Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Dead Will Rise

About a month ago I took my 117th trip to Lowe's since April (due to my new home). Granted Lowe's calls my name more due to the yard than the actual home. I've re-done every flower bed with new mulch and with every bed being edged with stones. Many trips to buy only manageable amounts loaded into my small SUV.

If you are like me, every trip to Lowe's means just a quick peak to peruse the garden center's flowers. Just a peak to see if there's anything new. Are ya with me? Is anyone hearing me on this?

Well on this 117th trip I was legitimately in the garden center getting more stones and mulch. I passed a clearance cart. Coreopsis. What? Why are those on sale? They look great, still green, and the buds hadn't bloomed yet. Being a perennial they were $4.98 instead of $6.98. I already had one and love it as it continually blooms with small brilliant yellow flowers. [They are still yellow in my front bed.]

So I purchased two. I planted one in the back where there was already a hole waiting to be filled. The other one resided on the front porch temporarily. I knew where I wanted it in the front bed, viewable from the street. I am really not sure why I moved so slowly to plant it. I was faithful to remember to water it on the porch in its original container. I was faithful. Until...we had many days of heat and no rain. And, I was busy pulling crabgrass (a weed) from the back yard, and planting grass seed. That required attention and water. Yet, my sweet little cory sat alone and unattended.

Opening the front door to finally water it, I found it crying to me "why did you let me die?" I stewed over it for awhile, mad at myself for letting it go. I thought that's five dollars. I just wasted five dollars. Five dollars, I tell ya. Yet, I'll use a coupon to get a dollar off an item. Oh well, lesson learned...don't buy until ready to plant. I was over it and accepted my waste.

Being that this week is compost (yard waste) pick up, I went to the front porch to retrieve my dead coreopsis. It was time to accept that cory had to go to the its new home and be recycled into compost. I was going to dump the whole thing, minus the container, into my yard bag. Imagine my surprise when I see little new sprouts at the base. Wow. I was awed. I was going to cut the tops so baby cory had room to grow and flourish. Wait. I have to photo this. Wait. I have to write about this. What? Bore my precious peeps with this? Yes, stay with me. You know I always have a point, even if long-winded

I had been working in the yard prior to this and I was searching for something to write--opening my mind to let God show me. I had something and began formulating it in my head. Soon after is when I found the dead rising. My original topic had escaped my memory.

As soon as I saw my plant I said (to myself, quietly) "and the dead will rise." This plant is much like our lives and our salvation experience. We die to our self, our old life, and then we rise in new life and new birth in Christ. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:33

When this title came to me, I thought of what God can do with anything dead or dying. Immediately to mind was Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. I've referenced this miraculous event of Jesus' many times over the last two years. Jesus made it very apparent that He did not want to heal a sick man but wanted to raise a dead man. We know Christ had the power to do so and to also get to Lazarus sooner than four days. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." John 11:14-15

Many things that are dead, or dying, He can raise and breathe life into:
♥ dead homes (families)
♥ dead relationships
♥ dead spirits
♥ dead ministries
♥ dead bodies
♥ dead opportunities
♥ dead jobs
♥ dead marriages
♥ dead hearts
♥ dead faith

He can resurrect the dead and bring life unimagined. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

Do you think that maybe the power, mentioned in Ephesians 3:20, is partly our believing, mentioned in John 11:40? There is much to be said about our believing or doubting. There is power in believing. There are many accounts of where those 'dying' with ailments rise with health and life because of faith and believing. For a refresher on some of those, read
Master's Touch, Our Faith.

Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19

All things are possible with God. Mark 10:27
That includes all resurrections being possible.

Nothing is truly dead with His power of life around the corner, is it?!

© Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Picture is of the dead Coreopsis rising.

18 comments:

Melanie said...

So thankful "the dead will rise"! What a work the Lord can do in our lives when we simply decide to let Him in! Great post, Paula!

Pam said...

Amen! Paula! amen!

Aunt Angie said...

I love that! Yes! I have been in the very gardening predicament! BUT when I cut the dead growth all the way back...very soon, the green sprouts new from the bottom! Our Lantana does that every year, and our "porter weed" it is a flower but has a "weedish" name :) Go figure.

I would LOVE to be helping you in your garden! What a GREAT fun time we would have!

Love you....

BTW....JEET?

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Great post....Yours always bless me

Unknown said...

Hi Paula, I wanted you to know that the Father spoke to me through your blog this morning.

I am currently going through a situation that is dying( dead jobs and dreams)and I have been waiting for the Lord to come over.

The first thing that popped into my head this morning while on my bed was your blog and considering I read your blog last in June. The Father encouraged me greatly this morning and He had me listen to the Katinas song afterwards - Thank you.


So I wanted to say thank you for - opening your mind to let God show you what to write about.

Laura said...

Amen, Paula!

It feels good to be here, I have missed you! Sounds like the new house is keeping you busy. I hope all is well.

love ya,
laura

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this great reminder, Paula. I had a similar experience with a very special tree in my garden. After reading your blog, I decided to share my experience on mine as well at www.myunswervinghope.blogspot.com. It's so good to know we're all on this journey together!

Joyfulsister said...

HI Paula,
It was such a blessing to see that you dropped my. Thanks for sharing your heart with me. I know what you mean about peace, I remember Joyce Meyers saying, we have to pursue peace daily, it's a struggle many times and without the Lord filling us with more of his peace each day, we would be in such a struggling state, filled with anxiety and fear.

I think of you often and I look back to when we first met, you have grown so much through your struggles, I am so very proud of you sistah.

Luv Ya Lorie

Regina, DailyLiving said...

Amen! Wonderful message!
Have a blessed week.

Terra said...

Like you, I enjoy a bargain and adore plants. It is so sweet to rescue a plant.
Sometimes what is dead shall rise again, in the world of potted plants and of course, for people who love Jesus.
I like your post, and am a Christian, a gardener and a writer. Oh and did I mention I love books too?
I co-wrote a book on celebrating Christmas which has my "green thumb tips" in it.

Joy Junktion said...

Hello, I've been away for awhile. Praying that all things are well.
Here is my new blog address:
www.consideringitalljoy.com
Blessings, Cindy

Sarah said...

I love it when God teaches me as I garden! Such a joy to find you and get digging with you.

Splashing for His glory,
Sarah Dawn

Sarah said...

Thanks for splashing around with me today! It is an honor and privilege to battle with you in prayer. May the Lord simply drench you in His unfailing love and resurrect something the world says is dead. Friend, I have seen it happen, and know without a shadow of a doubt that God delights in restoration.

Blessings for your day,
Sarah Dawn

Beth in NC said...

Such a great post Paula. Isn't is amazing how plants have such a will to live?

Girl, that plant looked like many of mine (hiding face in shame).

Pat said...

Paula,
This is SOOO good! there is never a single time that I visit your blog that God does not bless me through His Word and your words!!
This one rocks!!
Bless you sister!!
Pat

www.myfathersgirl.blogspot.com said...

I just happened by your blog and I'm so glad I did. Lovely, very lovely! I really enjoyed reading "The Dead Will Rise." What a blessing it can be to be open to God's truths and see them in every little thing he places in our paths...even dead plants! Thank you for sharing that.
Charlotte

Melanie said...

Yes! This is the Season of Miracles.
Glad you left me your link.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Tracy said...

Amen, Amen! There is no doubt he is able. Great illustration! Isn't it amazing all the lessons we can learn in the garden??

Blessings,
Tracy