How to Be Poplar

flower from tree in yardThe picture to the left is a flower my wife cut from a tree at the edge of our yard.  My Facebook friends helped us identify it as a Tulip Poplar.  What make this particular flower so unique is that is comes from a tree that fell into our yard last year.  I pushed the tree back into the brush and figured it would eventually wither and die.  The tree produced a stunning display of blooms in spite of the fact is had fallen, been pushed aside, and was overgrown with brush.  The picture below shows the mess through which this tree bloomed.

The Tulip Poplar bloom reminded me of the Biblical admonition to remain steadfast in the DSC_0038midst of adverse and difficult life circumstances.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3

We find it easy to allow our circumstances to dictate our effort.  When the going gets tough, we get going…in the other direction.  Jesus provided the example we can follow by enduring shame, ridicule, betrayal, pain, and ultimately death for us. Jesus was willing to endure the immediate hardship because He knew the payoff of joy that was to come.

What circumstances and situations currently tempt you to quit trying?  Tell Jesus about them and ask Him to overcome through you so that you can bloom where He has planted you.  He knows what you’re going through and He has already overcome.

 

Disposing of Disposable Living

flash cubeWe live in a disposable world. I shave with a disposable razor, we use disposable batteries in our electronics, when our printer runs out of ink, we dispose of the cartridge and replace it with a new one. Out with the old, in with the new.

One of the first disposable items I remember from my childhood was the disposable flash bulbs in our family camera. It was in the shape of a cube and attached to the top of the camera. When you used the flash, the cube rotated a readied a fresh bulb for the next flash. Once you used it four times, you could pop it out, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

One of the greatest disposable inventions is the disposable diaper. Thankfully, I began my parenting responsibilities in the disposable age. I can’t imagine rinsing out a soiled diaper and taking it to the wash pile. Now, when Precious makes a boo-boo, you pop off the soiled diaper, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Viola! Powder fresh!

Unfortunately, the disposable mentality has bled over into areas of our lives where permanence should prevail. If our car no longer pleases us, all we have to do is dispose of it (via trade-in), and replace it with a new one. Never mind the increasing monthly payments. If we get tired of a relationship or it no longer serves our purpose? Too easily we can dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Never mind the messy emotional destruction left behind. If our religion or church no longer makes us happy, all we have to do is dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

Let me encourage you not to give up when that seems to be easiest thing to do. When you’re test or tried, hang in there. Stay faithful and let God finish the work He started in you. How many times have we given up on something when God was on the verge of showing us His breakthrough? Hang in there, whatever you are tempted to give up, don’t dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Let God finish.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

For Those Who Hate to Wait

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waitI am by nature an impatient person.  I hate to wait.  Doesn’t matter if it is a traffic light, check-out line, delivery, or even a date on the calendar; I find waiting to be one of my life’s most difficult tasks.

Yesterday morning while reading in Genesis 7, I came across something I have missed in my previous readings, something that made me stop and think.  There it was in black and white in Genesis 7:10 –

And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

For seven days after Noah, his family, and all the animals boarded the ark they had to sit there on that waiting for God to deliver on a promise.

  • Just like the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight could only see men looking like trees walking about and had to wait a little longer for his full vision to come to him.
  • Just like Mary and Martha had to wait four days for Jesus to come to Bethany while their brother laid in a tomb developing the stench of rigor mortis.
  • Just like Jesus’ disciples had to wait three days after His death to see the fulfillment of the promised resurrection.

Waiting is never easy and seldom fun, but we can rest assured that while we wait God works.

  • Perhaps we wait while God prepares us for the greater work He desires to do in us.
  • Perhaps we wait while God arranges circumstances so that He will receive greater glory.
  • Perhaps we wait while God tests our faith and in that testing strengthens us.
  • Perhaps we will NEVER know why we wait, but if He says wait, then wait we must, and that waiting is good.

So on what promise of God do you wait today?  Don’t get bored, distracted, or discouraged.  Trust God and seek Him all throughout the moments of your wait.  AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME God will deliver the goods.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6