POTENTIAL

 

Do you ever grapple with the truth about your potential?
Take a look at my garden in its current state. Beautiful, right?

I know it resembles a tremendous amount of weeds, but take a closer look. These “weeds” are all flowering plants that died last year. I am in the process of removing the old flowers off of the dead plants. Why? Because each flower pod contains seeds. 

In fact, each pod has enough seeds in it, that when sown, will produce 20-30 flowering plants. Therefore, each dried up plant has the potential to produce about 150 new plants.

Pods

Seeds in one pod

It’s a really long process of retrieving the pods and separating the seeds. There’s no rushing it. Believe me, I’ve tried and end up losing valuable seeds.

The above photo shows the abundance of pods and seeds retrieved in a six foot space. Imagine their potential!

To the natural eye this garden looks useless. Only the Gardener sees its potential. With the proper process, these seeds will produce a beautiful, extravagant garden.

We are all in process. It may be a tedious and sometimes long process but well worth the effort.

Today, please be encouraged to know that you have great potential. Parts of your life may resemble a lifeless garden but Jesus, the Master Gardener, knows your potential.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Life on His Lap

There’s something extremely comforting about sitting on a trusted, loved ones lap. Sadly as adults we very rarely ever get to cuddle up on our Papa’s lap to find comfort.

Do you ever long for a place to just sit—rest, be embraced and loved?

Some of my kids, although they are teens and young adults, still find comfort on my lap, where they (awkwardly) sit—don’t say a word—just take refuge.

When my kids were young and they were constantly on my lap or in my arms, I found my refuge on God’s lap.

Psalm 84 says,

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

Pondering this scripture, I noticed God provided a place for the birds of the air to have a home and raise their young, not just any place but at His altar in His presence. Knowing my life was more valuable than the sparrow and swallow—I felt this to be an invitation to set up shop—build my nest and raise my young in His presence.

To me, God is Big Daddy—Papa, I love to sit on His lap and rest my head on His chest. Here I feel His heart beat and get my heart in rhythm with His. So it was only appropriate to picture myself—building my home—raising my kids—living my life—on His lap.

I love to imagine how huge God’s lap must be! Just think about it.

To this day even when the nest is threatening to empty, I still must live my life on His lap—in His presence—never too far, just like a child always making sure their parents are in reach—is where I find my comfort, rest and refuge.

Be encouraged, no matter your age, to except the invitation to live life on His lap.

The Message beautifully describes Psalm 84:3-7,

Birds find nooks and crannies in your house, sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young, singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God! How blessed they are to live and sing there! And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel. They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

Life…A Jenga Game!

Have you ever played the game Jenga? Blocks are neatly stacked, then extracted one by one; taken out of their order, removed from their secure location and precariously rearranged. The repositioning of the blocks causes the stability of the tower to appear unstable.

Some experts can play this game very precisely, without compromising the tower. Others, such as my grandson, play similarly to a tornado! All you can do is watch and hold your breath!

As I was talking with God today, the words “Lord, my life resembles a Jenga game” came rolling off my tongue. Even I was surprised! I had never thought of that analogy before. I chuckled.

Then I started to name each block. My kids and grandson all had one, my husband, my marriage, my heart, my heart attitude, my will, emotions, mind, church, church people, finances, relationships, health, blogging, writing, school, my past, and my future. Everything important in life was a block. At some point in time each one extracted from their comfortable place and precariously rearranged.

I saw my tower of life reordered. Standing—in what would seem to the natural eye as an unstable position—then God spoke. Don’t you just love when He speaks?

He told me yes it’s true, your life does resemble a Jenga game, but I AM the One who has repositioned all the blocks in your life. And to the supernatural eye they are not viewed as precariously rearranged—but rather divinely repositioned.

God—the Master—the expert—has very precisely reordered my life—and yours. He is fashioning it, according to His will, purpose and plan.

Sometimes with so many people and responsibilities, life can seem unorganized and maybe even unstable. Do you ever get that impression? If so there is no reason to fret, it’s all going to work out!

Please be encouraged—if your life resembles a shaky Jenga game—release it, give the control over to the expert Himself, He will divinely reposition every block!

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11