Renewal of a Crape Myrtle in Spring.
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
- Genesis 2:7 (ESV)
Life. Just think about the word and what it means. Even when we think about the word we are part of very life itself, for life is our existence and all that we learn through experience over time and what we do in our make-up that constitutes our very life itself. We take it for granted and fail often to remember that it is God who made us, made in His image by Him wanting us to live like He wishes and yet we constantly fail to do just that. And why do we fail? We fail because we are mortal beings, made in the image of God but made in a most imperfect world where we will, regardless of how hard we try, fail in many of our efforts and only our faith in God can help us recover.
Now recovering from failure with the help of God is quite masterful and special, for when be belief in His Son, our Savior, by faith and faith alone, we are granted His gift of forgiveness and given entry into God's Kingdom while yet on this earth. And then on death, we go to be with the Son in His Father's House, which in heaven itself. Oh, the glory that will be if we can just make it and so, that is our challenge. We must maintain our belief and use it to live as He asks, with the principal result being to love ourselves and therein love our fellow man (and woman) unconditionally, with forgiveness built into our hearts to use toward others. That's not always easy, but it is our requirement and the reward we will receive is the Heavenly Home with a new body which has no pain or suffering and into a joyful eternity. What could be better and how can I know?
The answer to that question is really quite simple. Nothing could be better for God's best works are things which are beyond our full expectations, but let's just say that when we inherit the Kingdom we will know what it is like to be the richest person on earth, for nothing we have experienced can compare. And the knowing part, well, we just have to accept it by faith since that is what provides us Jesus' salvation in the first place. But perhaps looking around us at God's nature can give us some clues, for they are every present and here are a few example.
How about earth's clock in action, the day beginning with the morning sunshine and ending with the sunset amid glorious color and beauty? How about the majesty of birth and the beginnings of a new baby's life with a make-up requiring the master engineer to design such a life, as well as the lives of all the lives of the many different species of animals and also even plant life? All are intricate and amazing, yet each one is different from one another, designed specifically for the lifestyle they are too fulfill. And if you would like one more, how about the elements and seasons (rain, snow, heat cold and even sunshine) and the specific purpose each one fulfills? These all provide clear evidence of God's existence and our purpose if we just open our eyes and ears and see and listen in conjunction with the Good Book and prayer.
Let me provide one more point, this one coming from the plant world, to hopefully even make my point clearer. Look at the picture at the beginning of this blog and it will tell something clearly. It is of a much maligned crape myrtle, cut low so many times it looks like a gnarly old dead bush, but no, it is a crape myrtle and it shown signs of life as spring nears. It is found on our farm and it was planted when we moved here over fifteen years ago. It is found next to the gate to our pasture through which have come many horses at least twice a year all of that time. It was what was originally a bearer of plants to keep the horses from crashing into the fence due to their anxiousness awaiting meal time and it worked perfectly. But over the years the horses have broken branches, eaten its flowers until I just cut it low, hence, its current appearance. And despite all that abuse, the old crape myrtle just before spring each year comes back to life. And the small, fresh growth in the picture is representative of a plant's rejuvenation into new life.
Jesus Christ offers us that very opportunity if only we accept His promise. And while we must always be thankful for the gift of human, mortal life, we should strive diligently for that permanent life as well. What an added gift He offers us. So, be thankful and pray. l That is my message today.
Dear Lord, We thank you for the gift of life and also for the opportunity to extend that life into eternity. We know we are unworthy, but we love and appreciate your grace and will redouble our efforts to make ourselves worthy of that love and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
- Genesis 2:7 (ESV)
Life. Just think about the word and what it means. Even when we think about the word we are part of very life itself, for life is our existence and all that we learn through experience over time and what we do in our make-up that constitutes our very life itself. We take it for granted and fail often to remember that it is God who made us, made in His image by Him wanting us to live like He wishes and yet we constantly fail to do just that. And why do we fail? We fail because we are mortal beings, made in the image of God but made in a most imperfect world where we will, regardless of how hard we try, fail in many of our efforts and only our faith in God can help us recover.
Now recovering from failure with the help of God is quite masterful and special, for when be belief in His Son, our Savior, by faith and faith alone, we are granted His gift of forgiveness and given entry into God's Kingdom while yet on this earth. And then on death, we go to be with the Son in His Father's House, which in heaven itself. Oh, the glory that will be if we can just make it and so, that is our challenge. We must maintain our belief and use it to live as He asks, with the principal result being to love ourselves and therein love our fellow man (and woman) unconditionally, with forgiveness built into our hearts to use toward others. That's not always easy, but it is our requirement and the reward we will receive is the Heavenly Home with a new body which has no pain or suffering and into a joyful eternity. What could be better and how can I know?
The answer to that question is really quite simple. Nothing could be better for God's best works are things which are beyond our full expectations, but let's just say that when we inherit the Kingdom we will know what it is like to be the richest person on earth, for nothing we have experienced can compare. And the knowing part, well, we just have to accept it by faith since that is what provides us Jesus' salvation in the first place. But perhaps looking around us at God's nature can give us some clues, for they are every present and here are a few example.
How about earth's clock in action, the day beginning with the morning sunshine and ending with the sunset amid glorious color and beauty? How about the majesty of birth and the beginnings of a new baby's life with a make-up requiring the master engineer to design such a life, as well as the lives of all the lives of the many different species of animals and also even plant life? All are intricate and amazing, yet each one is different from one another, designed specifically for the lifestyle they are too fulfill. And if you would like one more, how about the elements and seasons (rain, snow, heat cold and even sunshine) and the specific purpose each one fulfills? These all provide clear evidence of God's existence and our purpose if we just open our eyes and ears and see and listen in conjunction with the Good Book and prayer.
Let me provide one more point, this one coming from the plant world, to hopefully even make my point clearer. Look at the picture at the beginning of this blog and it will tell something clearly. It is of a much maligned crape myrtle, cut low so many times it looks like a gnarly old dead bush, but no, it is a crape myrtle and it shown signs of life as spring nears. It is found on our farm and it was planted when we moved here over fifteen years ago. It is found next to the gate to our pasture through which have come many horses at least twice a year all of that time. It was what was originally a bearer of plants to keep the horses from crashing into the fence due to their anxiousness awaiting meal time and it worked perfectly. But over the years the horses have broken branches, eaten its flowers until I just cut it low, hence, its current appearance. And despite all that abuse, the old crape myrtle just before spring each year comes back to life. And the small, fresh growth in the picture is representative of a plant's rejuvenation into new life.
Jesus Christ offers us that very opportunity if only we accept His promise. And while we must always be thankful for the gift of human, mortal life, we should strive diligently for that permanent life as well. What an added gift He offers us. So, be thankful and pray. l That is my message today.
Dear Lord, We thank you for the gift of life and also for the opportunity to extend that life into eternity. We know we are unworthy, but we love and appreciate your grace and will redouble our efforts to make ourselves worthy of that love and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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