God's Creation Speaks!

As John David and I went out on a little walk this morning I noticed this little flower in our yard. I had planted these bulbs last spring...not knowing the least bit about flowers or gardening...I didn't even know if they were ever going to come up out of the ground. I remember that I called Lowe's to see how to plant bulbs...also called my sisters...I had never done it before, but I followed their "counsel" on the subject and one year later....wholla! A beautiful little flower poking up through the bark! My first thought was how awesome God is to bring a sign of spring time! But then as I walked I began to just praise God for who He was and how He uses His creation to show us so many truths. I was thinking on some verses and what the Lord has been teaching me these last few months, weeks, and days...I began to ponder on this little flower. I was so excited to see it spring forth out of the ground...this reminds me of Isaiah 44:4-5..."They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar tree by flowing streams. One will say, 'I belong to the Lord'...still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's.’” How great is this? It's referring to offspring...but when thinking about it with this little flower... I was reminded of God's grace. This little flower did nothing...it was all God. God allowed it to grow...made it grow. And then when it grew, busted out from the ground, and with all it's beautiful yellow color and meticulous form yelled out "The Lord's". That Grace. As I received Him so I must live. Just like that little flower. And then I began to think about the course of time it took me to see the actual flower itself. I had planted it a year ago and saw no evidence of the work. I didn't know what kind of soil was underneath there. I thought it looked pretty good to me. I just planted it. That's all. By faith I planted it. And by God it grew. I wasn't mad or frustrated that it took so long for me to see. I knew that it would grow up in due season. Or at least I hoped it would. But I didn't get discouraged when I would walk in the house and see that it wasn't blooming yet. I have to let God do the blooming. It's easy with flowers, but in life....with me...with others...not so easy..."In his time". If it had bloomed just a month before...it would not have lasted through the weather. I am just so thankful that God brings forth fruit in us in due season- that it's not my job to produce...I can't do it. But God can. And He does. There was not anything else blooming in my entire yard. Everything else looked dull and ugly compared to this little flower. But instead of concentrating on the flowers that have not yet bloomed, I praised God for the one little beautiful blooming flower. I thanked God for those blooming areas in my life…those blooming friends in my life that will share His beauty with me. To look upon those beautiful flowers we call friends as they yearn for Christ and spring forth shouting I AM THE LORD’S- It’s a sign of spring!! How great is our God....He's the Master Gardener.