There Is No Backup Plan

The Stubborn Dahlia

Dahlias resist my efforts to produce the blooms I want. My last effort laughed at me, then withered. But later what I thought was dead pushed through the soil and produced orange petals. When I watered my other plants, the dahlia also benefited from refreshment. I couldn’t see what happened under the ground, but the roots absorbed water and nourished the plant. This dahlia was stubborn enough to resist death. Sometimes our goals feel like my flower. Nothing happens. Our desires die. But God has other plans. He tells us not to grow weary in well doing and we will reap a harvest. We can’t see what the Lord does behind the scenes in the spiritual world. Our part is to continue to nourish our souls with the water of the Word. When we are stubborn enough to resist giving up, the Father’s resurrection power will bring new life to our efforts.

Dandelion Wisdom

A controlled burn had left a blackened expanse near a hiking trail. Like a single star in a night sky, a golden blossom shone from its midst — a lowly but durable dandelion, its life sustained by its deep root. Its whorl of green leaves offered nourishment. When its golden head, like most of ours, turned gray, it would scatter its seeds — like the Word of God — on the breeze. We can learn much from this unassuming plant! Root deeply in God’s Word, sustain others from the life He gives, and send His truth everywhere we can, even as we age!

A Gift-Filled Table

What a gift to find a birthday breakfast on the dining room table — poached eggs, bacon, toast, strawberries, and hot coffee. My husband had prepared delicious food and the surprise of pink roses. Psalm 23:5 tells us God prepares a table for us. When we pull up a chair to His table in prayer and Bible study, we find the gift of His presence. In our time with Him, we can exchange fear for the gift of faith, anxiety for comfort, and despair for hope. God’s gift-filled table of blessings assures us of His presence and strengthens us to walk with Jesus in joy and hope. And if we look, we’ll see He gives us unexpected gifts like sunsets and pink roses, too.

Confident in the Trinity!

God spoke life-giving words at our Baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Is this certain? Absolutely! When time began, all life started similarly. “In the beginning, God (the Father) created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then, “the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) was hovering over the face of the waters” (v. 2b). Finally, God brought everything into being by speaking the Word, who is Jesus! Further, when Jesus rose from the dead, the Trinity was active as well. As the Scriptures testify, the Father raised Jesus (Acts 2:24), Jesus raised Himself (Matthew 28:6), and the Holy Spirit raised Jesus (Romans 8:11). Since the Trinity gave life to our world, and life to Jesus, be certain God gives us real life now and will even raise us from the dead as well (Romans 6:5).

The Race of Faith

I learned some things from watching my grandson’s track meets. One is that you shouldn’t look back. It distracts you and slows you down. As you run the race of faith, don’t keep looking back with guilt and regrets. Let go of the faults and failures that plague you because they have already been forgiven and forgotten by our gracious God. Secondly, keep your eye on the finish line. In one race, a runner was second until he slowed down at the end, thinking he had crossed the finish line. He ended up fourth without a prize. On our journey of faith, we need to keep our heart and mind focused on God’s finish line, so we don’t quit the race early or get distracted by the deceptive prizes which this world offers. And Jesus will be there, running alongside with strength, and at the finish line with God’s priceless prize of eternal life.