Since my last post was on the crucifixion, I couldn't leave you there without talking about the resurrection! Enjoy another look at a previous post about the God who brings life to the dead!
Many years ago, my husband Bob purchased a little cyclamen plant for me from a local grocery store. Although the survival rate for my outdoor plants is much higher than indoor plants (which explains why there were none), prior experience had taught me that cyclamen and Michigan weather did not mix well. Perhaps because there was only one to dote on, I was able to nurture my little indoor plant and enjoyed many seasons of its vibrant fuchsia blossoms.
Many years ago, my husband Bob purchased a little cyclamen plant for me from a local grocery store. Although the survival rate for my outdoor plants is much higher than indoor plants (which explains why there were none), prior experience had taught me that cyclamen and Michigan weather did not mix well. Perhaps because there was only one to dote on, I was able to nurture my little indoor plant and enjoyed many seasons of its vibrant fuchsia blossoms.
At least, that is, until my cat destroyed it.
Utterly.
Totally.
Completely.
Destroyed.
I walked into my sun room (literally the only room in the house that gets any sun) and my heart sunk. My beautiful little plant was reduced to a pot of soil with leaves and dirt strewn everywhere. With the culprit nowhere in sight (I must note that he did go on to live a long life and die of natural causes), I grabbed my broom and dustpan and got to work, mourning the loss of my poor little plant.
Although I've always been quite organized, somehow I never got around to dumping out the remainder of soil in the pot. I'm sure being in a room we rarely used for most of the year had something to do with it - out of sight, out of mind.
That is until one day, when something caught my eye.
Signs of life!
My poor, brutalized, neglected, left-for-dead plant had some life in it after all!
There was a leaf...
and then two...
then three...
And then a bud...
and another bud...
and another!
This was truly the little plant that could! Fast forward a few years, and my resurrected plant was once again thriving and enjoying the longest life a houseplant in my home has ever experienced. Then in May 2012 Bob and I went on our fifth trip to do mission work in Kenya and left our youngest son (24 at the time) to house sit while we were gone. We kept our instructions to a minimum:
Keep the house standing
Mow the lawn
Keep the plant alive.
Well, I'm pleased to announce that the house was still standing when we returned. As for my plant, we came home to this:
Keep the house standing
Mow the lawn
Keep the plant alive.
Well, I'm pleased to announce that the house was still standing when we returned. As for my plant, we came home to this:
My heart sunk. Evidently three weeks of 90 degree heat and no water has an adverse effect on plants - who knew? Ugh!
Since this was the second time my plant had been "killed," I was sure this was it. Still, given its history, I held out hope and resumed watering my pot of dirt.
Nine months later, and just look at it now - a spot of brightness in this dreary span between winter and spring!
Imagine the despair those who loved Jesus felt when they witnessed Him beaten, crucified and pierced. They had believed in Him. They gave up everything for Him. All their faith was in Him, and now He was gone. It was over. Their hopes for the future destroyed.
Utterly.
Totally.
Completely.
Destroyed.
Now what would they do?
Maybe you feel that way too.
Maybe you're dealing with the death of someone near and dear to you.
Maybe you're facing your own mortality.
Maybe your health has deteriorated to the point where they say there's no hope.
Maybe your dreams have been crushed.
Maybe you feel like all the hopes for your future have been dashed.
Remember what the disciples learned over 2,000 years ago. We belong to the ... God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. ~ Romans 4:17b
Nothing is more insurmountable than death, yet God displayed His power over death when He raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. If death is not insurmountable for God, do you think your issue is?
Like the disciples, we tend to look at our situation based on our own understanding and reasoning. But what difference would it make in our lives if we instead focused on God, His power and His love for us, the depth of which He displayed when He sacrificed His Son on our behalf?
What if we trusted in His plan and His timing rather than our own? God is not finished with your story, not by a long shot. Why not stop striving to make things happen on your own schedule, resume claiming the promises God made to you, and watch and see what He has in store!
Father, Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son so that those who believe can spend eternity with you; an eternity that begins the day we accept Him as our Lord and Savior! Help us to stop living like those who have no hope and instead remember we belong to the God who gives life to the dead and calls things into being that were not.
Imagine the despair those who loved Jesus felt when they witnessed Him beaten, crucified and pierced. They had believed in Him. They gave up everything for Him. All their faith was in Him, and now He was gone. It was over. Their hopes for the future destroyed.
Utterly.
Totally.
Completely.
Destroyed.
Now what would they do?
Maybe you feel that way too.
Maybe you're dealing with the death of someone near and dear to you.
Maybe you're facing your own mortality.
Maybe your health has deteriorated to the point where they say there's no hope.
Maybe your dreams have been crushed.
Maybe you feel like all the hopes for your future have been dashed.
Remember what the disciples learned over 2,000 years ago. We belong to the ... God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. ~ Romans 4:17b
Nothing is more insurmountable than death, yet God displayed His power over death when He raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. If death is not insurmountable for God, do you think your issue is?
Like the disciples, we tend to look at our situation based on our own understanding and reasoning. But what difference would it make in our lives if we instead focused on God, His power and His love for us, the depth of which He displayed when He sacrificed His Son on our behalf?
What if we trusted in His plan and His timing rather than our own? God is not finished with your story, not by a long shot. Why not stop striving to make things happen on your own schedule, resume claiming the promises God made to you, and watch and see what He has in store!
Father, Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son so that those who believe can spend eternity with you; an eternity that begins the day we accept Him as our Lord and Savior! Help us to stop living like those who have no hope and instead remember we belong to the God who gives life to the dead and calls things into being that were not.
Lisa
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I've been known to link up with: Soli Deo Gloria, Inspire Me Monday, Titus 2sdays, Tell Me a Story, Teach Me Tuesdays, Courtship Connection, Into the Beautiful, Tell His Story, Word-Filled Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, Simply Helping Him, Weekend Whatever, Spiritual Sundays, True Vine Challenge, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates With God, Monday's Musings, Monday Montras, Thrive at Home, Knick of Time, Hope in Every Season, Funky Junk Interiors
I've been known to link up with: Soli Deo Gloria, Inspire Me Monday, Titus 2sdays, Tell Me a Story, Teach Me Tuesdays, Courtship Connection, Into the Beautiful, Tell His Story, Word-Filled Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, Simply Helping Him, Weekend Whatever, Spiritual Sundays, True Vine Challenge, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates With God, Monday's Musings, Monday Montras, Thrive at Home, Knick of Time, Hope in Every Season, Funky Junk Interiors
Lisa,
Another great post. I enjoy reading your messages of faith and always find something personal in them. Sometimes we have to break the soil in our life to aerate and plant new roots. From there we can blossom again.
A.Scott Brooks
What a timely post for Easter! I tried to rear a cyclamen plant eons ago, but the heat in a tropical country (the Philippines) was too much for the poor plant. I'm glad yours resurrected twice. We too can resurrect after each and every death we need to go through in our own lifetime.
Beautiful post! God bless!
Love the blooms on your plant and how you connected it to this special So thankful God is near in every situation--always working even when we don't realize it.
Happy Resurrection Day!
Joyfully,
Pamela
You've brightened my Easter Sunday - and how appropriate. Thanks - Thomas
There is life after death! I am positive about that. Thank you for your wonderful 'resurrection" story and illustration with your lovely plant. Thank you for sharing at "Tell Me a Story"
Well, you just made me grin. I sure know how I love my plants, and am sometimes amazed at how they begin to be destroyed or die from their age... and then suddenly come back with sweetness and light and colorful flowers. Always makes me happy. [But, so far, no cats, not kids, no lack of care ... just "age" and not-enough water.]
Beautiful flower.
Plants are pretty closer to our lives so we need to grow more and protect them as well.
That beautiful flowering plant is such an amazing analogy for what God does in us and what He has accomplished through His son. Thanks for the uplifting post and the reminder that He is not done with me.