Baby Chicks

Our son wanted to try hatching chicks this year. When Grandpa was alive he started a flock of chickens at the home of one of his children. Grandpa loved chickens. Our sister sent some eggs and Grandpa's incubator. The eggs were a beautiful mix of greenish blue, some light brown, others cream colored, and a couple eggs with spots. Our son felt a connection to Grandpa in trying to incubate eggs with his incubator and from the flock of chickens he started.

I wanted to share what we learned, some of it was surprisingly spiritual.

Chicken eggs take 21 days. We watched the eggs, carefully monitoring their temperature, humidity and turning the eggs every day. It took one gallon of distilled water to provide the right humidity in the incubator, a little water every day. That was a lot of water!  As day 21 approached, we bought chick feed and pine wood chips for bedding. As our son was preparing the the chick feeders, there was a mishap. He came running to us as we were working outside, "You have to come to the basement!" We went downstairs so see the theater room had flooded. One of our kids had turned on the outside water in winter- a month or two ago. The water in the pipes froze. With warmer spring weather, the break in the pipes melted and began spraying inside the basement wall. Water was soaking the carpet, baseboards and 2 walls of the theater room. We gathered all the towels in the house and started mopping things up- but it wasn't enough. Edward called a home restoration company, they came out a couple hours later and cut out the wet baseboards, dry wall, ceiling, and set up some fans and a dehumidifier. After it happened, I was surprised that this hasn't happened before with 8 kids. It was a crazy and exhausting Saturday, 2 days before the eggs hatched. Hopefully insurance will cover it.

 

Setting up the lamps, food and water for the chicks proved to be more a lot more work than we thought!

When day 21 came, we woke up to a few chirps. We were so excited to see the eggs wiggling and chirping coming from inside the eggs. We talked to the eggs, telling them how excited we were to see them. The chicks inside the eggs chirped back at us, as if we were having a conversation with them. The kids didn't go to school,  I had taken a day off work, we were all waiting for the chicks to be born. The little girls put on dresses in spring colors for the occassion. They came downstairs and we quietly and anxiously waited for the eggs to hatch. Maybe we thought it would be like a tea party. Then nothing happened, all day. The kids moved on to play somewhere else. The chicks quit moving and making noise. I was worried that no eggs would hatch and my kids would be heartbroken. I asked the kids to come and say a prayer with me for the chicks. We wondered if the chicks were still alive since they were so quiet. We held hands, making a circle around the incubator. We asked Heavenly Father to bless these chicks, to help them live, and thanked the Lord for the miracle that baby chicks growing inside eggs are. As we were praying, the chicks began chirping inside of the eggs. Our daughter reverently whispered, "That is the loveliest sound!" The thought came that a mother hen would not sit silently waiting for her chicks, like we were being quiet, but that she would encourage them, clucking a lot over them, and cheering them on in the fight for their lives. 

We started talking to the eggs, encouraging them. We could tell they were struggling and tired. "You can do it! Keep going, we want to see you! You're strong! Move those little legs and move that little head and beak! You're doing great and getting closer! We can't wait to see you!" One child said, "I want to hold you forever when you come out!" When we ran out of encouraging words to say, we started singing. We made up words to songs, with whatever might sound encouraging to baby chicks, to let them know we wanted them to keep fighting to break free of the egg shell. The chicks responded by chirping as we talked and sang to them. We told them it was a beautiful world with sunshine, blue skies and grass, and that they would like it out here. Breaking free of the small egg shell would be worth it! 

The thought came that our guardian angels probably encourage us like we were encouraging the chicks. We also have tough shells to shed and lots of growing to do. Some have said that our physical body is the veil that keeps us from seeing what is spiritual all around us. Most of us spend most of our time worrying about the physical world- food, health, homes, income- what we need to survive. Breaking free from what is physical and having a meaningful spiritual life and seeing what is from God around us is a struggle. Even if we can't see it, the Lord's love and care, and his angels are all around us! 

We took turns sitting by the eggs and talking to the eggs until we went to bed. We told the chicks that their chirping was so lovely, and that we so much wanted to see them. The eggs started wiggling and squirming again. But still no hatching that day. As night came on, I asked my family and a couple friends to pray for the chicks. Worried, I was up a lot that night, remembering when I was pregnant with one of my children and we didn't know if she would make it. Remembering how much the Lord took care of us helped!

The next morning we heard chirping again. We ran out to see the chicks, and 2 had hatched! They were clumsily trying to get up and walk in the incubator, tumbling around and pushing all the other eggs to the sides. They were soaking wet, and there were spots of blood on the egg shells and on their feathers. They looked more like baby dinosaurs than baby chicks. But their feathers soon dried and fluffed up, and they were adorable. There was more chirping and wiggling from the other eggs too. That was an exciting morning. The kids went to school a couple hours late because they watched several chicks hatch. Each time a chick hatched, we waited for it to dry inside the incubator. Then we put the chick in the warm brooder box we'd prepared, removed the empty, broken shell, and rearranged the eggs that had been pushed to the sides. We were so happy. We said a prayer thanking the Lord that at least a few of the chicks had made it! 

As chicks began to break out, a couple times the inside membrane remained sealed for a minute after the outer shell cracked. We could see the pulsating heart beat and the chick moving under the semi-clear membrane. What an amazing and precious treasure life is! Here are a couple videos of them breaking out of their shells.

It was interesting seeing the different ways chicks broke out of their shells. Each chick was unlike any other chick in its way of breaking the egg shell. It made me think of how we all progress and grow so differently. Shedding what keeps us from growing (like the egg shell) is difficult and messy for most.

One chick chipped a perfectly symmetrical line around the circumference of the egg, and then popped out. That was the only one that did that. Two chicks popped out almost at the same time- within just a few minutes- both of them had dark feathers. They seemed to be connected like siblings! They were the only ones that came at the same time. 

For most of the chicks, breaking free of the egg was very individual and exhausting work. This was no tea party, this was the fight for their lives! They had to take many breaks to regain their energy.  A couple of the chicks had a hard time straightening their heads, their heads had been pressed against their chests for so long. After several minutes they learned to lift their heads. The kids said, "I can't believe that the chicks used to fit inside the egg! They look so much bigger now!" 

When the chicks broke free from the egg shell, their uncoordinated and awkward attempts to walk often landed them back into the egg shell they'd been trying to shed. They sat with their heads or tails back inside the egg shell resting before making more attempts at walking. For us, falling back into old patterns or habits, like the chicks fell back into their egg shells, is something we struggle with.

One special chick made a tiny hole that it kept sticking its beak out of. It responded to our words through it's miniature window, shaking its beak at us and peeping when we talked to it. 

We kept encouraging that chick, it had been many hours and it hadn't progressed at all. Finally around 10 pm, 12 hours after it had started, that chick broke free from it's shell. It was so exhausted, it barely made it out! 

When the chick began moving and lurching around, it was dragging its egg shell behind it. After several minutes, we intervened and found that there was a cord wrapped around its leg, connecting it to the egg shell. We removed the cord with scissors. That chick probably had the cord wrapped around its leg when it was developing, because it had a hard time walking. It also has a hard time eating. We have been feeding it with a dropper. It still responds to our encouragement and seems to be doing a little better, but is more sleepy and smaller than the others. When I see it poop, I am happy that at least some food is getting through!  

If chickens who only take 21 days to develop, are so responsive to encouragement when they are still inside the egg, how much more receptive a human baby must be to the feelings and sounds of its mother when it is within the womb for 9 months! What a precious gift unborn life is!

Over the next couple days, 11 chicks hatched. There were still 9 eggs in the incubator. It had been 24 hours without any more movement from the remaining eggs, and I thought it was time to turn off the incubator. Our son insisted on opening each egg, in case any of them were alive and needed help to get out before we turned the incubator off. We cracked a hole in each egg very slowly and carefully in case they were still alive. Three eggs didn't develop at all. Six eggs developed into mature chicks, but were unable to break out of the thick shell. They died before we opened them. It was sobering and difficult to see how close they had come to making it out. We didn't know what to do with the eggs that had full grown chicks in them. If we buried them outside, an animal like a cat or dog would dig them up, so we put them in the garbage can- not a very dignified burial. We said a prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for the life that had developed in these chicks, and for the gift that they were from Grandpa. We asked if Grandpa in Heaven could take care of the chicks that died. Our son was crying, he almost never cries. We returned our focus to the living chicks, and to being happy they survived.

We have constant chirping inside the house now with chicks inside our kitchen. It is relaxing and calming to hold them, to watch them eat and sleep. When we reach our hand down to pick one up, they all gather around, as if they want to be picked up. They will put themselves in the palm of your hand. These chicks seem more happy and content than other chicks we've had before. Even when I leave the house, I can still hear the chirping. I hear chirping when I'm driving, at work, and on walks. I hear birds chirping more everywhere. Kind of like when a mother hears a child call "Mom!" at the grocery store and without thinking you turn around to look, in case it's one of your children. 

Our son says his goal is to have each chick fall asleep in his hands every day, so that they will learn to trust him. I don't know where he comes up with these things! It made me think of Jesus falling asleep in the boat during a storm, He knew whose care he was in and fully trusted in our Heavenly Father. 

So what has incubating chicks taught me? Growing is more like a long battle than a tea party. It is really hard and each person progresses in their own way. Encouragement makes a big difference, and a lot of cheering and love helps. Sometimes there are valid reasons that someone's progress is different or slower than expected, be patient with them as they struggle.  Life is so precious. God answers prayers! 

Since I've been thinking about chicks and eggs, I noticed on a walk the theme of rebirth all around me. Leaf buds closed tightly over winter open in spring. Flowers buds closed tightly open into beautiful flowers. Eggs- chicks are held in a tight space then break free to grow. Jumping, flying, swimming- all come after breaking free from the egg shell. Caterpillars become cocoons before butterflies. Butterflies can fly longer distances than a caterpillar could ever crawl. So many themes of rebirth and new life in nature. The old life is not much like the new life- it is an entirely new thing.  

Jesus also talked about being born again, and that we must all be born again in Him.  Jesus told Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'" John 3:3-7 NLT

Jesus changes our lives and makes us new, as we turn to him to be our Wonderful Counselor, our Friend, Healer, and Savior.

"Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

If you or I am like the chick working to be free of the constraints of the egg shell, what is the next step? How do we break free of physical worries and constraints and enter more fully into a real spiritual life with Jesus? Is it making prayer a higher priority? Is it forgiving someone? Is it putting away something? The Spirit will tell you if you listen. It is a battle, but the Lord will give you strength! Don't give up! 

Simply Be His Child

When it rains, the rainwater washes down our driveway, bringing a fine layer of soil with it. When our children were younger, this smooth dirt was enticing to them. They loved to run their fingers through the cool silt. They said it was "fairy dust" and would throw this dirt up in the air and throw the dirt on each other's heads. It was funny to watch how completely dirty they would get, and how simple their fun was. I let them play because they were my youngest, and I knew this magic would fade as they grew. I thought that we must all look like dirty toddlers to our Heavenly Father, all in need of a good bath and cleaning. We like to point fingers at how dirty our brothers and sisters might be, but we're not much cleaner if any at all. 

I'm always catching judgmental thoughts in my head and tossing them out, but they keep coming! One time I felt frustrated, seeing some mistakes others were making, and feeling judgmental of them. Yet I could see some of those same mistakes and problems in my own life. I asked the Lord, "Don't you ever get tired of the MESS that we all are? How do you have it in you to show love to us all the time? How did you show love at the cross when you were so tired and had gone through so much suffering?" He told me that he had given and shown love so many times before, that it had become who He is. Kind of like when electricity flows through a channel for a long time- it retains the memory in its cells. Maybe over time love will become automatic if I keep choosing to see others with love instead of judgment, it's a daily struggle for sure. 

While we want to avoid judging others unfairly, some judgment is necessary to know who we can trust, and to decide how to spend our limited time and energy.  A little while ago someone who I considered a friend came over, but this time I wasn't sure if they were sincerely a friend or if there was something else going on. After they left, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me understand their heart, and what their intent was. The Lord answered by asking me a question, "How do they speak about those closest to them in their family?" Unfortunately, it wasn't good. Another time some of our friends were talking about Zion, and Edward prayed and asked the Lord about Zion. The Lord's response was a question, "What makes you think you can build Zion with other people, if you haven't built Zion in your own home? Worry about building Zion in your own home before you worry about building Zion with anyone else." This isn't a reflection of Edward, he gives being a father and husband everything he has, and is adored by our children. That's just the Lord's speaking plainly. The work of living what Jesus taught- loving and forgiving each other, is first practiced in our home. It is easy to maintain appearances publicly, but actually living Jesus' teachings of forgiveness, humility, kindness is most genuine and  real at home.  "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 When Jesus tells us to judge a righteous judgement, part of it is honestly looking at ourselves and recognizing we have repenting and work to do in the relationships that matter most- our families. Jesus is the only righteous one.  

Recently I had an interaction that made me think. A friend who has been kind in the past, expressed concern because I am not attending church. She said that some outside of the "covenant path" of church might make it to the tree of life, but that they would come crawling on their hands and knees. I didn't know if she was referring to our family's challenges, it felt like she was. In her view, the right way is to stay on the church path, and we aren't there. We all have moments where we feel like we're crawling on our hands and knees- in or out of the church. That interaction reminded me that I also judge others without knowing their hearts. Maybe we are trying to analyze what we don't understand in our mortal, flawed, human way, instead of allowing each other to be held in the Lord's capable hands. 

A few days later, I read John 9 about the blind man being healed by Jesus. The disciples asked the Lord, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents that he was born blind?" In the question of the disciples is a huge assumption. The disciples assumed that sin is the cause of this man's challenge. 

I am so thankful that the disciples didn't omit their very human questions in the records they made. Many of our own questions are found in what the disciples asked Jesus. Why do I struggle so much with what seems so easy for others? Is there something I have done wrong? Who sinned here? When I hear about others' difficulties, I am tempted to think of their faults too. Assuming challenges are a result of sin is ignorant of how the Lord tutors and teaches all of us. It is ignorant of God's mercy and incredible love for his children. How easily we ascribe personal trials to God purifying the righteous (we all think that's us!). Yet we see others challenges as their merited, just reward for their sins. How little we know and see of Jesus' mercy, love and grace for all of us, and how willing the Lord is to talk to us and help us! We are all blind in many ways to the majesty and miracles Jesus places around us every day. We are all beggars before God, and yet he loves us and sees something worth saving in us.

Jesus answered his disciple's question about the blind man, as always with astonishing truth and love. "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

What a contrast between how we see each other and how Jesus sees us! When Jesus saw the blind man, Jesus saw someone in whom God's works were waiting to be made manifest in. For many of us, when we see others struggling, it is easier to assume that sin is the cause. Jesus saw in the blind man someone that would bring glory to God, because he was in need of God. We are all in need of God! We can try to see each other with grace and love, looking for God's hand in each other's lives, instead of looking for sin and blame. When we hear about others challenges, we may be tempted to feel justified because we don't have their particular challenge. I hope we can respond more like Jesus would, waiting for God to show his miracles and His glory in their life and praying for them. The God we worship meets us in our challenges, that is where His miracles come to help us! We all need the Lord to perform his amazing work in our lives.  Praise God for being willing to love and help us in our unworthy state! 

I mentioned this to Edward, and he commented that after Jesus healed the blind man, the Pharisees were unbelieving. They accused and questioned the blind man about the miracle that had changed his life. Their unbelief didn't allow them to see the miracle and feel joyful that this man's life was forever made better. I hope I don't let others rob me of the joy of being loved and perfectly cared for by the Lord, even in my trials. I hope I don't take the unbelieving Pharisees' approach with friends, diminishing their miracles and the Lord's sustenance to them in their trials.

One time I was praying, asking for one particularly big trial to be taken away, the Lord told me that we are in His care, and that being held in His hands, is a much more stable and secure place to be than anywhere else in the world. I feel so thankful the Lord has taken care of us in every way! Whatever your trial, let Him lead you through it and transform the difficulty into something beautiful. That is what Jesus does, He takes a mess and makes it beautiful. 

My friend with the gift of blunt honesty referred to an important point. Is salvation, or exaltation dependent on belonging to an organized church, and covenants made in that church? The scriptures define church differently than our modern definition. 

"Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." D&C 10:67-69.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6 "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 Do we really believe those words? Do we need someone other than  Jesus to be saved?

It's between you and the Lord. It's about having a relationship, where you can speak to Him and know Him personally. Learning to speak with the Lord, distinguish his voice and follow Him is the most important thing we can do. Having a relationship with Him doesn't require joining an organization, there is no money required to speak to Him, there is no special clothing you can buy that makes you more worthy, or special building you must gain access to for worship. No middlemen are needed. Just your humble and repentant heart turned to only Jesus. Your heart is where true worship happens. 

You can hear His voice. It is not reserved for those that deserve it, the Lord even spoke to Cain after he had killed his brother. In the church, sometimes we think that Jesus doesn't speak to us, that privilege is reserved for prophets. But we believe the Holy Ghost may speak to us. The Holy Ghost IS Jesus' voice, it is the mind and will of the Lord speaking to you. We might think- "No, I haven't heard Him, I only occasionally hear the Holy Spirit." The Lord has been speaking to you all along. 

Is organized religion helping you hear the Lord's voice and know Him personally? When you go to church, is Jesus the main focus or a side note? Maybe the answer is different for each of us. 

When I was listening to Christmas songs, the song "Joseph's Lullaby" came on. In the song, it is as if Joseph is speaking to baby Jesus, telling him to rest, "I believe the glory of Heaven is lying in my arms tonight. But Lord, I ask that He for just this moment, Simply be my child." The line "Simply be my child" stayed in my mind, like it was on repeat. It felt like the Lord's message to me. With so many things calling our attention, and the increasing chaos in the world, "simply be my child" gave my heart peace. In many ways I'm falling short, but "Simply be His child" is reachable. The Lord wants me to remember that He is my Father and I can rest in his care. He is a good Father that takes care of his children. How He loves us!

The phrase, "Simply be my child" still echoes in my mind. Be the child of Heavenly Mother and Father who love you more than you understand. They have held you, covered you with their love and protection like a blanket, cherishing every smile and moment holding and being with you, and have given a great sacrifice, Jesus, to have you come back to them.

Song "Joseph's Lullaby"

  

Silk Threads

Have you spied silky spiderwebs looking like golden threads in the sunlight? If you look for them, they are everywhere! This summer we spotted hundreds of caterpillars dropping from maple trees, also by using silk threads. We were close to a shallow river, shaded by nearby maple trees. The sunshine reflecting off the water as it trickled over smooth rocks gave me a reason to pause and notice. In the grassy field next to the river, hundreds of little silk threads were falling from the trees. It was like a film of fine silk threads veiling everything.

Some of the threads were made by caterpillars coming down from leaves, and others were from spiders. Someone walking by might miss the silk threads if they weren't looking towards the sunlight. Both types of silks were thinly covering a lot of the trees, grass, and were floating in the air. The different purposes of the threads made me think.

Silk threads from spiders are woven to catch things- flying insects. They are part of a trap meant to take away freedom. Some spiders spin webs in the shape of domes, they look like upside-down bowls. They catch insects as they begin to fly upwards. If you were a small insect on the ground, using the sun for navigation, looking up you might mistake the golden shimmer of the spider web threads for the sun, and fly towards them. Once caught, the insects have to struggle to get free, and some never make it to freedom. The success of the web is being almost imperceptible. The nature of webs is to take flight away, trapping and leading to the death of the insects caught. 

Other silk threads are part of a caterpillar's transformation into a winged insect, a flying moth, or a butterfly. They are part of giving a caterpillar wings to fly. Seeing a leaf-munching caterpillar, we never think how many thousands of miles that slow little caterpillar may travel once it has wings. 

Some butterflies like monarch butterflies fly 3,000 miles in their migration paths. Interestingly, it takes monarch butterflies 4 generations to complete a migration circle. Each generation has a different role to play in the migration pattern than the one before it. What an amazing plan for such a little insect! Four generations is also a phrase used in the scriptures, also referring to a cycle. The silk threads of butterflies and moths lead to greater vistas and freedom than a little caterpillar could ever imagine.

Some silk threads will lead to entrapment, other silk threads will lead to freedom. Both are invisible unless they are seen in the sunshine, and both are much more abundant than is noticed at first glance.

There are a couple scriptures that mention worms: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 41:14. David in the Psalms also talks about a worm, "But I, a worm, am loved of no man; a reproach of man, despised of the people. . . . I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. . . . They pierced my hands and my feet." Psalm 22: 6,14,16. This is in reference to Jesus, and his crucifixion. This link is to an interesting article on the meaning of "worm" in the Bible.

What about the invisible threads in my life? What threads are pulling on me, and what do they lead to- freedom or entrapment? 

We can feel cords of influence, things that invisibly pull on us, from people, from traditions of how we grew up, from our cell phones, entertainment, or other things- pulling us towards good or evil. Removing ourselves from webs is not easy. The Lord helps us to untangle as we ask for his help. We can ask the Lord to help us see what is His truth and light.

As I was organizing my thoughts, I wrote about the webs in my life. The Lord cautioned me, what is a web for me might not be a web for someone else. He told me not to despise what He uses to bring his children to Him. How many times I've misjudged people and situations! The Lord is working with all of us as we seek Him, and it will look different for each of us. I think we can agree that what distances us from the Lord is a web. If something is depleting your ability to take care of yourself, spouse or children, we should also ask ourselves and ask the Lord if it is acting like a web. 

The devil will try to take what is meant for good and turn it for evil. Things that are supposed to be good- family, church, service to others, all of these the devil tries to claim for himself, and uses them to manipulate people and distance them from God and each other. The Lord takes what is evil and transforms it into something good and beautiful. How wonderful is our God!

Webs come in different shapes. Some webs might be lies we grew up believing. Maybe we believed we had nothing to contribute, and shouldn't speak up, or rock the boat. Maybe we believed we weren't loved, or smart, or that in some way we are beyond hope. Other webs might be of our own making,  destructive patterns like anger or impatience or trying to control others. We all are caught in more webs than we realize! 

When an insect is in a spider's web, the movement of the insect is felt by the spider. When we move, we also cause movements in the invisible threads around us. Don't be discouraged if you are trying to overcome a web or lie, and all of a sudden it gets harder. Light overcomes darkness.

A few days ago I went on a walk with my kids. We noticed many more webs. I asked, how do you tell the difference between a silk thread that is a trap, or a silk thread that leads to more freedom? 

The Lord always respects our ability to choose. We don't feel trapped or manipulated when we are following the Lord, we feel freedom. If you feel that you have no choice in a matter, or that you are forced to do what doesn't seem right, that isn't how the Lord works. He always respects our ability to choose. He makes a way where there is no way!  

I was on a walk thinking about these connections and silk threads. I asked the Lord, "What connects me to you?" He answered, "My love for you." As the answer "My love for you " came into my mind, the next thing in my path was a maple tree. The stems connecting the leaves to the branches stood out to me because they were red. I knew the red stems were part of my answer.

I had seen red stems on a quaking aspen, just a couple weeks earlier. The red stems remind me that Jesus' connection and love for me is marked by his sacrifice, he gave his life for me. The scripture about Jesus being the vine came to mind, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." John 15:5. The verse before states, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15:4.

 

This was a different tree a couple years ago, also with red stems connecting the leaves to the branches. 

A few feet away from the first tree, was another maple tree with helicopter seeds- the seeds that spin like helicopters in the wind. The seeds look like wings to fly. The Lord gives us wings to fly! He gives us freedom.

I looked up the scripture about Jesus being the truth, the truth that sets us free. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32. Later in that chapter, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. I love those words about Jesus, he is the light that makes darkness scatter. It isn't anything we do, it's Him. 

Interestingly, the chapter where Jesus says he is the truth that sets us free is the same chapter where the woman is caught in adultery and brought to Jesus. She was definitely caught in a trap, one that might have gotten her killed. 

"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst of the people, [it sounds like they were trying to make her an example. What a horrible position for her to be in!] they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. [Where was the man involved in this? It is interesting that only she is made an example.] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned; but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out of the temple one by one. beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman was standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised up himself, and saw none of her accusers, and the woman standing, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more. And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name." John 8:4-11

Jesus is so quick to forgive! He didn't rehash what she already knew, he just forgave her. That last sentence caught my attention. She glorified God from that hour. What a beautiful statement about how forgiveness makes you feel and how it changes you. How quickly her life changed! I wish I could have heard her story, and heard how she glorified God. Someday maybe we will.

Do I appreciate Jesus' love and sacrifice for me?  Do I ask Jesus for help in getting out of the webs that I am in? Have you felt Jesus freeing you from burdens? How has He changed your life? I hope these are the conversations we have with each other- how has Jesus changed your life?

How has Jesus changed my life? Jesus helps me to be better than I am, forgiving me so many times! Jesus gives me peace when I feel anxious or troubled. He helps me understand what is confusing and counsels me when I don't know how to handle challenges and relationships. Jesus' advice is wise and loving, He really is a Wonderful Counselor! When fitting a pattern is something I push against, Jesus tells me it's OK, and He works with me wherever I am. Knowing Jesus loves me and that He sees me means everything to me. Jesus created so many things to teach me about Him, the trees, the sun, the clouds, they all testify of Jesus and his love for us. It has been liberating to learn that I don't need to run faster and do more and more to earn his love and blessings. He loves me not because I have earned it, but because that is who He is, He is a loving God that loves to bless his children.

Song: Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Jesus by Anne Wilson

Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Jesus   Lyrics

… Are you past the point of weary?

Is your burden weighin' heavy?

Is it all too much to carry?

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

Do you feel that empty feeling?

'Cause shame's done all its stealin'

And you're desperate for some healin'

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Amen

Amen

… Who can wipe away the tears

From broken dreams and wasted years

And tell the past to disappear? Oh

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And all the wrong turns that you would

Go and undo if you could

Who can work it all for your good

Let me tell you about my Jesus

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Amen

Amen, Amen

… Who would take my cross to Calvary?

Pay the price for all my guilty?

Who would care that much about me?

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus, oh

… He makes a way where there ain't no way

Rises up from an empty grave

Ain't no sinner that He can't save

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free

And the good news is I know that He

Can do for you what He's done for me

Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

And let my Jesus change your life

… Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, amen

Amen

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Let my Jesus change your life

A testimony of Jesus in Seeds

 With spring coming, we have been learning about how to grow different seeds. All of nature testifies of our Creator. The seeds testify of Jesus, and what He went through for us, and also teach us about our growth. 

Jesus said He is the seed that fell to bring new life. In Matthew 13 Jesus gives 3 parables about seeds. I love how Jesus uses simple things in nature to teach us. This is NLT version of the parables. I grew up with the KJV, but the slight change in wording helps it become fresh and makes me think more.

The Sower and the Seeds

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."

We automatically assume that we are the good, fertile soil and that other people are the hard, rocky, thorny soil. If we can see that we can be hardened, rocky, shallow, and filled with thorns- we are more likely to want to change and allow our trials to tutor us. We hope that our heart's soil becomes less hard, less rocky, less filled with thorns and less shallow, and more fertile ground for faith in Jesus to grow. 

The Wheat and the Tares 

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?' "An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked. "No',  he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn."

The Mustard Seed

"Here is another illustration Jesus used, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."

The night of the Passover dinner before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me." John 12:24-26 NLT

Jesus is the seed that we plant in our hearts. Let me tell you a little about seeds, and how they testify of Jesus. Seeds teach us about what Jesus went through for us, and also some of what we go through in following Him.

We have been learning about how to grow microgreens- plants grown in shallow trays with soil. For a time, they are covered, light is blocked and they are weighed down. "The weight forces the tiny seedling to anchor itself in the soil. This produces a stronger and better-rooted plant." (link to quote). This hit me as truth. Do our trials force us to anchor ourselves? To anchor to truth, to Him that is truth, to Jesus?

Another reason microgreens are covered with weight is that it helps the plant to discard the seed's tough shell- the necessary protective covering that has kept the seed from spoiling. There are different methods of applying pressure to the seeds. Some growers use other flats filled with soil and seeds as the weight to encourage growth- they stack seed trays on top of each other. Another method is to put heavy bricks on the seedlings. One grower said they stack growing trays and also put a 15 lb brick on top of the stacks of seed trays. Wow, that's a lot of weight for a tiny seed, it's amazing that they are strong enough to grow and push back under that pressure! You have probably seen a plant growing in a tiny crack of concrete, or in the cracks between rocks. It is amazing plant roots can crack rocks and boulders. 

The darkness causes the seeds to push upward and reach for light. Without the darkness, the seeds wouldn't have to stretch, discard their shells and push through the dirt to reach the light. The darkness of the world causes us to reach for Jesus and the light He is to us. The worse the world becomes, the brighter Jesus' light and love is to us. Our heart is where Jesus' love is meant to grow deep roots. The trials we go through are removing some of the hardness, rockiness, and thorns in our hearts. We may be weighed down at times by the choices of people around us. Most of us have hard shells to shed, our unbelief, our worries about what others think, and our attachment to worldly things. Maybe our shell is our set expectations, and we are learning to trust more in God's plan. 

Not all seeds have tough shells to discard though. Jesus was perfect, humble, honest and direct, yet forgiving and loving. He always directed any praise to Heavenly Father. Like the seeds are weighed down, Jesus bore the weight of all of our sins. Our sins were his weight, we each were part of the pains he suffered. He spared us the crushing effects of our sins by taking on himself our transgressions.

One plant that I collected seeds from last fall was angelica.  I will tell you about how I came across angelica at the end of this post, but it is a special, medicinal plant with tall majestic white flowers. Angelica seeds need to be placed in winter-like conditions before they will sprout.  A month is the minimum time needed for the seeds to sit in a winter climate- if not a real winter, a fridge may work. Many wildflowers have this protective mechanism to prevent the plants from germinating too soon. Even after the cold period, the seeds might take months to sprout. Waiting, nurturing the seed, hoping and wondering if they will grow at all, is how some very special plants grow. Having children teaches us a lot about the waiting, hoping, and wondering that is a key part of the faith. 

Jesus was at peace in His Father's timing. He waited for the timing to be right for his mission and for the miracles he performed. I wonder what led his mother, Mary, to ask Jesus to intervene at the wedding in Cana, when the wine ran out. It was Jesus' first public miracle. It is interesting that Jesus turned the water to wine after the man-made supply had run out.  Had Mary seen Jesus do miracles in their home? Jesus grew in learning and wisdom, waiting for the right time to begin his mission. For us, timing for answered prayers or waited blessings is something we wrestle with. Patience with the uncertainty of our trials, and being at peace in God's care and His timetable is a critical key to following the Lord. Jesus' words in the Lord's prayer, asking for daily bread, are a reminder to ask the Lord for strength to get through today, to trust God for daily support, just as the little birds trust God.  

Some seeds, like nasturtiums, sweet peas and others, are put through scarification, they are scarred, before they are planted. Growers will get sandpaper and scar the seeds so that they will sprout. Wow, this really reminds me of Jesus and his scars for us. Isaiah says "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5. 

Some seeds are unlocked with intense heat, like forest fires. Evergreen trees of certain kinds have pine cones that are covered with a protective waxy resin, they are known as serotinous cones. The fires and intense heat melt the protective resin and open the pinecones where the seeds are stored. 

When we had forest fires close to us, after gathering up our families, we anxiously watched news of the fires from a safe distance. When Jesus faced his last few days, his trial, terrible scourging, and crucifixion, most of his disciples fled, like we flee from forest fires. They watched anxiously from a safer distance, as Jesus went through fire for all of us. Jesus had the ability to leave, but he stayed to bear our sins. Like the pine cone opened up for seeds and new life to grow, Jesus was stretched open on the cross to give us new life. When someone is suffering intensely, a natural instinct is to curl up tightly in fetal position. If you have ever seen someone you love like that, you can't ever forget. All other comforts gone, every means of reassurance exhausted except for the ability to feel arms hugging knees, protectively pressed into a tearful face. How painful it must have been for Jesus after being scourged and whipped, then to be stretched wide open, nailed to a cross. When we are in pain, most of us turn inward, focusing on ourselves. Jesus was focused on others, being open and aware of those around him, loving and forgiving as he was suffering. It is significant that it is evergreen trees who have pinecones that are opened up with fire to bring forth new life. Evergreen trees remind us of Jesus love- these trees don't lose their leaves with the seasons, they are always green. Jesus loves is like that.

Jesus is the seed that went through fire for us to give us new life. How thankful we are that he overcame all things, even death, and resurrected for each one of us. 

Jesus also stays with us in our personal trials, he is in the fire with us, like he was for Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (Daniel 3). Maybe you feel like you are in the fire. Ask the Lord in prayer how He is helping you, I bet He can't wait to show you that He is with you, carrying you when you need it. Trust that something new and good will come. Knowing He is with us makes the hard things lose their bitterness. 

Some seeds of flowers require the heat, smoke and the charred alkaline remains of a forest fire to grow, like fire poppies, mountain mallows, fireweed, arnica. These flowers are so colorful and beautiful, their petals look like fair wings healing the forest. These seeds can wait for decades before the conditions are right to sprout. That is a really long time to wait! Interestingly, some of the flowers that grow after fires are cooling, soothing medicinal plants you could apply to a burn. God always provides healing and help! His help is always on time. The Lord is faithful to his promises, and out of the ashes he brings forth beauty. 

Mountain mallows by Heidi Brinkerhoff Rohner

Fireweed

Some seeds grow best in disturbed soil.  Sunflowers love to grow in areas that are disturbed. In our area, after the forest fires, there was danger of flooding. Machinery was brought in to create berms and ditches to contain flooding runoff. Where bulldozers came through, those areas grew a wide path or field of sunflowers the following year. For Jesus, his friends and family, surely it seemed like his death was the end, Jesus had been removed from the land of the living in the most painful way possible. But Jesus resurrection was only a few days away from his crucifixion. Tears were turned to joy that he lives! Does it seem your soil has been bulldozed? There is something special in the works, God turns all things for our good.

Let me finish telling you about the angelica seeds that I mentioned earlier. It is interesting that the Lord loves us and knows what touches our hearts! At the right moments for us individually, He gives us reminders of his love. A couple years ago for my birthday, we walked around a mountain lake, the kids skipped rocks, we enjoyed the sunset, and it was a wonderful evening. With a large family it is hard to get everyone together, and usually at least one or two people are having a rough or grumpy time. It was a rare moment for us to be together, happy, and in a beautiful place. There were some delicate white flowers that were on one side of the lake, they were tall and beautiful, I had to take a few pictures. When I got home and looked them up, I couldn't tell if the white blossoms were angelica or their poisonous look-alike. I forgot about our walk around the lake, and the white flowers as other things came up. The following year, a friend was giving an herb walk at this same lake. I went, and she stopped at the same spot I had taken pictures of the year before to point out the white flowers. She taught us how to tell the difference between the amazing angelica plant and the look-alike- poison hemlock. They were growing close to each other. She pointed out the features that tell them apart- shape of leaves, smell, hair on leaves, color of the stalks. During the Black Plague, a Benedictine monk was given a dream where an angel told him to use this plant to help people with the plague. That is why the plant was named Angelica Archangelica. In Europe, angelica is candied and used to flavor pastries and flavor alcohol, and it is also used medicinally by many. I had completely forgotten about our family's walk around the lake a year before and my desire to learn about the white flowers, until I went back through my pictures, and found the angelica flowers from the year before. The Lord knew the desire of my heart to know about these flowers, and a year later gave me that gift. I was amazed at the Lord's love and goodness to me. I had forgotten, but He hadn't, He remembered me. It spoke right to my heart. He knows our interests and speaks each of our love languages. He speaks your love language. I hope you can see the Lord's individual love for you, and how He knows you so well. He knows every thought, every worry. Even every hair on our heads and every tiny ridge in our fingerprint is loved and known by Him. 

Angelica Archangelica

When you are going through a trial, remember the seeds. They teach us how darkness and uncertainty are needed to grow strong roots. The darkness helps us reach for light, for Jesus that is our Light. The seeds teach us about being patient, and having hope and faith when we are in the dark, and discarding the tough shells that keep us from growing. Seeds teach us that Jesus made small things strong, we can grow under pressure. Most important though, seeds remind us of what Jesus went through for each of us. Jesus was scarred for us, went through fire at his crucifixion for us, and resurrected to overcome death for us. All of nature testifies of Christ and praises him! 

Trees and Chickadees

Little birds are amazing in their resilience. It is always mind-boggling to me that they can survive winter storms, where do they go? How did the Lord make them so that warm blood flows in their tiny toothpick legs when everything else is frozen? My feet are always cold, I wonder how the little birds feet stay warm. One day I was walking, I had been asking the Lord to help me, I need his reassurance, peace, and help so often. On this walk, I noticed that every time I came closer to small birds, they flew up to a higher place, like a pine tree. The Lord told me he wants me to be like the little birds that are always returning to their tree for safety. He wants to be my safe place, and where I constantly return when I need peace and reassurance. Like the pine trees, with branches that are green all year, his love is always there for me. 

Another time I went on a walk, as a strong wind was ushering in a heavy winter storm.  Tiny balls of ice and snow had begun to pelt the ground. Being outside while wind and clouds are gathering for a storm is awesome if you are dressed warm. I passed a wide and towering evergreen tree with snow and icicles on its thick branches. Close to the trunk of the tree, out of the wind, was a little black and white chickadee. This little bird was chirping insistently, and looking right at me. It kept chirping as if it had a message for me. It seemed to say, "I'm OK, I'm safe, here by my tree." Jesus is our safe place, our shelter, our hiding place, especially in the trials we go through. 

Chickadees are small, and might seem insignificant, but they are hopeful, joyful, and resilient. It is amazing to me that they can survive the cold temperatures and winter snow. How do they keep warm when they are smaller than the palm of my hand? God made them to survive the winters. They glorify God just by being themselves- the joy and trust in God they convey, is hopeful.

Wherever you are, know that Jesus wants to be with you through the storm and in the sunshine too. He paid the ultimate price so that he could do that for you and me. 

He wants to be our shelter and safety, because He's the only way we'll get through life OK. He is the Way and the Truth. He is the Wonderful Counselor who wants to lead you through your trials. Others might not understand, but He does.

After big snowstorms, it is interesting to watch the snow melt from the snowbanks on the hills and mountains. The water runs down the streets and in the gutters, in small rippling waves that just keep coming, all hours of the day and night.  Just as the snow can't help running down the mountain, the Lord's love can't be stopped from flowing toward his children. We are never far from his love, because his love is the very force that gives us breath and life.

God's Love and Snow

My husband's father passed away due to the effects of a stroke earlier this winter. We were all heartbroken, it felt sudden and way too soon. On the day of his funeral, a heavy snowstorm covered everything with a foot and a half of snow. The next day, we went out to shovel the snow off of our driveway. Every twig, every branch of every tree was outlined by white snow. It hadn't melted yet, or been blown away by the snow. Normally snow does not stay more than a few hours undisturbed on the oak trees' twigs and branches. Temperatures change quickly and the wind comes up, or the sun comes out and melts the snow off the twigs and branches, even though the snow stays on the ground much longer. But this snow stayed on every twig of every tree, for 2-3 days. It was beautiful and unusual. It reminded me that just as the snow covered every detail, God's love for us is over every detail in our lives. Because of what we had just been through, we felt loved and felt hope in seeing the snow.

I had seen snow like this before, it was meaningful to me. It was several years ago, a few days before our daughter's biggest surgery. The surgery ahead of her at that time would be complicated and long, and the details of how it could be done were unclear to me. I was worried about so many things- the surgery and complications, leaving our kids at home, staying at the hospital for an extended time.  A few days before the surgery, it snowed heavily. Every detail of every branch was covered with beautiful white snow, and the snow didn't melt for a couple days, which is rare. I felt that in the snow was a personal message for me. Every detail of our daughter's surgery and the next few weeks would be covered by the Lord's love for us, just like the snow was covering every twig of every tree. I hung on to that hope and love because I needed it! And it was true, the surgery went well. Everything that we could have thought of and more was taken care of by the Lord. There were difficult moments, but we could feel the Lord helping us and blessing us.

Snow several years ago, a few days before our daughter's surgery

When I saw the snow on the day of my father-in-law's funeral, especially how it stayed on the branches like it did just before our daughter's surgery, I knew that there was something special about the snow. It was reminding us that Heavenly Father's love covers every detail in our lives. He knows.

Jesus compared himself to a grain of wheat, a seed, that had to die to give others life. "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives." John 12:20 NLT.  It is interesting to see the different translations of this verse, other translations say a grain falls to the ground and dies. The NLT translates it as a kernel of wheat is "planted". This shows our Heavenly Parents and Jesus' loving intentions for us, in his sacrifice. 

It is easy to think of Jesus when we see seeds on trees and flowers. I especially love to see how the birds are provided for by the seeds. There is a tree with little red berries in our yard, the berries are the seeds of the tree. The day of the funeral, when it snowed so heavily, the red berries were weighed down with heavy snow that looked like snow cones. Small icicles that looked like teardrops were forming on the berries. The berries reminded me that Jesus carries our burdens, weeps with us, and also offers himself to give us life. 

My friend shared this about icicles: In symbolism, icicles remind one to be still - they count the passage of time with each drop of water they emit. Be still and know that I am God. 

A few weeks later, I was still processing everything that happened when Grandpa passed away, and was out on a walk. I passed some dried-out sunflowers. I thought of the beautiful sunflowers and the changes they had gone through since summer. The bright yellow petals of the sunflowers had fallen off, the stems and leaves had lost their green vibrance, the stems had dried out, and they were standing in 2 feet of snow.  It's too bad that the days of summer glory are past for the sunflower, I thought. Then it seemed that the flowers replied, "These are my glory days, I get to feed the little birds in winter!" It surprised me, and made me think of the small and big things we do to take care of each other, it is an honor to do what we can to help others. It also made me think of Jesus, and the price he paid suffering for our sins. 

Did Jesus feel that way about his suffering for us? Did he look at his sacrifice like that? In Jesus' hardest moments, he was feeding us, giving us life. Maybe it is in our winter times, our personal difficulties, that Jesus' love shines the brightest, and we are most grateful for his unchanging love for us. Those are the times when we realize how much God is caring for us and aware of every detail in our lives. In our times of darkness, his light shines the brightest. Our hope is in Jesus and his promises.

I hope that whatever difficulties you have in your life, you can see God's love shining just for you. And that you find opportunities to pass his love on. 

Fires and Flowers

Three years ago, a huge fire tore through the mountains behind our home. The towns closest to the fires were evacuated as firemen stayed behind to fight the flames. 

After the fires were out and it was safe to come back, people went up the canyons to see the heartbreaking devastation. It was the next summer before we went. Seeing the destruction, we wondered how many decades it would be before the forests we love were healed. Thankfully there are patches that the fires missed. This summer in the same canyons and mountains, wild mallows and wild hollyhocks blossomed in the burnt areas of the forests. These are part of the mallow family. The contrast of burnt, black trees and pink and white mallow blossoms was beautiful. The mallows delicate pink and white flower petals lit up as the sun shone through them. The flower petals looked like fairy wings hovering in the burnt forest.  The flowers felt hopeful. Mother Nature was healing the burn scars with the same herbs we would put on a burn or wound- plants from the mallow family.

What is growing in the mountains is not as coincidental as I once thought. God put his healing and help in the plants for us. One herbalist said that the flowers in the mountains grow specifically for the illnesses that come in the winter. If you see a lot of flowers in the mountains, the flowers might be there to help us overcome the winter illnesses later that year. It is interesting that what we need is provided by God in nature, even before we need it. 

When one of our children was a baby, I was trying to take a video of him. Our 4-year-old jumped up and down with his hand up, yelling, "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" Sometimes when I am walking, a plant will call my attention, seeming to say, "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" I want to tell you about a mallow plant that called my attention like that.  

In late spring, we went to a large cross on a hill overlooking the valley. It was just an activity to get us out of the house, something we all needed. Around the cross, is mostly just dirt and rocks, although there are many plants on the way there. 

Snowy mountain top and hill with a cross

As we were coming back from the cross, the first flower that was on the trail was a reddish-orange flower. This little plant with reddish-orange flowers was calling my attention as plainly as if it were jumping up and down and yelling "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!" It had something to tell me, but I didn't know what it was or recognize the plant. 

Scarlet Globemallow

I stooped down and took its picture. When I got home I looked it up on a plant identification app. It was scarlet globemallow. This resilient plant thrives in neglected soil, in dry, harsh conditions. It needs very little water or care to grow, it grows to be less than 1 foot tall. The name scarlet globemallow reminded me of the scripture, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18. The name scarlet globemallow, is very much like the Spanish word for red blood cells. Red blood cells are known as "globulos rojos" in Spanish, meaning red globes.  I couldn't help but think of Jesus' blood that was shed for us, was what the plant was communicating. I grew up speaking Spanish, the Lord was using what is familiar to me- like he does for each of us. This scarlet globemallow flower wanted to be seen and noticed there, it had something to tell me. 

Going through my notes of past herb walks, I came across this information about the mallow family, from Homegrown Herbalist. The mallow family motto is "It's OK, we can get through this." Mallows are added to almost every herbal formula because they have soothing, cooling, and mending properties that make them wonderful healers. The flowers, stems, and leaves are all medicinal and useful, but the strongest medicine is in the mallow roots. It hit me that the message of the scarlet globemallow and mallows in the burnt forests was more than I had first understood. They were testifying of Jesus and forgiveness, and there was a message of hope, "It's OK, we can get through this." I was stunned by the intelligence, love, and testimony of Jesus in the mallow plants God created. Putting the pieces of the scarlet globemallow's message together, "Though your sins are like scarlet, because Jesus gave his blood for us, it will be OK and we can get through this."

Sometimes what's hardest to get through is our own sins and shortcomings. For me the times when I act in anger and impatience, hurting those that matter most to me, are the most discouraging. When Jesus talked about loving others, the real testing and application of love for God is within our homes and families. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34 ESV. Matthews also records Jesus saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40. How humbling it is when we get it wrong with the people that matter most to us. Don't worry, my family is OK. I just wish I didn't lose my temper so often.

When Jesus was on the earth, when he healed people, he also forgave them. "Sins" is what we knowingly do wrong, but also refers to our human, mortal condition. The trying to do what's right but getting it terribly wrong at times, the exhaustion, the doubting, all of what afflicts us in this fallen world. All of those mortal weaknesses will be made right because of Jesus. 

In God's creations are messages of hope for us, like the scarlet globemallow and the mallows in the burnt forest, "Though your sins are like scarlet, because Jesus gave his blood for us, it will be OK and we can get through this." 

Jesus' teachings the Passover night before he was arrested (John12-17) are the most beautiful, profound, and comforting teachings. He told his friends that in the world they would have trials and sorrow, but in him, they would have peace. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus' peace carries you and me through the sorrows and trials of this world. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27. 

On that Passover evening, Jesus talked to his disciples about his coming death, and the suffering they all had ahead of them. He told them it was like when a woman's time has come, and she knows she will experience the pains of labor. She is grieved because of the pain, but when the child is born, she forgets her pain because of joy that a child is born. "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:21-22. The closest women in Jesus' life, like his mother and Mary, would have understood Jesus' explanation about birthing pains and the joy that follows birth. I think the women that were closest to Jesus were also present at the Last Supper, they were witnesses to his crucifixion and resurrection as well. Perhaps Jesus' remarks about women suffering childbirth were to honor his mother. Mary was misunderstood and rejected, and she suffered great pain in giving Jesus life. Jesus was about to suffer great pain to give us life.

Mary and Baby Jesus by Jean Keaton

I wonder how Jesus' friends, his mother and family felt witnessing the terrible events that led to his death. They were close witnesses of Jesus' betrayal and arrest, the scourging, the crown of thorns, watching him carry his cross, and then watching his agonizing crucifixion. How could his mother and friends witness those terrible scenes without going crazy? This article had a good take on it, I highly recommend reading it. Jesus' mother and friends were witnesses to his death, but more importantly, they witnessed his resurrection and triumph for all of us. Yet in those moments of Jesus' suffering, feeling anger, fear, the impulse to fight back, would have been very normal responses. Peter's drawing of his sword to defend Jesus in the olive grove is very understandable. Jesus had his Father's will to do, and he told Peter to put his sword away. I asked the Lord how his friends and family were able to bear watching him suffer. The answer I received was, they kept their eyes and focus on Jesus and what He was doing. They took their cues from Jesus, in how he was handling all of it, he was teaching them in his suffering. He was in control even in those terrible moments, remaining true to his Father and true to us. Remembering Jesus' sacrifice and his life given for us puts any of our trials into perspective. Keeping our eyes on Jesus is critical for us too. What is Jesus doing, what is Jesus working on today, when the world seems like it's going crazy? What work is He doing now in your life? Do I trust that he is still in control? Do I trust that Jesus has overcome the world, and won the victory for us? Teaching us to trust Him more is a big theme for many of us.

How can we keep our focus and attention more on Jesus, and the work he is doing today? What messages of hope do you see that Jesus has placed around us? In what ways have you felt angels lifting and healing influences, like the mallow flowers healing the burnt forests? 

I like this song "Another in the Fire" (link to the song). The author of this song wrote it after receiving a heartbreaking diagnosis for his child. He uses the word "reckoning" to describe that challenge. To me "reckoning" is a good word to describe a challenge, it means facing myself, my beliefs, and my weaknesses. Jesus does not ever leave us alone in the challenges. The phrase "another in the fire" refers to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. They were thrown in the king's furnace for not bowing to and worshipping the king's idol. Jesus saved them from dying in the fiery furnace and stood in the fire with them. The king who had condemned them to death by the fiery furnace saw "another in the fire" with them that looked like the Son of God. 

I hope we can keep our focus on Jesus and what he is doing. Because we believe in Jesus, we trust that incredible joy will follow the birth pains that precede Jesus' return. 

LYRICS:
Verse 1
There's a grace when the heart is under fire 
Another way when the walls are closing in 
And when I look at the space between 
Where I used to be and this reckoning 
I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 1 
There was another in the fire standing next to me 
There was another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding 
Of how I've been set free 
There is a cross that bears the burden 
Where another died for me 
There is another in the fire    

VERSE 2
All my debt left for dead beneath the waters 
I'm no longer a slave to my sin anymore 
And should I fall in the space between 
What remains of me and this reckoning 
Either way I won't bow to the things of this world 
And I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 2 
There is another in the fire standing next to me 
There is another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding
What power set me free 
There is a grave that holds no body 
And now that power lives in me
There is another in the fire    
Tag
There is another in the fire    

BRIDGE
And I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him 
I can hear the roar in the heavens 
As the space between wears thin 
I can feel the ground shake beneath us 
As the prison walls cave in 
Nothing stands between us 
Nothing stands between us 

VERSE 3
There is no other name but the Name that is Jesus 
He who was and still is and will be through it all 
So come what may in the space between 
All the things unseen and this reckoning 
I know I will never be alone 
I know I will never be alone 

CHORUS 3
There'll be another in the fire standing next to me 
There'll be another in the waters holding back the seas 
And should I ever need reminding 
How good You've been to me  
I'll count the joy come every battle 
'Cause I know that's where You'll be
Tag 
I'll count the joy come every battle 
'Cause I know that's where You'll be