Seek The Lord Sunday: Saved And Made New
>> Saturday, September 6, 2008 –
Bible,
Faith,
Seek The Lord Sunday
This week is another "open" week...mostly because I forgot to update the topic in my sidebar! Sorry 'bout that. I'll try to offer a suggestion again next week.
Isn't it funny the different ways that God can speak to us? Once I'm looking, I see Him and his message of love and salvation everywhere. I mean everywhere...even in the garbage can! I'll explain...
This is my favorite houseplant:
I've had this plant for 18 years (how is that even possible?!). It's a shamrock plant, and it's so delicate and beautiful. It's leaves turn a deep green with purple backs when I'm doing a good job of fertilizing it regularly. And it produces these sweet little delicate white flowers, that I love. One of my favorite things is how it's leaves close at night, and open in the daylight. But this post isn't really about a houseplant, I promise.
The main reason I love this plant is because of the way I acquired it. Before it was mine, it was my Mom's. We moved houses one hot Idaho summer and this plant got left in the car too long. It was completely shriveled and dead looking when Mom found it in the back window of the car. She dumped the pot's contents into the garbage can, and set about unpacking boxes and setting up the new house.
A day or so later, I was taking out the trash. I took off the garage can lid, and was about to put the bag of garbage in the can when I saw something odd in there. It looked like a cluster of bright orange pine cones or something. I was intrigued, so I reached in there and grabbed it out of the dirt and grime. I realized it was the root ball of Mom's "dead" plant.
Some might call me a fool...I prefer the term "optimist". I brought my strange find into the house, ran it under some water to get the gunk and dirt off of it, and I plopped it into a flower pot. I didn't even know which end was up. I just stuck it in there, covered it with dirt, and gave it some water.
To my delight, I saw little green sprouts poking their heads through the soil in about a week! I couldn't believe it!
That plant has been in that very pot ever since. Every now and then it starts to look a little weak or anemic, and I think it's dying. When that happens, I literally dump it in the garbage, shake of the dirt that's run out of nutrients, and re-plant it in new, fresh soil. Sure enough, it comes back strong once again.
I'm sure you see where I'm going with this story by now :)
These days, when I look at that plant and think of it's beginnings, I'm reminded of how I'm saved and made new by the Lord. When I think of the person I was before he got his hands on my gunky little heart...oh, I belonged in a garbage can too! But not with a God like ours! He dug me out, washed me off, and planted me in soil filled with nutrients. I thrive under his love and care. I grow...and every now and then I even sprout a flower or two.
And although I wish I never needed it, sometimes he has to "dump me back out" and start over with me. And once again, I'm clean and new. And with the right soil, a drink from the never-dry well from time to time, and a little light from the Son...I'm back to being the best me that I can be.
I'm so thankful that we have a God who's not afraid to go to the ugly and dirty parts of our lives and hearts to rescue us...proof positive that he loves us beyond reason! Our very own "dumpster-diving" God!! Ha!
Tonight, my heart is just filled with gratitude. Gratitude for being saved...gratitude for being so preciously loved...gratitude that God is bigger and better than my little mind will ever be able to comprehend this side of Heaven. Can I get an 'Amen'!
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
How has the Lord touched your heart recently?
The main reason I love this plant is because of the way I acquired it. Before it was mine, it was my Mom's. We moved houses one hot Idaho summer and this plant got left in the car too long. It was completely shriveled and dead looking when Mom found it in the back window of the car. She dumped the pot's contents into the garbage can, and set about unpacking boxes and setting up the new house.
A day or so later, I was taking out the trash. I took off the garage can lid, and was about to put the bag of garbage in the can when I saw something odd in there. It looked like a cluster of bright orange pine cones or something. I was intrigued, so I reached in there and grabbed it out of the dirt and grime. I realized it was the root ball of Mom's "dead" plant.
Some might call me a fool...I prefer the term "optimist". I brought my strange find into the house, ran it under some water to get the gunk and dirt off of it, and I plopped it into a flower pot. I didn't even know which end was up. I just stuck it in there, covered it with dirt, and gave it some water.
To my delight, I saw little green sprouts poking their heads through the soil in about a week! I couldn't believe it!
That plant has been in that very pot ever since. Every now and then it starts to look a little weak or anemic, and I think it's dying. When that happens, I literally dump it in the garbage, shake of the dirt that's run out of nutrients, and re-plant it in new, fresh soil. Sure enough, it comes back strong once again.
I'm sure you see where I'm going with this story by now :)
These days, when I look at that plant and think of it's beginnings, I'm reminded of how I'm saved and made new by the Lord. When I think of the person I was before he got his hands on my gunky little heart...oh, I belonged in a garbage can too! But not with a God like ours! He dug me out, washed me off, and planted me in soil filled with nutrients. I thrive under his love and care. I grow...and every now and then I even sprout a flower or two.
And although I wish I never needed it, sometimes he has to "dump me back out" and start over with me. And once again, I'm clean and new. And with the right soil, a drink from the never-dry well from time to time, and a little light from the Son...I'm back to being the best me that I can be.
I'm so thankful that we have a God who's not afraid to go to the ugly and dirty parts of our lives and hearts to rescue us...proof positive that he loves us beyond reason! Our very own "dumpster-diving" God!! Ha!
Tonight, my heart is just filled with gratitude. Gratitude for being saved...gratitude for being so preciously loved...gratitude that God is bigger and better than my little mind will ever be able to comprehend this side of Heaven. Can I get an 'Amen'!
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
How has the Lord touched your heart recently?
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It's pretty cool that God can take something half dead and make it pretty again :-)
Love you plant story! Yes, I see God renewing me through my daughter, in still small moments with her.
Another lovely post! Our loving Heavenly Father specializes in renewal.
Big bang - my foot. ;-) Look what the Lord has done:
UP AND RUNNING, at THE MANE POINT
Blessings,
Linda
I also loved your plant story. Anything with pictures by you is good. :) Thanks for the thoughts, I needed them today, to help me remember some things.
Surely . . . God has a delightful sense of humor . . . and His economy often inverts our own.
;-)
Blessings all,
Linda
THE BIG HITTER, at NICKERS AND INK
Redemption: all things made new.
A THISTLE’S EPISTLE, at PRACTICALLY AT HOME