Weeds

“One person’s weed, is another’s flower.” was the first thing that came to mind this morning, as I entered the labyrinth at St. Stephen’s . It is always so peaceful, as it looks out over Ft. Worth…all the city’s hustle and bustle doesn’t make it up the hill. Just the cool morning breeze and doves cooing filled that space this morning. Space ⇚ all we (or least, I) seem to do is fill it up!

I walked, thanking God again for this particular space…up on the hill, in the nook of the old church, a space set aside to walk with Him. I know He is with us everywhere, but all to often, the clutter of life gets in the way of quiet, one-on-one time. (More accurately, I allow it)

Spring time has sprung here, too! Recent rains have blooms everywhere…even a few weeds. I admit, more often than not, I feel like the weed ~ out of place, trying to bloom where I don’t belong. But, this morning, in those quiet steps, God reminded me just Who our Gardener is ! 😊 If our path seems to “wander”, Who do we think allowed it? And, I may see a weed, but God sees His blooms coming up right where HE put them.

Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:6

I left the labyrinth today thinking, we need to watch Who we are allowing to define the world around us, ‘cuz weeds are just flowers we haven’t met yet!

Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone

What a phrase! …and it sounds so uncomfortable! But, when I think for a minute, it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. If when, where, and how I am stepping is when, where and how God wants me, then why the lack of comfort? As a Christ follower, the more accurate application of the phrase could be that when I’m moving somewhere in life I shouldn’t be, then I’m out of my comfort zone.

…for the Joy of the Lord is your strength…Nehemiah 8:10

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength…Philippians 4:13

They’re not just bumper sticker slogans, I know. And as I am sitting in the garden this morning, it is peaceful and quiet. The doves are cooing and the sun is just rising and peeking thru the trees…I can see it shining at the other end of the path, so bright compared to everything else!

That’s our life, isn’t it? Sometimes shining brightly, other times we feel like we’re peeking thru the darkness and being the light for another.

As I’m still thinking on this comfort zone thing, it really seems that at times we can also make people around us uncomfortable, when we point out that we’re “stepping out of our comfort zone” to do something for them. When really, in my day, in what I do, the words I choose and how I act, He is right there…so? Should I not be bringing others closer to God? After all, He is the source of comfort.

 

God will take us plenty of places we might not have chosen, or even realized existed, but those steps can be joy-filled ~ celebrating His presence and power in the moment.

…where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17b  GNT

THAT is…

~ freedom from fear and worry

~ freedom to live fully

~ freedom to trust Him in something new

~ freedom to breathe

It’s the life lived from God’s perspective, not our own. Like when I look at this gorgeous bloom on our royal palm. It just towers over everything! I wouldn’t choose to perch myself up there and I can think of all kinds of reasonable reasons that I shouldn’t be up there. I wonder how often we miss the beautiful views God has for us in life, all because we thought we were being reasonable!

The danger, the mis-step is when we define our own zone, choose our own steps and seek our own reasonable comfort. However, when “our comfort zone” is living and being with Christ in every moment…that is life, the steps we are called to walk joyously in. When The Comforter is Who defines our comfort zone, our steps are aligned and secured by Him…and that’s the zone to stay in!

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:3&4 GNT