Why Flowers Bloom

God wants us to grow.  He does not want us to go through life just surviving with the bare nutrients and essentials.  He wants us to thrive.

Just look around at how He works.  Flowers, shrubs and trees have everything they need….. sunlight, water and soil.  When all three are in balance plants give off a glory that only they can….they radiate beauty, create shade and produce sweet smells.  Think if the intensely sweet smell of a rose.

I believe that, like plants, our lives are set in a sort of soil or foundation.  We get nutrients to power our soul from somewhere.   Where do the nutrients come from that you need to live life fully?  Where does your courage, hope, love, patience, kindness come from?  What is your life “grounded” in?   Do you rely on your leadership skills, intelligence, money, strong will, position or humor for the things you need in life?   I want to encourage you to plant your life – to ground your life – in truth – for me this truth is found in God’s word – delivered through the Bible, friends, music, nature or through various studies.

Have you ever noticed what happens to a plant after it’s been removed from the ground?  A plant pulled from the nutrients of the soil for a day is nearly dead.  We need to sit in a soil that is full of nutrients and life.

Have you ever noticed how many plants’ leaves literally “turn” to face the sunlight during the day?  The plants get it.  They are turing to their life source to get the most life they can.  Likewise, we should turn to God to get the most from this life.  While I personally know this truth, I have found that sometimes when I need God the most, I end up hiding from Him back in the shade, especially when stress enters the picture.  I have always thought it odd that in our times of highest need we sometimes run from God’s light instead of to God’s light. His light (His love) casts out all fear….his light is healing; he is a healing and restoring God.    When life gets tough, turn to the light, turn to God and to His gentle love.

God also gives water to plants to help them grow.  Christ said I am the “living water” that you need.  He said that once you have tasted of His water, you will no longer need the water the world offers.  What He was saying was that the world’s devices that bring happiness are temporary and require us to go back to the them time and time again to get spurts of joy.  But with Christ as our water supply, we have life eternal.  We need the eternal lasting water of Christ to pour down on us to give us what we need for true life.

Without a solid foundation, without sunlight, without water…..we die.  We all three we are able to grow into the sweet smelling roses, the colorful azaleas and the long branch oak trees that we are destined to be.

Colossians 2:7 “Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.” (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 1:2-3 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (NIV)