While sitting on my porch one warm morning in June, I looked around at the amazing things God created for just that day. The mountain was misty, the sky was pink and purple while the golden sun rose up from the other direction. The birds were singing and the due on the grass was plentiful, but my gaze fell on the hanging basket I’ve neglected this past week.
I got up from my chair and began removing the dried brown flowers and leaves that shriveled up in the summer heat. One by one I carefully pick through the plant so I wouldn’t damage the lush green leaves or the beautifully bloomed flowers.
As I removed those which were dead I started thinking about when Jesus preached in Matthew 13 about the man who planted good seed in a field but while everyone slept the enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat in the field. The servants told the master and he didn’t want them pulling the weeds out because he didn’t want them to pull the wheat out with the weeds so they let them grow together until the time was right to harvest. The weeds would be pulled out and burned then the harvest would be gathered to be put in the barn.
We’re waiting for the day God opens up the heavens and Jesus sits on the clouds while he sends out the angels to gather the harvest. The weeds will be left to burn but the harvest will be taken to God’s storehouse beyond the stars and passed the darkness where there is only light.
John describes in Revelation, “I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe. ”The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” (Revelation 14:14-20 NIV).
Isn’t it amazing how God can use a task as simple as pruning the flowers of a hanging basket to showcase his vision for our future. I’m so thankful he doesn’t neglect us the way I neglected the hanging basket.
Thank you Lord for the message and for your wondrous signs. Thank you for your patience and for giving us time because the flowers are tall and in full bloom but the dead down below find only gloom.
As we grow in good soil and our roots go deep, may our wheat be plentiful for the one who reaps. The grapes are sour even though they are ripe, they will be poured out on the ground with no hope in sight. But for those who are saved they are taken with love, plucked out before hell and raised up above.
My works have not been great, I can testify they fall short, for it’s only your grace that opens your door. Don’t shut me out, don’t close the door. Sometimes my lamp burns dim and the oil runs low, to others it’s dark but you see my glow. When all goes dark and it feels all alone, Father you leave the porch light on for your children to come home.
a hanging basket hangs from an anchored source that is secured in place. On beautiful days it soaks up the sun and grows. On stormy days it blows around in the wind and rain, holding on until the storm ends.
We are like the hanging basket, soaking in the sun one day and the rain from storms the next. Just make sure the anchored source you’re hanging from is the thread of Jesus’ garment.
“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” Mark 5:28 KJV
We will be made whole when we are harvest and taken home.
Awesome writing. Every time I read Mark 5:28 I am amazed at the faith and Confidence that this lady had in the power and love of our Lord Jesus.