Lessons from Flowers

During the summertime, most of us have seen many different kinds of flowers and heard comments expressing how beautiful the flowers look.  The color of flowers is exquisite and in most cases the fragrance is delightful.  Seeing gorgeous flowers may evoke positive memories of beautiful people, a fragrant perfume, reflections of perfection and goodness, or thoughts of a perfect God who has so generously made things for us to enjoy.

When we look at the beauty of flowers, let’s not just see pretty flowers, but let’s take time to learn lessons for Christian living.

1)    Beauty.  Flowers are beautifully dressed.  “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).  They do not work or expend energy to look nice.  They are simply beautiful, because that is the way God made them.

2)    Faithfulness.  Flowers are compared to faithfulness.  “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field” (Isaiah 40:6). 

3)    Joy.  Flowers bring joy.  “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12).

4)    Contrast.  Flowers are contrasted with God’s Word.  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

5)    Reminder.  Flowers are a reminder that life is short.  “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall” (1 Peter 1:24).

We ought to remember that God created the beauty that we see in the flowers, and He takes care of everything that He has created.  We should also remember that God created us and He takes care of us, too.  Listen to these words: “And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30).

When you see a beautiful flower, take time to give thanks to God for His creative power.  However, do not forget to thank God for creating you and taking care of you.

 

What We Can Learn From Flowers

There's an old saying: “April showers bring May flowers.”  So, what can we learn about flowers from the Bible?  Here are some things I have discovered.

• The tabernacle had cups shaped like almond flowers (Exodus 25:33-34; 37:19-20).
• The temple had carvings of flowers on the walls and on the doors (I Kings 6:18. 20. 23. 35).
• Flowers appear on the earth (Song of Solomon 2:12).
• Flowers of the field are man’s glory (Isaiah 50:6).
• Flowers wither and fall (Isaiah 40:7-8; I Peter 1:24-25).

God must really enjoy flowers because he made them so beautiful and He gave instructions for instruments and ornamentations to be shaped or carved like flowers.  Flowers are beautiful—but they will not last.  However, there is something that will last—God’s Word.  Here is how the Apostle Peter puts it: “For, all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.  And this is the word that was preached to you” (I Peter 1:24-25).

What this tells me is that we should enjoy the beauty of the flowers that God has created, but we ought also to focus on enjoying the beauty of God’s Word.  His Word will last; flowers will not.  His Word will never fade away; flowers will.  Where are you spending your time?  I encourage you to make sure some of your time is spent in reading and listening to God’s Word.  That’s what we can learn from flowers.

Trees and You

Each fall those who live in Minnesota get to enjoy the beauty of the changing colors revealed in the trees.  Each time I see the vast array of orange, brown, red, and yellow I am reminded of the beauty and splendor of God.  The Bible has some interesting things to say about trees in which we can also find a parallel application to our lives.

1)    God created the trees.  The Bible says, “And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground” (Genesis 2:9). Trees didn’t just happen—they were created by a loving God.  You and I are creations of God.  The Bible reminds us that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

2)    Trees reflect beauty.  In the creation story there is a phrase that speaks directly to the beauty of color in the trees—whether in summer, autumn or fall.  The Bible further notes: “And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.  In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).  You and I are a reflection of the beauty of the Lord.  The Bible says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

3)    Trees are fruitful.  Trees have been gifted with fruit which they produce after their kind.  The Bible records, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit...” (Luke 5:44).  People are blessed and strengthened by the fruit that a tree yields.  You and I are told to be fruitful.  A command from the Bible says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last..." (John 15:16).  In order to be fruitful we need the strength and power that God gives.  We are further reminded, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

4)    Trees are expressive.  The Bible says: “Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth” (I Chronicles 16:33).  In the Bible the psalmist expresses it this way,“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.  Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy” (Psalm 96:12).  You and I were created to be expressive toward God.  Psalms further notes, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).  Still another psalm says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).

5)    Trees grow.  The Bible notes, “Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:32).  You and I need to grow in our relationship with God.  The Bible says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (II Peter 3:18).

As you observe the trees this fall, think about the spiritual application of trees to your life.

The Sea and God's Glory

While recently cruising through the Gulf of Mexico I was impressed with the vast amount of water all around - its length,  its width and its depth. Everywhere I looked all I could see was water. Where did this water come from? How did it get here? As the earth rotates, what makes it adhere to the earth and not fling away into space?  The Bible says, "And God said let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so. And God called the dry land earth and the gathering together of the waters he called the seas and God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:9-10).

The seas with all the water they contain did not appear by chance; they were planned and created by God. In fact, the world and everything in it was created for God's glory. The Bible says "The whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). So when we look at creation we should think of God - His greatness, His power, and His majesty - not just for us to enjoy, but for our minds to be focused on Him and His glory. When you look at creation - be sure to enjoy it, but also be ready to give glory to God.

The Beauty of Fall

When I think of the fall season the one word that comes to my mind is beauty.  As fall sets in we begin to experience cool mornings and notice that the leaves on trees begin turning color.  Have you ever wondered why and how leaves change color? Why does a maple leaf turn bright red?  Where do the yellows and oranges and browns come from?

To answer these questions we must remember that leaves are food factories.  Plants take water from the ground through their roots and receive carbon dioxide from the air.  They use sunlight to turn the water and carbon dioxide into glucose, which is a kind of sugar.  A chemical called chlorophyll helps make that happen and gives plants their green color.  As the days of fall get shorter, trees shut down their food-making factories and live off the food they have stored during the summer. When the green chlorophyll disappears it leaves small amounts of yellow and orange, which unbeknown to us, have been in the leaves all along.  In maple trees glucose is trapped in the leaves and the sunlight plus the cool nights cause them to turn into a red color.  The brown color in the leaves of oak trees is made from wastes that are left in the leaves.  It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall.

When we think of the beauty in the trees and the leaves we need to remember that all this began with creation.  “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.  The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:13-14).  The Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s creative and sustaining power when he said, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).  What a wonderful God we have who gives us this wonderful beauty all year long, but particularly in the fall.  With Solomon of old we can affirm, "He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). I’m so glad that God enjoys beauty and delights in sharing that beauty with you and me.

Handling Showers in Life

You have often heard the statement, “April showers bring May flowers.”  The ultimate goal in this expression is the loveliness of spring flowers that enhance the beauty of God’s wonderful creation.  By the same token, the beauty of springtime flowers only appears after the showers have come.  “Showers” or “rain” implies the absence of the sun and suggests something dreary or dismal.  However, there are a lot of positive aspects about rain.  Rain brings refreshment.  It cleanses.  It purges.  It brings nourishment to the thirsty land.  As a result, lots of good comes out of something that has even the smallest hint of negativism.

You will remember that in the Bible the Apostle Paul had what he called a “thorn in the flesh.”  Whatever that was, to him it was negative and he wanted to rid himself of it.  He says,  “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me” (II Corinthians 12:7-8).  He didn’t want the “thorn” but God gave it to him anyway.  God’s response to him was that into each life some rain must fall.  Some negative is not all bad.  Paul went on to explain God’s response to his request.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

His negative situation – even though it contained “showers”, “rain” or “pain” – would become a positive experience because God would be exceedingly sufficient for him through it.  God’s power would be shown through Paul’s weakness.  Alice Hansche Mortenson penned a poem which helps us understand how some of the “showers”, “thorns” or “pain” that we go through can lead to things that are positive.  She writes,

Though prayers for healing seemed in vain, God helped me learn to live with pain;

To use the very thing I dread for closer walk with Him instead;
And how to lend a listening ear to those who hurt and shed a tear
Of sympathy, or press their hand—worth more because I understand.
Dear God, if that’s the only way You’d have me serve from day to day,
Please use this tiny cross of pain for others and for Heaven’s gain!

Maybe God wants to use the “showers”, “rain” or “pain” in your life in order to show His greatness and His glory.  Remember, God will be totally sufficient for you as you give yourself completely to Him. 

Breath-taking Beauty

The grandeur of the Alps is something that cannot be contained in words or even pictures – although we have several pictures form a recent trip to Europe.  On a cloudy day it was impossible to see much of Mt. Pilatus from the base of the mountain not far from the town of Lucerne, Switzerland.  However, we decided to ride on cable cars up two levels and a gondola the final level for a fun experience.  As we neared the top of the mountain we emerged from the clouds to a beautiful sunny day.  The majesty of God’s creation was unmistakable.  The experience was a great reminder that “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1).  Our response after returning to Lucerne was similar to the words the psalmist used to conclude the Psalm, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

 

Breath-Taking Beauty

The grandeur of the Alps is something that cannot be contained in words or even pictures – although we have several pictures form a recent trip to Europe.  On a cloudy day it was impossible to see much of Mt. Pilatus from the base of the mountain not far from the town of Lucerne, Switzerland.  However, we decided to ride on cable cars up two levels and a gondola the final level just for the experience.  As we neared the top of the mountain we emerged from the clouds to a beautiful sunny day.  The splendor of God’s creation was unmistakable.  Our experience was a great reminder to us that “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1).  After returning to Lucerne our response was similar to the words the psalmist used to conclude the Psalm, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).