Consider the Lilies (Part 2)

I've still been considering how the lilies grow. All the things it takes for a perfect lily to bloom, just the way God intended.

The more and more I twirl the idea around in my head, the more I can see how we are like lilies. (I've had these ideas in my head for a while, it's time they get out.)

I have a small lily bunch in my front yard and about 3 weeks ago I noticed that they hadn't started to bloom. Then one day I noticed that one had sprouted a stem! It still had a while to go before it was ready to be a fully bloomed lily but it was on its way.

 They grow tall stems before they open there bulbs. They don't force there flower open before its ready. They wait patiently. For the perfect amount of time. Patience. Lilies have patience. The amount of time that God deemed necessary.

I can take a lesson from that. Knowing that God has deemed my life necessary and has the perfect amount of time planned out for everything, every season. I haven't fully bloomed yet, but I am on my way.

Once that one lily started, I noticed that all of them started to sprout stems and then bulbs!

They follow suit. 'Plant a seed and watch it grow.' We can be contagious with our behavior. How we treat others and how we treat ourselves. When other people see us doing good deeds, they will be more inclined to follow suit.

Each stem has either two or three flowers on it, very beautiful little bunch! But with each flower comes weight. The more weight, the weaker the stem. There is one poor lily that is on the ground, in need of repair. It is bearing to much weight.

Just like us, we weigh our selves down with stuff, things and activities. The more we do and the more we get, the heavier we become.

God gave us a 'stem' for a purpose. To get stuff done and to provide for our family and others but when we become to over worked and burdened with them, we get heavy and in need of repair.

 

Carrying a load that is too heavy is dangerous. That is when sin creeps in, and satan begins to take over.

God is that repair man, that we so desperatly seek. He created our stems to be beautiful. Not broken and bent. To be strong and healthy, not weak and fragile.

I will have to cut a flower or two off of that stem so it can stand strong again. Maybe even tie it up with another one to help heal it.

We may have to drop some things or activities to heal our bent 'stems' and brokenness and find healing in God. He will and wants too comfort us in our time of need.

Our friends will be there to help hold us up when we can't stand alone anymore. Friendships are important. I am very thankful for mine.

Consider how the lilies grow.

A small verse that has struck my heart. And that is it for now. :)

 

*Be Blessed Friends*

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:28-29

 

Consider the Lilies

I have been reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. (Counting gifts given by God, daily.) It has really shown me that there is more in my life to be thankful for than I might have thought. To make it a point and look for the little things in the mundane of life, even they are gifts. For every good and perfect thing comes from above.

 

The other day I came across something that has stayed with me. I wrote it larger in my journal so I can see it clearly.

Consider how the lilies grow.

Just that 5 word statement has a packing a bit punch for me. It continues to say that they (the lilies) do not labor or spin. It is found in Luke 12:27 - pertaining to worrying.

 

When I stop to consider how to lilies grow: I am stopping to see the small gifts in life. I am taking time to enjoy each moment, with Brandon, Landen, family, friends, strangers. That I am not trying to labor beyond my limits. That I am not spinning out of control.

 

Consider how the lilies grow.

 

They don't strive to be something they are not. They know what they are and the role they play.

 

They are lilies. They are content with being lilies. (The perfect message from Mrs. Janet yesterday during SS.)

 

Contentment is a choice. Comparison is the killer of contentment.

 

Some would say that a lily can't be compared to, let's say, a rose - the perfect flower. But a lily is in its own right, a beautiful flower.

 

The same can be said for us. We should not be compared to other people.We should not compare ourselves to other people. For we, in our own right, are beautiful.

 

God made one of us. There are no duplicates.

 

When we start to compare ourselves to other people and our things to the things that other people have, they become less attractive.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." - 1 Timothy 6:6

(Let Jesus provide all that I need and I will have great gain.)

 

Consider how to lilies grow.

 

They want nothing more than what it takes to grow.

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:8 

"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:10-13

 

Being content is something that is to be learned. Through counting my God given gifts and considering how the lilies grow, I hope to learn more of that. Little by little.

 

Want what you have. Right now, I can learn to be content with my messy house. I love the people who make it messy and I have stuff to make it messy! I am content with the clothes that I have even though the stores make me feel otherwise. We can give some away to people in need, because we have plenty.

 

Want the people you have. Everyday with my husband and child may not be perfect but they are MINE and I am THERE'S.

 

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. They are content.

 

I am Miranda Allbright and I am learning to be content.

 

*Be Blessed Friends*