The Flowers in the Lord's Garden

This morning when I looked out the window I was greeted by snow, snow, snow! Wasn't the first day of spring yesterday? Well, I decided to make the best of it and took a walk to enjoy what I hope to be the last of winter for a while. ;) I took my camera along and snapped a few pictures.

When I saw my spring flowers bowing low from the weight of all the snow it reminded me of a quote I had read the day before...

"The flowers in the Lord's garden are not all of one color and one scent, though they are all planted by one Spirit." --J. C. Ryle, The Gospel of John 1873.

There is so much truth in that one little sentence... Sometimes we may not understand why our brothers and sisters in Christ do what they do. Yet, we're reminded in a simplistic example that not everyone will be exactly like us in the Kingdom of God. Nature testifies that God loves variety and the wonderful thing is that when He ended His creation He said it was all good. Not this only or that only, but all of it was good in His eyes.

When I saw my little flowers covered in snow, I was reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 1:18 where God says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." Even though we are all unique in our own ways, isn't it a comfort to know that as Christians, saved by grace, we are covered in His blood? When He looks at us, just like the little flowers, we are white as snow.

©2006 Titus2Ministry.com

I have learned...

When I came across these quotes, I thought they were well worth sharing...  I hope you enjoy these gems as much as I did!

I HAVE LEARNED...

The following quotes contain "principles for Christian living"
that are taken mostly from the 'wisdom' literature of the bible-
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

It is impossible for one to live right, or to have wholesome
relationships, without following Scriptural principles.

I'VE LEARNED that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved...
The rest is up to them.

I'VE LEARNED that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.

I'VE LEARNED that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I'VE LEARNED that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want to, doesn't mean they don't love you
with all they have.

I'VE LEARNED that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.

I'VE LEARNED that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.

I'VE LEARNED that maturity has more to do with what types
of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them,
and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I'VE LEARNED that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I'VE LEARNED that our background and circumstances may
have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for
who we become.

I'VE LEARNED That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I'VE LEARNED That two people can look at the exact
same thing and see something totally different.

I'VE LEARNED That no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.

I'VE LEARNED That even when you think you have no more
to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength
to help.

I'VE LEARNED That credentials on the wall do not make you
a decent human being.

I'VE LEARNED That it's hard to determine where to draw the
line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings,
and standing up for what you believe.

I'VE LEARNED That it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I'VE LEARNED That sometimes when I'm angry I have the
right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I'VE LEARNED That either you control your attitude,
or it controls you.

I'VE LEARNED That it's not WHAT you have in your life
but WHO you have in your life that counts.

I'VE LEARNED That you can get by on charm for about
fifteen minutes. After that, you had better know something.

I'VE LEARNED That it's taking me a long time to become
the person I want to be.

I'VE LEARNED That you can keep going long after
you think you can't.

I'VE LEARNED That learning to forgive takes practice.