Do You Only See On The Surface?
Look To The Depth For Beauty And Healing
How wonderful to be starting May and looking forward to summer gatherings with family and friends. Flowers are blooming with abandon in my gardens. The colors are stunningly intense. I am at awe at what God does with His spring palette. Take some time to look at a flower and see how it is intricately fashioned. Many different hues can make up a single bloom and each one is different from the rest. The majesty of God is surely visible in the garden!
A Weed Or A Precious Gift?
You may be wondering why there is a picture of a dandelion in this post about the exquisiteness of spring blossoms. If you look at the dandelion as simply a weed to be annihilated each growing season you will miss all that the dandelion offers. In His infinite wisdom God graced the lowly (in some human estimation) dandelion with beauty and tremendous healing properties.
If you only look on the surface of your perception you will miss the many gifts presented by the little dandelion. Look closely at a dandelion and really see brilliant colors and the deep green leaves that frame the flower. Named in the Old French as dent-de-lion or lion’s tooth after the lance shaped leaves, the dandelion has hundreds of tiny ray flowers. It is really quite intricate above the ground and has a very deep root below the surface.
Dandelion is medicinal as well as flavorful as a bitter green in spring salads or sautés with garlic and oil. The root tea has many curative attributes that support the natural processes of the body. It was when I had cancer that I first became acquainted with the healing properties of the dandelion. Today I still drink dandelion root tea every day. Do a little research of your own and you will likely be surprised at the depth of curative qualities God has place in this little plant that some consider just a troublesome weed. You may begin to see the beauty of design brought forth in the dandelion.
Do You See Division Or Unity?
How does this all tie in with what you see? Think of the body of Christ as God’s garden. There are different species (denominations) of plant and potentially many varieties (individuals) within a plant category. If you see only with surface vision you see only the differences that can divide. You will miss the beauty that others have. You will surely miss the healing that comes from embracing one another despite our differences. If you see those who worship or pray or minister just a little bit differently from your comfort zone you will miss the potential deep root system of wisdom impartation. What may look like a “weed” to you may in fact hold the very healing balm you need.
Now more than ever Christians must come together despite our differences to stand united or our house will fall. What matters is that we hold Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Period. Denominational differences are just that and not worth continual division. Jesus welcomes all into His salvation. Now is the time for us to lay aside our differences and embrace what we hold most dear in Christ. Now is the time to arise united in this season for the healing of our Nation. Whether you are a dandelion or a stately rose God loves you just the same. Be all that He created you to be “for such a time as this.”
Quotes For The Week
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus, John 13:25
“I believe God wants to so sanctify us, so separate us, that we will have that perfection of love that will not speak ill of a brother, that we will not slander a fellow believer whether it is true or not.” Smith Wigglesworth, Taken from the Smith Wigglesworth Devotional
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe. May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father I thank You that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image and likeness. Help us to grow in the fullness of Your divine plan for our life. Remove any sense of division from Your people and kindle in our hearts the love that You have for each of us. Line our hearts up with Yours for revival across denominational lines. Let us embrace one another with love and respect despite our surface differences. Let the deep root of unity take hold across the body of Christ and within each and every one of our hearts. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen and amen.