John 12:24
My View From "The Chair" this morning - John 12:24. Green houses are literally 50 shades of wonderful! If you've never been inside a backyard one, you should really put it on your bucket list. Greenhouses allow us to plant things when it is still below freezing and down right nasty out. Last summer my Mister toiled in the hot sun to put up our greenhouse. I have to admit, I was enamored with it and wanted to use it as my personal "Studio" for writing. He thought we should use it to grow plants. I found it simply deliciousful to be in there, all dry and protected from the elements and safely tucked away from people. The symphony of rain drumming against the roof along with the intermittent crescendos of howling gusts of wind could make any racing mind forget their troubles. It rhythmically sedated my consciousness and allowed for my breathing to slow. He planted a few tubs of lettuce and kale. I spent some time sizing up the space and plotting for convincing my Mr. that a nice chair and my writing supplies would feel right at home out there. However, standing in there one afternoon, a thought zipped through my head, like a hungry hummingbird. This thought made me super uncomfortable. It was like someone had hit me in the head with a hammer, I realized that this sweet shelter would be a place of death for the plants. Plants have this amazing life cycle - seed, growth, bloom, death, and re-birth or multiplication. This is a simple equation - If they don't die, they can't multiply. In this verse, Jesus was using this plant analogy to help us understand what we should really do with our life. Want to know what He thinks? I'll tell you. He thinks we should die to ourselves and be poured out in love for others, just like He did for us. It is the ONLY way to draw others to Him. We die when we pour out His extravagant love on others. What will living this way cost you? There is only a one word answer, "Everything!" Who is your neighbor? Who is it that He is asking you to pour out His extravagant love for? I can tell you this, it will be worth it. Choose death to yourself so that others can experience His scandalously extravagant love. Until We Chat Again, Crystal - The Plank-Eyed Girl
