Tag Archives: spirit

Going Back

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bee-on-yellow-flower-cropped-webOne of my favorite places this year has been the rose garden at the company of Harry and David. They used to own Jackson and Perkins until they sold it a few years ago. Jackson and Perkins specialized in roses. Harry and David’s rose garden was the ‘test’ garden. Every color, species, and size of rose you can imagine, hangs out at Harry and David’s garden.

I’ve made several trips to the garden this year, while living in Oregon. I’ve taken guests there, my granddaughter, my neighbor and more. Most of them have had a similar reaction to mine… breathless. Speechless. In awe.

The colors are magnificent and stunning, surprising in some instances as they flower buds in a deep red, opens to orange and fades to a yellow. Some have one large stem that dons eight or more blooms – a bouquet in itself.

When I have gone alone is when I can truly take my time and enjoy every step. I could spend the day there. There are asters, lilies, peonies and butterfly bushes. Ornamental grasses, fruit trees, lavender and well – I could go on and on – it’s there. The saddest thing to me is that no one else is every there. It’s always void of someone to walk it’s path, linger over the fragrances as my little granddaughter loves to do.

In each row, with each step, I find a reason to praise God. With each water drop that twinkles in the sun’s rays, I find a reason to smile. With each honeybee that buzzes from one petal to the next, I almost laugh. I find I can disconnect from the despair I sometimes feel. The tough moments. The trying times. The mundane. I can walk on the thick, lush grass and find one more bloom, one more color, one more surprise to be thankful for.

Eventually it’s time to go home. I have filled up the camera card with pictures of bees, blooms and bunnies. I download the photos onto my computer and relive those moments again. I see God in every picture. I see His beauty, His creativity, His peace, His provision. I see how He cares for me.

I hadn’t been to the rose garden for a while and as I walked the paths today, God refreshed my spirit. Sometimes we get caught up in the day to day despair of life. In the tough stuff that we must deal with. In the tedious, the mundane, monotonous day to day of life. We wonder if there’s anything greater than washing dishes, folding clothes, or taking the garbage out.

And then, we spontaneously take a trip back to a place where once we were met by God and find Him there once again. And once again, so faithful as in the times before, He strengthens and refreshes our spirit. Sometimes going back is a good thing. Sometimes it’s the only way to go forward.

I encourage you today, if you’re tired, weary, worn out and feel defeated, think of that place where you have met God and been renewed. If at all possible – go there and bask in the love and grace of His presence. If it’s not possible to go there, find a quiet place where you can close your eyes and remember the time (or times) you did, dwell on it and He will come to you, right where you are. Let Him fill you up. He will. Count on it.

Sherri

Unplugged

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basket-roses-straight-sharpMy fifteen month-old granddaughter pulled the power cord out of my husband’s computer today. It didn’t shut off, but you could tell it was not getting all the power it needed to operate at optimum performance. The entire screen was lighter and the bright colors had turned to grays.

Sometimes I feel like my relationship with God is like that. I am still connected, maybe in a ‘wireless’ way, but there is not a direct connection. I have become… unplugged.

How does that happen? For me, it’s simple. Distractions, busyness, priorities. We all get distracted and turn away, even if just briefly, from what was once our focus. For a moment, we pull our power cords from the power source and try to operate on our own. It is not until we realize that our batteries are almost dead that we forgot to reconnect. What were once vibrant, bright colors in our lives, have subtlety turned to grays. Our appearance grows dim.

It is important that we protect that vital connection. If disconnecting from the major power source on a computer does that to the colors and screen resolution, while still operating on an alternate source, imagine what disconnecting from God does.

- We are vulnerable to threats. In computer talk, this is considered a virus. In the life of a Christian? Sin and temptation.

- We are weak. In computer talk, our battery is low or we are operating on an alternate energy source. In the life of a Christian? We are relying on our own strength to make everyone happy and make things happen. Can’t be done – well, anyhow.

- Our brightness fades to grays. In computer talk, we’re saving power. In the life of a Christian, the light within us has dimmed.

I’m sure if you don’t try very hard you can find several other examples. The point is this – if we are unplugged from God, we are probably plugged into something else that is going to eventually short out or blow a fuse. Most likely, we think we are running strong on our own and the truth is we do not operate well at all unless we are connected directly to the Lord.

…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. …I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

[John 15]

Lord, help us to recognize when we’ve become unplugged and get reconnected – right away. Help us to remain in You always and be fruitful so that we bring You glory.