The Stubborn Dahlia

Abound in Hope

Not long after my parents sold their home, a raging fire burned down about a third of the houses in their neighborhood. Years later, I visited the nearby cemetery where my dad was buried. A light rain fell. Charred tree trunks still surrounded the gravestones. This desolate environment portrayed my emptiness. I lovingly rubbed my fingers over my father’s name engraved in the stone. Searching for peace, I stopped by the sparse neighborhood where I had often chatted and laughed with my dad. To my surprise, glowing grasses and colorful bushes dotted these vacant lots. The sun came out, highlighting a brilliant, new landscape. It was stunning! My heavenly Father assured me that He rejuvenates my experiences. The world’s troubles cannot overpower His love for His children.

The 4-H Pledge

“I pledge: my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living.” I made that pledge at each meeting as a grade-schooler in 4-H club. I understood that I was to offer myself in service to others. God has given each of us time, talents, gifts, and money to use for honoring Him and blessing others. I may not be as active and available for service as I was in grade-school 4-H, but I have experience and gifts to share, and time in which to do it. I can always listen and pray with thanksgiving for God blessing others and make requests to God on others’ behalf.

Set Your Minds Above

Some thoughts are locked into our minds and consume our days — and nights. We try to release them, but they remain. Will someone call today? Will the doctor find the cause of this pain and discomfort? Will strength ever be available to me again? The release is discovered in Christ. Lying sleepless at night, we allow His Spirit to help us focus on the mercies and grace of the Lord. We imagine His goodness flowing down upon us and praise Him for who He is. Knowing our days are wrapped in His love, we wait for the doctor to call or someone to visit. We honor Him with praise no matter how weak we feel. In time, the things of earth will no longer consume us for the things of heaven will fill our thoughts instead.

Travel Anxiety

As I anxiously prepared for a recent trip, I worried about the weather. I checked on current road construction. I packed all the necessary things. The stress was overwhelming. As we travel on our journey through life, our days can be full of worry too. Our health, finances, and other concerns burden us. Yet, our heavenly Father has promised to provide all that we need: “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3). What a joyful, living hope we have. We are being loved and cared for as a child in God’s family. We can live each day knowing that at the end of our earthly journey, our Lord will welcome us home!

Hard Hearts Healed

Hard-hearted. We’ve all known people who fit that unpleasant description. There’s also a good chance we’ve been hard-hearted ourselves at times. God’s Old Testament people regularly grew hard-hearted, worshiping idols and profaning God’s name. That’s why God sent Ezekiel to tell them He would transform their hearts. He does the same for us today. By the power of His Spirit, God transforms our hearts, much like Ezekiel witnessed when we saw the Spirit reassemble a valley of dry bones into flesh and breathe life into them. A similar thing happened at our Baptism. The Spirit entered our hearts, kindling the same faith that sustains us today and assures us of eternity in heaven. “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).