flowers
Reading Matthew 6:25-34 this morning, where Jesus teaches about worry.
"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." Matthew 6:28-30
This set of verses made me giggle this morning. Like a happy, giddy kid who feels safe and just finds good things joyful!
Flowers. I love love love them! And so does God! How cute is that?
God ornately cares for EVERY DANG FLOWER on the PLANET. Seriously, even thinking about one meadow, like the ones I saw in Yosemite Valley, or on the side of an Alaskan mountain... all those bitty wildflowers that really don't live for very long... God cares for every petal.
Have you looked at a real, live flower recently? They are so delicate, intricate, and ornate.
I want to share a moment with you that I hold preciously to my heart.
When I was a senior in High School (wow, four years ago!), somebody in passing said the phrase: Stop and smell the roses. So, that day after class, I went outside on my way home to school and stopped to smell all the roses along my path.
It took me stopping, leaning over, and pulling the stem in close so I could catch a (hopefully) delightful whiff. I really remember feeling that the smell and sight of those flowers were good things, and that God who made that is good too.
When I returned to school after being gone for two months while my dad was in the hospital, out of what had become habit, I stopped to smell the roses. And for the first time in weeks, I felt that memory of God being good.
Bending over to smell those white and pink roses surprised me, because I hadn't felt anything, let alone that God was good in that season. It felt as if my emotions had dried up to preserve me in that crazy time of crisis. Yet, stopping to smell those roses took over as the scent infiltrated my body and reminded me that feeling God's goodness isn't necessary because HE IS GOOD whether my situation makes it easy or hard to believe.
I love that first part of verse 30. That God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today... he cares so wonderfully. Wow.
Isn't that our God? He's the kind of God who cares so, so wonderfully for us and for this world. It's easy to see and feel the mess. Yet God cares for every flower. Think of the intricacy of Him knowing every hair on your head. Of Him knowing every human ever whether born or not- he knows their names. He knows the deepest parts of your heart. He's the God who lifts every flower from the dirt to bloom. He lifts their petals up toward the sun so they may bloom and receive the light.
That is our God.
He cares so wonderfully for you.
So, wherever you are in life today, whatever situations stack up against or for you, know and remember the flowers. Remember and relish that God goes before you and is the God of your life's details.
God, thank you that we can have absolute certainty that you are Sovereign and that you care so wonderfully for us. For those reading this, be with them. If this season is difficult to have joy in, remind them of the hope that good things are a part of life just as bad things are. But remind them like you reminded me: you are good, and you make things beautiful. You care wonderfully for us. We choose to say it again, we love you God!
Blessings,
Melly xoxoxo
"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." Matthew 6:28-30
This set of verses made me giggle this morning. Like a happy, giddy kid who feels safe and just finds good things joyful!
Flowers. I love love love them! And so does God! How cute is that?
God ornately cares for EVERY DANG FLOWER on the PLANET. Seriously, even thinking about one meadow, like the ones I saw in Yosemite Valley, or on the side of an Alaskan mountain... all those bitty wildflowers that really don't live for very long... God cares for every petal.
Have you looked at a real, live flower recently? They are so delicate, intricate, and ornate.
I want to share a moment with you that I hold preciously to my heart.
When I was a senior in High School (wow, four years ago!), somebody in passing said the phrase: Stop and smell the roses. So, that day after class, I went outside on my way home to school and stopped to smell all the roses along my path.
It took me stopping, leaning over, and pulling the stem in close so I could catch a (hopefully) delightful whiff. I really remember feeling that the smell and sight of those flowers were good things, and that God who made that is good too.
When I returned to school after being gone for two months while my dad was in the hospital, out of what had become habit, I stopped to smell the roses. And for the first time in weeks, I felt that memory of God being good.
Bending over to smell those white and pink roses surprised me, because I hadn't felt anything, let alone that God was good in that season. It felt as if my emotions had dried up to preserve me in that crazy time of crisis. Yet, stopping to smell those roses took over as the scent infiltrated my body and reminded me that feeling God's goodness isn't necessary because HE IS GOOD whether my situation makes it easy or hard to believe.
I love that first part of verse 30. That God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today... he cares so wonderfully. Wow.
Isn't that our God? He's the kind of God who cares so, so wonderfully for us and for this world. It's easy to see and feel the mess. Yet God cares for every flower. Think of the intricacy of Him knowing every hair on your head. Of Him knowing every human ever whether born or not- he knows their names. He knows the deepest parts of your heart. He's the God who lifts every flower from the dirt to bloom. He lifts their petals up toward the sun so they may bloom and receive the light.
That is our God.
He cares so wonderfully for you.
So, wherever you are in life today, whatever situations stack up against or for you, know and remember the flowers. Remember and relish that God goes before you and is the God of your life's details.
God, thank you that we can have absolute certainty that you are Sovereign and that you care so wonderfully for us. For those reading this, be with them. If this season is difficult to have joy in, remind them of the hope that good things are a part of life just as bad things are. But remind them like you reminded me: you are good, and you make things beautiful. You care wonderfully for us. We choose to say it again, we love you God!
Blessings,
Melly xoxoxo
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