An Elfin Daffodil

Hebrews 6:19-20
 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

wild wind rips the sky—

elfin daffodil bulbs

anchor underground

Before bed, an alert for a serious weather event broadcast on our screens, both television and phone. A late February storm threatened the area. The meteorologists called for a tornado watch in our area from 10pm to 6am and thunderstorms.

Although I don’t fear storms, my mind could not calm and go to sleep. My thoughts raced to my family and friends and how they might cope with a possible tornado. After wrestling with my mind’s tendency to worry, I prayed. Why hadn’t I thought of that earlier? (Insert head smack here.) Once my words reached God’s ear, I dozed off.

I slept through whatever storm blew in and after I awoke and dressed, I checked outside for damage. The birdhouse in the flowerbed had fallen over. When I righted it, I spied yellow flowers in the corner of the flowerbed. Miniature daffodils waved their tiny heads at me as if to say we’re here—we weathered the storm.

How often in life do I forget I have an anchor for every storm? Whether weather related or personal, the storms blow in and Jesus anchors my soul. The Holy Spirit entwines my roots with the Father’s. Like the elfin daffodils, I’ve survived life’s storms because my roots are buried in the One who gives life.

Psalm 62:8 reminds me God is my refuge. He’s there for me all the time. What a comfort to know God loves me so much. He loves you so much, too.

Seek the One who anchors your soul in Him.

Plant Roots in His Truth

 Jeremiah 17:7-8

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

"Jesus found the muddiest parts of my heart and planted flowers." -the soul doctor

Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through the soil in my tiny garden. A few of the daffodils are already showing their pretty yellow heads and the crocus are waving goodbye to winter. When I planted the bulbs for each flower, I made sure the root of the bulb turned toward the earth. The roots needed to be where they could shoot down into the soil and draw up nourishment for the leaves and blossoms. If I had turned them the wrong way, the bulb would eventually rot.

A few years ago, I had a bush removed from the flower garden, most of the roots came out, but occasionally a little sprout from the bush pushes through the soil. Even though the plant went through trauma, the deep roots survived and still produce foliage.

Plants depend on their roots to provide what they need. With my feet planted in Jesus' mercy and grace, I continue to grow in Him. When I bloom, it doesn't matter what I look like on the outside, my roots in Jesus give me strength inside. No matter what I have gone through, I know Jesus is with me because I've planted my feet in His Word. Even when I've been cut down, my roots in Jesus give me strength. I often pray that my children and grandchildren have their roots firmly planted in Jesus. I pray that for my readers, too.

Each year my flowers fade as winter comes to visit, but the roots continue to grow and gather. By spring they're ready to sprout their green leaves and bloom with joy, like believers who love Jesus.

Plant roots in the truth of Jesus. Soak in His love and strength.

His Love

The trees around Marblehead State Park fascinate me. 

As they grow out of the rocks, some roots submerge between the cracks, 

while others crawl over top and seek refuge.

Regardless, the trees continue to grow because they have nourishment

from the earth, where the roots dive deep.

Much like these trees, as believers in Jesus, our roots dive deep into his love—

even as we dwell on this earth.

His love sustains us.

 

The Breath We Breathe

Isaiah 55:10-11

As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I love trees in every season; budding leaves, full shade, riots of color, and bare branches.

A magnificent maple tree stood, like a guard, by the end of our gravel driveway. That tree provided shelter for me as I waited on the school bus. In the summer, I'd play in the welcoming shade. No matter the season, the maple spread its massive branches overhead.

I remember looking up through the limbs at the gorgeous red and gold leaves as they danced in the sky. For a child, that was pure magic.

According to Botanical Gardens Conservation International there are more than 60,000 species of trees in the world. God created every one of them with purpose. In the spring, flowering trees like dogwood and redbud spread across the Appalachian Mountains. In summer and fall folks harvest fruit from apple, pear, banana, and coconut trees, to name a few. In winter, the evergreens provide shelter for cardinals and all their friends.

Most important, trees give us oxygen; the very breath we breath. They soak in the rain with their roots and reach toward the sky to the sun, in order to share their gift with us.

These beauties remind me to bury my roots deep in God's word. The Lord provides all the nourishment I need, through the scripture, his people, and his grace. As the oaks and palms do, I reach toward heaven, through prayer and praise to God's son, Jesus, then take a deep breath and inhale his love.

God gave every tree a purpose. If he cares that much about the forests, just think how much he loves us.

Grounded and Reaching

I'm fascinated with all the crazy branches that grow out of this tree's trunk. 

The roots dig down as the limbs raise up. 

This tree reminds me to root myself in the word of God

and raise my arms toward heaven in prayer. 

Photo taken at Withrow Nature Preserve