It’s spring! The beginning of new life! Green leaves, shoots and vibrant, fragrant blossoms emerge. Often the first blooms we see in the spring are crocuses. How much do you know about them? Take this quiz and see.
Although there are no red or coral crocus, there are purple, yellow, cream, white, lavender, blue, pink and orange.
The bright purple Saffron crocus is easily identified by its’ crimson stigmas used to make – you guessed it; the saffron spice.
Pickwick and Orange Monarch are crocus names, but there is no Joan of Arc. Reminiscent of the butterfly by the same name, the Orange Monarch displays orange petals with dark feathering on the outside. The Pickwick is pale lavender with purple stripes.
While planting crocus as seeds is worth the wait for blossoms, it is certainly a long wait. Seeds may take 2-3 years of growth before blooms develop. In the mean time we wait. 1
DO YOU EVER FEEL YOUR LIFE IS
LIKE A CROCUS?
We plant seeds in our lives so that one day our future will blossom with the desires of our hearts. Like going to school planting seeds of knowledge for a future career. A couple in love planting seeds of hope for a future together.
With Jesus,
we plant seeds of faith to begin a new life.
Often seeds we plant, like the crocus, don’t blossom instantly but grow over time. While we wait, we care for the seeds. For a career, perhaps we care for the seeds by pouring in knowledge. For a couple, we care for our relationship by pouring grace, love and forgiveness into it.
HOW ABOUT TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE WITH JESUS?
We pour prayer, our time, God’s scriptures, His love and fellowship with other believers into it. These are some ways we care for the seeds of faith.
THE STAGES OF GROWING FAITH ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROCUS
GERMINATION
Planting crocus seeds in warmth and moisture germinates the seed to soften and crack open its’ shell. Roots sprout from the seed anchoring the plant to the ground giving it a foundation for its’ growth and survival.
To complete the germination process, crocuses need a period of cold. Protecting it with mulch throughout this period, will suppress the growth of weeds.
Hearing the words of Jesus softens our hardened hearts cracking open the shell of fear, guilt and unforgiveness. When we believe in Jesus, the warmth of His love develops roots of faith anchoring us to Him.
Jesus’ love is our foundation
for the growth and survival
of our faith.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you,
being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the width and length and depth and height—
to know the love of Christ
which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God,
Ephesians 3:17-19
Doesn’t the greatest growth of our faith often come after difficult times? Times where we may have felt left out in the cold alone, vulnerable.
It’s a difficult time for anyone, but especially for a new believer in Jesus. This cold period either germinates our faith or causes us to stumble before roots are anchored to Jesus.
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to
someone who hears the word, (Gospel of Jesus),
and at once receives it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time.
When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away,
Matthew 13:20-21 NIV (Parable of the Sower)
Like the Parable of the Sower above, we need to protect what starts in our hearts so that roots of faith grow.
Spending time with Jesus and gathering together with other believers, protects our faith enabling victory over the weedy troubles of the world.
These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer,
I have overcome the world,
John 16:33
VEGETATION
In the vegetation stage, green shoots break out of the ground and leaves emerge. They stretch up reaching for the sun as if they know that the more sun they absorb, the more they will develop and thrive.
In this stage of our faith, evidence of our faith emerges. Just as a crocus thrives absorbing sunlight, the more we reach up and absorb the light of the Son, Jesus, the more we will develop and thrive.
BLOOMING
As the crocus blooms, the plant transforms. Dying leaves are replaced by blooms. The blooms emit a strong perfume drawing bees to partake of their pollen
As our faith blooms, such things as rejection, doubt and guilt die out enabling more blooms to emerge. Our words and actions of faith emit a perfume drawing others to Jesus.
As far as God is concerned
there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives.
It is the fragrance of Christ within us,
an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us,
2 Corinthians 2:15 TLB
No matter what stage our faith is in, we can always begin new life with Jesus.
THROUGH JESUS’ LOVE
WE CAN ALL GROW TO EMIT FRAGRANT, BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS.
REFLECTION
What stage is your faith in?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write 2 Corinthians 2:15 and say it aloud, guide me to grow my faith to that I can bloom through You. In Jesus name. Amen.
BY FAITH, BLOOM IN JESUS
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Crocus info; Horticulture.co.uk, avanote.net
Pickwick photo, Cody Fitzgerald
Orange Monarch photo, j_blueberry
Child photo, Christopher Luther
Saffron photo, xtendo
Snow photo, Johannes Plenio
