Tag: James 1:17

Spring Beauty Teaches 7 Powerful Lessons About Abiding in Christ

Jeannie Waters35 Comments on Spring Beauty Teaches 7 Powerful Lessons About Abiding in Christ

My walk to admire seasonal beauty opened my eyes to more than flowers. Here’s what I noticed about abiding in Christ.

Lesson 1

Our snowball bush boasts huge, ball-shaped flowers and commands attention and appreciation. Its branches held so many blooms this year, I couldn’t imagine one more fitting on its limbs. This stunning shrub reminds me of God’s blessings—bountiful and perfectly selected for us.

God’s creation calls our attention to Him when we take notice of all His wondrous works. I wonder how many times I miss them, and how many times I notice but forget to thank Him. Abiding in Christ includes being aware of His presence, noticing His blessings, and thanking Him for them.

Heavenly Father, lift my chin to notice the numerous ways You bless me. Thank You for the beauty of spring and eyes to see it. Teach me when I read Your Word, Father, and open my eyes to Truth.

Lesson 2

The snowball flowers display their beauty by remaining on the shrub and growing from bud to full bloom. We grow in Christ as we abide in Him and draw spiritual nourishment from our relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer.

We can define abide as “to live, continue, or remain … abiding in Christ is not a special level of Christian experience, rather, it is the position of all true believers.” 1  

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

John 15:4 ESV

There’s so much God wants to teach us—about Him, life with Him, and how to bear fruit to honor Him.

Father, as I walk with you each day, help me enjoy the adventure. Open my spiritual eyes and ears to know what you want to teach me.

Lesson 3

When I continued my walk, I noticed two spirea bushes. I called those plants “Bride’s Bouquet” when I was a child because they bloom with tiny bunches of white flowers. These graceful shrubs add a delicate, lacy touch to the spring extravaganza and make me smile.

God’s blessings also delight us, adding joy, grace, beauty, and wonder to our lives. They help us pause and remember who He is. We can exchange fear for His gift of peace. We can lay down our doubt and pick up faith. 

God’s blessings also delight us, adding joy, grace, beauty, and wonder to our lives. They help us pause and remember who He is. Share on X

Heavenly Father, remind me when I carry around heavy burdens you never planned for me to bear alone. I want to embrace all your gifts and live for You.

Lesson 4

When our granddaughter took a bouquet of spring flowers to our neighbor, I thought about how God gives us gifts to share.

Father God, thank you for blessings to enjoy—like beautiful spring flowers. Thank you for Your presence in my life and Your faithfulness. Remind me Your blessings are not mine to tuck away and admire. Instead, they’re designed to remind me of Your love and care and to share with those You place in my path. Make me a worthy steward and help me share my blessings today.  

 Lesson 5

After admiring the large shrubs, I wandered around the yard and noticed weeds and wildflowers peeping through the grass. The onion grass with its characteristic smell peppers the lawn with light green stems and white flowers. But weeds are a nuisance, I thought.

Upon closer examination though, I observed the pretty, delicate little flowers heralding a new season. Instead of characterizing onion grass as a pest, I decided to appreciate it as a unique sign of spring and another of God’s creations.

Do I look for the good in everything or am I too quick to complain? As I reflect on this, I realize all God’s gifts are good.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

James 1:17 ESV

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

Heavenly Father, remind me to thank You in all things—all the time. 

Lesson 6

The next wildflowers I spotted impressed me with their royal color and dramatic shape. They stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding grass and urged me to take a closer look. Although they were stunning, I’d almost missed them. Like the striking wildflowers, I wonder if I overlook people on my path whose lives would enrich mine or vice versa.

Heavenly Father, slow me down when I’m too busy to notice the people You send to teach me and the people You plan for me to serve.

Lesson 7

As I studied other wildflowers through the lens of my camera, I realized they would disappear as soon as my husband cuts the grass. They would provide colorful accessories to spring’s fashion show for only a few more days. How I wished they could stay.

Some blessings are fleeting—ours to enjoy for only a brief time. A sunrise. A sunset. An opportunity to share the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus—the Creator Who gave us such gifts as spring flowers and opportunities to share our blessings.

Lord Jesus, let me fix my gaze on You each morning so that I notice and embrace all the gifts You prepare. May I not miss a single opportunity to share Your love with others.

Your Turn

How does God use His creation to remind you of blessings or teach you about abiding in Christ? Please tell us about those you’ve received or shared recently.

  1. “What Does It Mean to Abide in Christ?” Got Questions, Got Questions Ministries, January 4, 2022. https://www.gotquestions.org/abide-in-Christ.html .

Finding God’s Gifts at the Table

Jeannie Waters32 Comments on Finding God’s Gifts at the Table

Our grandchildren’s eyes widen when they see the focal point of family birthday celebrations—the coffee table laden with gift-wrapped packages. Throughout the year, our daughter-in-love notes the toys the children admire, and she considers their needs and interests. Her process ensures the gifts will be both delightful and appropriate.

My husband and I join our co-grandparents and contribute to the purchases. Then we all enjoy watching the children open gifts, selected especially for them.  

Our grandchildren’s mom spends more time with them than anyone else, and she knows their preferences, needs, and sizes. Therefore, the gifts—some needed and some desired—are well-chosen. Wished-for gifts that are unsafe or unwise never make it to the coffee table.

Our heavenly Father also provides gifts for His children. How does our family’s gift-giving tradition compare to God’s provision?

Psalm 23 gives us insight. David praised God as His Provider while he lived under a roof of blazing sun and twinkling stars. If I’d been with David, I would have requested a palace bed instead of a grassy knoll on rocky hillsides with smelly sheep.

However, I’m grateful for God’s plan in David’s life, for his pasture lessons birthed beautiful words that reveal characteristics of our heavenly Father.  

David expressed gratitude for the table prepared before him.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Psalm 23:5 NKJV

According to Phillip Keller in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, the table David referred to could have been a high plateau or a mesa, land the shepherds prepared for their sheep before allowing them to graze there.

Keller describes his own shepherding experience as an arduous process that required the removal of harmful weeds, the clearance of winter debris from water holes, and the protection of the flock from predators. 1

Jesus, our Shepherd, prepares a table for us—a place of fellowship and provision with Him. As the good Shepherd, He supplies all we need. Instead of feeding on the poisonous weeds of false teaching and the cluttered trials of self-effort, we can find gifts on His table to calm our hearts and teach us more about Him.

Instead of allowing the enemy of our souls to devour us like a prowling lion that threatens sheep, we can seek our Shepherd’s protection and embrace the gifts at His table designed to defeat our enemy.

Sheep, Lamb, Farm, Animal, Mammal, Cute

In addition to the shepherd analogy, some scholars describe the Lord as the Host in Psalm 23:5 and His children as guests at His table. In verses 5-6 the psalmist used hospitality-related words, such as table, oil, cup, and house. 2 God’s buffet of blessings is always available.

He invites you to His table to exchange discouragement for joy, fear for peace, and doubt for faith. Empty your plate of false guilt and fill it with His acceptance. Defeat the enemy of pride with an opportunity to serve with a humble heart. Fight against a critical spirit by speaking words of encouragement. His table is filled with every provision we need.

Speaking of tables, back to my question …

How does our family’s gift-giving tradition at the coffee table compare to the provisions at God’s table?

The coffee table serves as a focal point for our celebrations, but when God’s table is our focal point, we find far more generous gifts—blessings we need and blessings that delight us. God knows us better than anyone else. As our good Father, He chooses wisely.

Some of His gifts may not be on our list, but we can trust Him as the Giver of good gifts (James 1:17). Some of what we long for may be omitted for a while because God knows the future and works from His sovereign plan. He’s a wise and loving Father.

If we are Christ-followers, children of God, His gifts are ours to embrace.

If we are Christ-followers, children of God, His gifts are ours to embrace. Share on X

What are you longing to find at His table? We don’t know what today will bring, but God knows which gifts will meet our needs and help us defeat the enemy. Has one of His gifts surprised you lately? Please share with us in the Comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

Gift, New Year'S Eve, Congratulation
If this post blessed you today, perhaps you’ll share the link with a friend. Thanks for reading.

1 Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1970), 91-95. 2 The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2028), 966 (a reference to Psalm 23:5).

Which Gifts Are on Your Table?

Jeannie Waters10 Comments on Which Gifts Are on Your Table?

 

This Gift of the Month idea is a little different. I hope you’ll enjoy unwrapping it.

Gift Selection

For our family birthdays, the coffee table is the focal point with its stack of festive gift-wrapped packages for whichever boy or girl we are celebrating. As per our tradition, when our son and daughter-in-law’s children celebrate birthdays, the four grandparents reimburse our children for the gifts they purchase on our behalf. Then we all enjoy watching the honored child open presents from the family. What a joyous time with hugs and expressions of gratitude!

Throughout the year, our daughter-in-law carefully notes admired toys and considers the children’s needs. This process ensures the gifts will be both delightful to the children and appropriate.

Our grandchildren’s mom spends more time with them than anyone else, and she knows their preferences, needs, and sizes. Therefore, the gifts, some needed and some desired, are well-chosen. Wished-for gifts that are unsafe or unwise never make it to the coffee table.

How does this gift-giving compare to God’s provision?

Our heavenly Father also provides gifts for His children.

Living under the stars in a pasture with sheep, David praised God as His Provider. If I’d been with David, I think I would have asked to live in a palace instead of on rocky hillsides with smelly sheep. In contrast, David, expressed gratitude for the table prepared before him. According to Phillip Keller in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23*, the table David referred to could have been high plateaus or mesas the shepherd prepared for their sheep before allowing them to graze there. What a fitting picture of Jesus, our Shepherd, preparing provisions for us each day.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

            –Psalm 23:5

God knows us better than anyone else and sees what delights us and what we need. As our good heavenly Father, He prepares His gifts wisely. Some of them may not be of our choosing, but we can trust Him as the Giver of good gifts. By the same token, some of the things we long for may be omitted because He knows the future and His sovereign plan.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

        –James 1:17

A Beneficial Morning Practice

I’ve started a new practice during my morning routine. I often draw a table at the top of my journal page and thank God for the provisions He’s placed on my “table.” Then I think about my needs for the day. (Of course, my heavenly Father is the only One who knows everything I’ll need.) I ask Him to provide and thank Him for His love.

Maybe I need a deeper understanding of a passage of Scripture or a more thankful heart. Perhaps He will gift me with an extra measure of peace for a brewing storm that is yet unseen to me. Will He provide comfort so that I can comfort someone else?

If we are Christ-followers, some of His gifts are ours to embrace at any time. When we yield to God, the fruit of the Spirit is ours to enjoy and share with those we meet.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

            –Galatians 5:22

Other needs may seem mundane in comparison and some may be temporary.  What about time to relax or skill to prepare an entrée? The gift of laughter is a welcomed relief in trying moments. Our heavenly Father may even provide safety in dangers we cannot foresee.

Do You Need These?

It’s interesting to ponder the needs we may encounter in one twenty-four-hour period. What about these?

  • an opportunity to minister to someone
  • mercy for someone who made a mistake
  • forgiveness for someone who has wronged us
  • ability to care for a child or senior adult
  • conviction of sin (Ouch!) Not pleasant, but necessary.

What About These?

  • a delicate flower or dramatic sunset to remind us of the Creator
  • relief from suffering or grace to endure it
  • contentment (Anybody?)
  • discernment in a difficult situation
  • guidance for a decision

A Friendly Challenge

As we consider the gifts God daily places on our “coffee table,” I have a challenge for you, dear reader friend.

On paper or on your computer, make two columns. In the left-hand column, list the needs you had today and those you can predict for tomorrow. Ask God to make you aware of how He met each one as they occurred. In the right-hand column, jot down the way He met the need. (Pardon the specific instructions; it’s the teacher in me.)

Then, answer these questions:

  1. Which gifts did you know you needed ahead of time? Which were surprises?
  1. Which needs still appear to be unmet? (Continue praying about those, realizing God may respond in a way that seems unlikely or unwelcome at first.)
  1. How were His provisions tailor-made for your situations?
  1. What made you rejoice today?

I plan to accept the challenge, too. When we review the final list, I believe praise and thanksgiving for the Gift Giver will pour from our hearts. I feel as excited as my grandchildren on their birthdays, eager to tear the ribbon from presents God selects for me! What about you?

Please share results from this challenge. Your input is valuable.

Whether your gifts seem small or large, sharing them allows you to encourage us. What has God placed on your gift table?

*Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970.