. Overwhelm me, strengthen me, and lift me up so that I can be all that You want me to be. Amen. "When I say, 'My foot is slipping,' your mercy, LORD, holds me up. When cares increase within me, your comfort gives me joy." - Psalm 94: 18-19 We neglected our tomato plants for a bit, and they got massively out of control. It is so bad that we can't even bring them back under control at this point. Perhaps we should stop and reflect on our own life. Like these tomato plants, are we so out of control that we can no longer be reigned in? Or are we still manageable, able to be shaped and pruned by our Master? O Lord, don't ever leave me unattended. Shape me, mold me, and prune me so that I am always mindful of Your gentle care. Amen. I was waiting in the doctor's office while the patient was having a procedure. How much time do you spend waiting? In the checkout line, "on hold" on the phone, watching a train cross the tracks? It seems like hours, but it's often only minutes or even seconds. Why are you in such a hurry? What's more important than what you're doing right now? How productive are you with your waiting time? Are you anxious? Are you angry? Are you impatient? Are you relaxed? Are you prayerful? Are you thankful? As for me, I drifted asleep. I wasted my waiting time when I could have been waiting with Jesus. Lord Jesus, help me to see the time that I wait as an opportunity to spend time with you. Amen. "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15 As part of the cognitive therapy following his stroke, he was told to match the socks laid out before him and put them in the basket. He performed this exercise with such slow finesse. He studied the details of each sock and then placed the pairs in neat piles in the basket. It was fascinating to watch him tackle the intricacies of this seemingly simple task. How often do we glance over the graces and "socks" that are placed before us? Do we take the time to appreciate the beauty and the joy of everything around us? Thank you, Jesus, for all that we have and all that You have given us. May we slow down, at all times, and on all occasions, to take time to give you thanks. Amen. The man set aside his walker and threw his arms around the life-size statue of his Beloved Saint in a tight bear hug. He squeezed the statue with all his might and laid his head on the statue's shoulder. I so wanted to join him in a big group hug!
I was sure that when he saw me, he would be embarrassed. But rather, he turned around, grabbed his walker, looked at me with a grin that stretched from ear to ear, and shuffled away. He had just met up with his long-lost friend. It’s wondrous what a hug can do. A hug can cheer you when you’re blue A hug can say, “I love you so,” Or, “I hate to see you go.” A hug is “Welcome back again.” And “Great to see you! Where ‘er you been' A hug can soothe a small child’s pain And bring a rainbow after rain. The hug, there’s just no doubt about it -- We scarcely could survive without it! A hug delights and warms and charms; It must be why God gave us arms. Hugs are great for fathers and mothers, Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers; And chances are your favorite aunts love them more than potted plants. Kittens crave them, puppies love them, Heads of states are not above them. A hug can break the language barrier And make your travel so much merrier. No need to fret about your store of ‘em; The more you give, the more there’s more of ‘em. So stretch those arms without delay And give someone a hug today! --"What Hugging Can Do", Dean Walley, The Messenger Oh, the power of a hug. Sometimes we need them. Sometimes we give them. Have you hugged someone today? Have you been hugged by someone today? "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes ..." - John 3:8
Rows of windmills fuel the farms. All of them spinning according to the movement of the wind. Many debate the pros and cons of wind-powered energy, but it is a viable source of energy nonetheless. What fuels you? Wind power (the Holy Spirit)? Solar power (the Son)? Generated power (the Father)? Holy Spirit, fuel me with the fire of your love. Lord Jesus, fuel me with your mercy. Almighty Father, fuel me with your strength. Amen. "Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near." - Isaiah 55:6 He is constantly chasing his slippers. Wearing slippers in the house is new for him, so they are continually being left in this room when he's in that room, or left in the garage when he's in the house, or found upstairs when he's downstairs. Until this new practice becomes routine, he will always be chasing his slippers. What do we chase? A promotion? A new house? A new car? A new iPhone? Perhaps we should leave the "slippers" behind and chase the things that matter most for eternal life. Amen. "Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its sheath, ...'" - Matthew 26:52 It sure is hard to believe that those little wheel chocks will hold a huge airplane in place! The chocks seem so disproportionate to the size and weight of the airplane. Yet somehow, in some amazing fashion, and thankfully, they do. Sometimes we, too, need to be held back from saying or doing something that is not morally acceptable or Christ-like, or that we may otherwise regret. In those times, what is our "wheel chock" to hold us back? To whom do we turn to stop us in our place? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. "But the LORD said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, ... . God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 Stereotypes. We all use them. We all have perceptions about how something should be. Like a snowman: it should be fat, not skinny. How often do you wrongly judge by appearance? Men with scraggly hair, teens blasting loud music, women wearing skirts above the knee; or speak of white men, black women, oriental people. All of these thoughts conjure up images and notions within our minds. But let us not forget that while we look at others in this way, others look at us in this same way. God tells us not to judge by appearance, but to look into the heart as the Lord looks into our heart. Almighty God, let me, like You, see beyond a person's appearance and seek instead the love of Jesus in the heart of each person. Amen. |
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