It’s May! Do you notice all the flowers? After all, the saying is April showers bring May flowers.
Take the quiz to see what you know about flowers around the world.1
Around the world we find a profusion of flowers in various shapes, sizes, colors and scents. In fact, there are over 400,000 flowering plant species.
Blossoms range from smallest Watermeal flower at 1/16th of an inch to the Corpse blossom at over 10’. Fortunately, the Corpse only blooms every 7 to 10 years because its’ fragrance is similar to rotting flesh.
Did you guess that the Agava Americana blooms once every 100 years? What about the rarest flowering plant? With only two in existence, the Middlemist Red with deep pink blossoms is the rarest.
April showers bring an explosion of fragrant flowering gardens blooming from seeds intentionally planted. Unfortunately, showers also bring an abundance of flowering weeds randomly sprouting in our gardens.
Whether we are referring to flowers planted intentionally or unintentionally, both are similar to our faith.
ARE WE PLANTING WEEDY THOUGHTS OR FRAGRANT BLOSSOMS?
PLANTING WEEDS
Weeds! They drive me nuts popping up and spreading throughout our garden. However, unlike me, some people embrace these aggressive plants. The false beauty of their blossoms entices people to plant them on slopes where grass won’t grow. But beware, embracing weeds is risky as they can invade and take over healthy lawns.
Just as weeds can take over healthy lawns,
seeds of doubt can take over healthy faith.
As we hear or see things that invoke responses of anxiety, rejection or anger, seeds are planted. When those seeds are embraced, they invade our thoughts growing like weeds. Those weedy thoughts spread doubt that Jesus can do anything.
What do we do when weedy thoughts pop up in our minds?
Don’t embrace them! Pluck them out and cast them aside!
Casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:5
PLANTING FAITH
Rather than weeds, let’s intentionally plant seeds of faith!
if you have faith as a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible for you,
Matthew 17:20b
This verse likely refers to the black mustard seed typically grown in the Middle East during Biblical times. It is the tiniest seed of the mustard seed varieties, ranging in size from .039-.047”. Under the right conditions, this tiny seed will bloom with small yellow flowers and may reach heights of 8-10’. 2
Doesn’t that sound like our faith?
Starting with a tiny mustard seed sized faith, our faith blooms growing to a tremendous height so that nothing will be impossible.
HOW TO MAKE OUR FAITH BLOOM
Like the mustard seed, the blooming of our faith depends upon the conditions it grows in. The right conditions for a mustard seed to bloom are similar to the conditions needed for our faith to bloom.
1. GOOD SOIL
Soft, fertile soil allows the roots of a mustard tree to take hold.
When the root of our faith, Jesus,
takes hold in a soft heart,
our faith blooms growing us in compassion,
love and sensitivity
to God’s leadings.
We become more aware of any unforgiveness so that we can prevent a hardened heart.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it,
Proverbs 4:23
2. SUNLIGHT
Planting a mustard seed where it receives plenty of life-giving sunlight enables the plant to thrive.
We like the mustard seed, need to receive plenty of light for our faith to thrive. The light we need is Sonlight from God’s SON, Jesus.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life.”
John 8:12
3. WATER
Watering the mustard seed tree allows its’ roots to strengthen and deepen which promotes growth and flowering.
Watering ourselves with the Word of God strengths and deepens our faith. As we soak in His promises and love our faith will bloom.
That He might sanctify and cleanse her
with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:26
4. PRUNING
Pruning the mustard seed trees’ dead stems and blooms enables new growth to emerge enhancing the plants beauty.
Allowing Jesus to prune away actions and relationships that weaken our faith will enable new growth. Pruning away those “weedy thoughts” like doubt, fear and rejection, permits beautiful thoughts of faith, peace and love to emerge.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;
and every branch that bears fruit He prunes,
that it may bear more fruit,
John 15:2
When the mustard seed tree is grown in conditions with good soil, sun, water and pruning it is extremely resilient an adaptable.
When we plant our roots in Jesus, we can be resilient and adaptable as we face challenging situations. Rooted in HIm our words and actions of faith will produce a sweet-smelling fragrance which enables the impossible.
REFLECTION
What’s blooming in your life?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Matthew 17:20b and say it aloud, reveal any weedy thoughts and pruning that needs to take place in my life. Help me to deepen my roots in Jesus so that my faith blooms to believe for the impossible. In Jesus name. Amen.
FAITH ROOTED IN JESUS BLOOMS
Comment!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo chickweed, heestory
Photo goat, fitmum
Photo flower, aaron burden
1 flower info, houseandhomeonline.com
2 Mustard seed info, scienceinsights.com
