Garden Stories

True Colors, Reprise

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

True Colors, Reprise

So we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

Leafy Lesson

Granddaughter Lyla and I were out for a walk one sunny afternoon. I commented on the beautiful trees, resplendent in their fall colors. Lyla replied, “Grammie, did you know the fall colors are the true colors of the leaves?” You would think I’d remember that factoid from my horticultural studies, but I didn’t.

Intrigued, I later spent some time researching the topic. As with most fascinating tidbits of information my bright, inquisitive grandchildren share with me, Lyla’s comment was correct:

“During the warmer growing seasons, leaves produce chlorophyll to help plants create energy from light. The green pigment becomes dominant and masks the other pigments . . . trees prepare for winter and the next growing season by blocking off flow to and from a leaf’s stem. This process stops green chlorophyll from being replenished and causes the leaf’s green color to fade. The fading green allows a leaf’s true colors to emerge, producing the dazzling array of orange, yellow, red, and purple pigments we refer to as fall foliage.”[1]

Wasting Away or Renewed?

This idea resonates with me. Having lived nearly seven decades, I’ve watched my outer self change significantly over the years, but some changes have been more than skin-deep.

I will soon celebrate my 52nd spiritual birthday. Thinking back to the day I was baptized and made a public profession of faith on that long-ago November afternoon, I realize I’ve changed as much on the inside as I have on the outside. Maybe even more so. Because God has faithfully kept His promise to transform me more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

First, God replaced my heart of stone with a heart of flesh capable of responding in faith, obedience, and gratitude to my heavenly Father (Ezekiel 36:26). Then, He applied the balm of forgiveness and restoration and provided His word and Spirit as trustworthy guides for life as a pilgrim in this world.

I cringe to think of what my insides looked like before God began the process. Even my best intentions and kindest deeds were like filthy rags apart from Him (Isaiah 64:6).

Over the past 52 years, I’ve faced fiery trials, experienced great joy, and lived through many mundane moments. The Lord sovereignly ordained every detail to bring about the necessary transformation and will continue to do so until He calls me Home.

Radiant

Have you ever noticed that even after the leaves change colors, they’re pretty but not truly radiant unless the sun is shining on them? Oh, but when the sun is out, the leaves are so vibrant the trees look like they’re ablaze. On days like that, I repeatedly exclaim, sometimes to myself and sometimes out loud, “The trees are so beautiful! Thank You, Lord!”

Likewise, our beauty is more radiant when we walk in the Light of the One who called us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9). As we behold the glory of the Lord and the beauty of the Gospel, we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18), enabling us to be lights in this world, shining before others for the Lord’s glory (Matthew 5:14-16). How amazing!

Hanging On

While their deciduous relatives are busy putting on a colorful fall display, some oak trees hold on to their old, brown leaves all winter. The emergence of new leaves the following year finally nudges them off, as life replaces death. And so it will be with me. No matter how brightly my true colors shine in this life, vestiges of the old, sinful me will remain until I’m called Home. There are times when, like the Apostle Paul, I lament my inability to do the good I desire to do, despite my best intentions (Romans 7:14-25).

Yet even now, God considers me His child, though my full potential and future glory haven’t been revealed. And so it is with all His children. We rest in the assurance that when Jesus appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Creased and Crinkled, Yet Confident and Convinced

Some mornings, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and wonder whether the wrinkle gremlin visited overnight and left a few more folds on my face. There are days when I look at photos of myself and realize my eyes almost disappear into the creases around them when I smile. It can be disheartening.

And then I remember that charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30); that the Lord does not see as man sees, but looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b); and that we’re to cultivate the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4).

My heart overflows with gratitude. I marvel that God chose me before the foundation of the world to be His child (Ephesians 1:4), called me to Himself 52 years ago, and has given me ample reasons and opportunities to testify to His faithfulness in my life.

I look forward to the day when the transformation is complete. Until then, I pray He will help the true Christ-like colors He’s painted within me to grow increasingly radiant, even as my outer self is wasting away.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

[1] “Cool autumn weather reveals nature’s true hues,” noaa.gov, October 1, 2014.

A Beautiful Bouquet

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:7

Flowers for Church

The ten days from July 31st to August 9th are filled with cheerful family milestones, including birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Although most of the people associated with those dates are no longer with us, I rejoice in their contributions to our family and strive to carry on their legacy of love and faith. So, as in years past, I arranged a bouquet for our Sunday morning church service last week, in gratitude to God for the gifts of marriage and family.

I envisioned a classic arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath, but the store I frequent didn’t have any attractive roses. Several pre-made bouquets caught my eye, and soon I was collecting flowers in the same colors they featured – white, lavender, and pink.

After arranging the flowers the next day, I stepped back to admire one of the prettiest, most vibrant bouquets I’ve ever created for church.

Body Building

It would take last Sunday’s sermon to help me see an analogy that had never occurred to me before, which is surprising because I see so many parallels between Scriptural principles and gardening.

Our pastor preached from 1 Corinthians 12:1-15, a passage in which the Apostle Paul admonishes the Corinthian believers not to boast about their spiritual gifts. They have nothing to brag about because the gifts are from God, appointed to each as He saw fit, to be used for their mutual benefit and for the building up of the Church, for His glory, not theirs.

Furthermore, in Paul’s body analogy, it’s clear that every part is necessary, even those we might consider unimportant or less glamorous. As someone who’s broken their pinky toe, I can attest that even a digit that small makes itself known when it’s not functioning properly.

Which brings me back to my bouquet. It contained relatively inexpensive, and what some consider unexceptional, flowers, including carnations and mums. But when they came together, they were no longer ordinary. They created a beautiful whole.

Unpretentious

Once my thoughts headed down that path, they meandered into the garden, and I began to ponder how flowers glorify their Creator by being what He created them to be. Some are showy, immediately drawing our attention, while others are barely visible and require us to be intentional about taking time to notice them. Some are long-lasting, delightfully changing colors as they age, while others bloom for only a day before withering and making way for other buds to open. Some attract bees who industriously fill their pollen buckets, benefitting the flowers as well. Still others provide nectar for butterflies and serve as host plants for their caterpillars.

Thinking about it makes me happy! There’s no arguing over who’s prettier or clamoring to be something else, just flowers fulfilling their intended purpose, producing a beautiful garden.

Love

This morning’s sermon brought us to 1 Corinthians 13, often called the “love chapter” and frequently read at weddings. It’s actually a continuation of Paul’s admonishment of the Corinthians. Many of them were materially wealthy, and God had abundantly blessed them with spiritual gifts. However, they were misusing both in pursuit of status and recognition for themselves rather than serving one another and glorifying God.  

Love resulting from our union with Christ, characterized by the virtues outlined in verses 4 to 7, differs greatly from worldly notions of love. Likewise, our identity and value are determined by our relationship to our Savior, not on any scale the world uses to measure such things.

Thus secure in our position in Christ, may we embrace the gifts we’ve been given, using them to build up the church, benefit our brothers and sisters in the faith, and point others to the hope we have in Him.

Dear Lord, thinking about how happy it makes me to see the flowers, each contributing its unique beauty to my garden, helps me imagine the joy You must feel when each of Your children uses the gifts You’ve given us to glorify You by sharing Your love with those in our “gardens.” No boasting or striving, but gratefully serving out of who we are in Christ.

Exfoliation, Reprise

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2

Color Harmony

For most of the years I worked for a large corporation, I served as a colorist. In that role, I developed, named, and presented new carpet color options to our customers. After all the time spent honing my skills at work, I relished the opportunity to choose the interior and exterior colors when we built our home in Georgia.

My late husband’s specialty was horticulture, a no-less creative endeavor. When I chose a terra cotta color scheme for the bricks and shutters, I didn’t realize how challenging it would make it for him to select plants. This was especially true when choosing the must-have southern plant on our list – a crape myrtle.

Nonetheless, being a skilled horticulturalist, Ray made an excellent choice. Unlike other cultivars whose pink or purple flowers would have clashed with our cinnamon-colored exterior and offended my color sensibilities, the creamy-white blossoms of the now-stately Natchez create a harmoniously floriferous cascade each summer. But the brilliance of Ray’s choice is most apparent in the fall, when the annual process of exfoliation occurs.

As summer wanes, cracks appear in the bark along the mighty trunk, signaling the coming changes. Soon, the cracks deepen into fissures as the old skin lifts away from the tree before finally letting go entirely, falling to the ground in long, jagged shards. To the uninitiated observer, this series of events may be unsettling. How could such an extreme shedding of bark possibly benefit the plant? Yet that very act allows the trunk to increase its girth and grow stronger. Best of all, it reveals the most magnificent cinnamon-colored covering.

Ray saw the potential in the sapling he planted so long ago. He knew what it could become.

Putting Off, Putting On

There are several concepts I consider spiritual touchstones. One such idea is the practice of putting off and putting on. In His analogy of an unclean spirit leaving a man only to return to its neat but empty former abode, Jesus made it clear that it’s not enough to merely make a show of getting rid of sinful thoughts and behavior (Matthew 12:43-45). Instead, our repentance must be genuine, the kind that produces fruit in keeping with our profession of faith (Matthew 3:8), as we put on right thinking and conduct pleasing to God.

The Apostle Paul affirms this teaching in his letter to the Romans, where he encourages his readers not to conform to the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds. In his letter to the Ephesians, he goes even further. After admonishing them to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24), Paul then provides specific examples of behavior to put off, along with corresponding replacements:

  • Put away falsehood and speak the truth. (vs. 25)
  • Let the thief no longer steal but perform honest labor. (vs. 28)
  • Do not use unwholesome language, but that which benefits and builds up those who listen. (vs.29)
  • Put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, and every form of malice. Be kind to one another, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. (vs. 31-32)

Refined By the Spirit

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, God already counts us as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), but much refining remains. We are not yet holy as He is Holy, and our makeover will not be complete until Jesus returns. Nonetheless, the Spirit is at work in us, transforming us with the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20).

At times, our refinement is painful as God strips away parts of our old nature. Our Savior suffered greatly (Isaiah 53:3-6). How better to know Him than by enduring the loss, sorrow, and persecution He endured (Romans 8:17)? Such challenges may prompt outside observers or even believers to question God’s methods, but we can trust that the One who made us has a perfect plan to work all things together for our good and His glory (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).

Just as Ray knew what the crape myrtle could become, given sufficient time and proper care, God knows who He created us to be (Ephesians 2:10). Furthermore, He’s promised to complete the work He’s begun in us (Ephesians 1:6) and never to leave or forsake us at any point in the process (Deuteronomy 31:8). The Helper will be with us to remind us of His promises, empower us to do His will, and enable us to persevere to the end (John 14:16-17, 26). On that glorious day, our transformation will be complete, and all vestiges of our former selves will disappear. We will gather around the throne, our new selves robed in white, to forever praise our Redeemer King (Revelation 7:9-17).

Epilog

In this morning’s sermon, our pastor reminded us that growing older doesn’t mean we automatically grow up or become wiser. Spiritual maturity requires intentionality, self-reflection, and wholehearted devotion to Christ, which will not allow us to be satisfied with doing the bare minimum for Him and His Kingdom.

 I’ve watched my crape myrtle go through its annual exfoliation process for over 30 years. The trunk is now far too large for me to reach around it, but the process of shedding and growing will continue as long as the tree is alive. May we be like the majestic tree, letting go of anything hindering our growth – even long-cherished beliefs and behaviors – so that we will continue to grow more like Christ until He calls Home.

The Impostor, Encore

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44

Sprinkle, sprinkle

My garden is home to a stand of native columbines, offspring of plants my late husband started over 30 years ago. Like many other gardening tasks, ensuring the columbines survived was something I had to learn through experience after Ray suddenly passed away one warm April evening. When I cut back the spent flowers later that spring, seeds spurted out, dotting the ground and decorating my shirt. I decided to sprinkle more around for good measure. And sprinkle I did, shaking one dried pod after another!

Months passed. Raising two young daughters alone and trying to find my footing in a world that had turned upside down consumed much of my time and energy. But winter waned, warmer days returned, and the garden beckoned me. A leisurely stroll yielded several encouraging finds – tiny plants emerging from their winter slumber.

“Hmm,” I wondered. “What could all those leaves springing up in the front bed be?”  Then I remembered scattering columbine seeds everywhere. It worked! I’ve continued the sprinkling tradition ever since, and each year I’ve been blessed with a bumper crop.

What’s That?!

When I first took stock of the returning plants, I noticed some leaves that resembled columbine foliage and had a similar growth habit. Not wanting to pull up desirable plants, I decided to let them develop until I was sure. Big mistake! By the time I figured out they were weeds, they had already taken root, matured, and produced seeds.

The impostors return each spring alongside the columbines, hiding out, hoping I won’t spot them. But after nearly three decades of careful observation and informed scrutiny, I can quickly detect the difference, even when the plants are still small. I pluck the weeds before they have a chance to get established and take over valuable garden space.

Fake Friend

Like my early dealings with the weeds, it’s easy to let questionable behavior or ungodly thoughts take root. We rationalize, “Looks like a good thing. I’m not sure, but it won’t hurt to try it out, at least until I’m certain. I can redirect later if need be.”

By the time we recognize the situation for what it is, it’s much more challenging to handle than if we had been spiritually vigilant from the start.

Unlike the weeds, which aren’t actually out to get me, we have an adversary bent on our destruction. Although Satan knows his ultimate defeat is certain, he prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to destroy (1 Peter 5:8). He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), tempting with promises that seem oh-so-reasonable, all while discounting potentially deadly consequences. He has used the same tactics since he first appeared on the scene (Genesis 3:1-5).

Practicing Discernment

Fortunately, there is a way to resist him. We must draw near to God, making use of the mighty armor He provides for us. Ephesians 6:17 describes the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit. We are to use it to protect our thoughts and to fend off Satan’s tempting lies. In doing so, we will be following Jesus’ example. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, he responded to each temptation with, “It is written,” followed by an appropriate passage from Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).

When we meditate on God’s powerful Word, we are increasingly able to test and approve what His will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:2) – and to refute lies with Truth.

As the colony of columbines has become increasingly dominant over the years, there’s less room for the annoying intruders. Those that do appear don’t get to stay around long since I can now readily identify them. Just as I’ve consistently sprinkled columbine seeds and studied the resulting plants’ appearance, let us liberally sow God’s truth in our lives and cultivate its teachings. In so doing, may we more easily recognize the father of lies and weed out his wily temptations before they can entice and entangle us.

Thank You, Lord, for Your mighty Word, which is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Please help us to study it deeply and frequently so that we’re able to discern the difference between truth and deception.

Flowers or Weeds?

/ Patsy Kuipers / 2 Comments

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What do you see?

When you walk through a garden, are you more likely to see the flowers or the weeds? I’ve come to think of that question as the gardener’s version of seeing a glass as being half-empty or half-full.

On any given day, visitors to my garden can find both lovely sections festooned with flowers and unkempt patches needing my attention. My 5-year-old neighbor, Billy[1], tends to focus on the latter, zeroing in on weeds and, this time of year, unraked leaves. Though I attempt to take my young friend’s comments in stride, they sometimes sting. Try as I might, I can never stay ahead of the weeds.

Recently, Billy’s father overheard him pointing out some things that weren’t to his liking. Seeing a teaching moment, he came over and said, “How do you think it makes Ms. Patsy feel when you say things like that? How would you feel if someone came over to our yard and said the same thing?”

Eyes downcast, Billy replied, “Sad,” then quickly changed the subject.

A Proposal

But, in an effort to help him learn to see the beauty, I made a deal with him – “For every thing you tell me you don’t like about my garden, you need to tell me something you do like. How about that?”

We haven’t been outside at the same time since, so I’m not sure if my proposal will stick. Regardless, as I was reviewing our conversation, the Spirit gently convicted me. “How often do you focus on what’s irritating you or not to your liking, instead of on the blessings and provisions God has poured out on you?”

Ouch! That nudge led me to challenge myself with the same proposal I had given Billy: each time I complain, I need to thank God for a blessing. Could it be that with practice, the complaints will decrease and the praise increase? I hope so! Because ultimately, when I’m grumping about something that’s not to my liking, I’m complaining against God.

Fellow Complainers

It’s so easy to read the account of the Israelites’ wanderings and think, “What’s wrong with these people? They’re always grumbling!”

They’d seen God part the Red Sea, ensuring their deliverance from Pharaoh (Exodus 14:21-29). Yet, it wasn’t long before they were hangry, wishing they were back in the land of their captivity, where they “sat by pots of meat and ate their fill of bread” (Exodus 16:3). God provided manna (Exodus 16), which they tired of and began clamoring for meat. He rained down quail – accompanied by a plague because of their incessant whining (Numbers 11). They demanded water, which God miraculously supplied, not once, but twice (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-11).

Still, they muttered.

Though I’m apt to scoff at the Israelites for their griping, I recognize that I’m equally capable of being discontent. When I focus on circumstances I wish were different or long for things I don’t have, I, too, am dishonoring the Giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), the One who didn’t withhold His only Son (Romans 8:32), and has given me everything I will ever need in Him (Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3).

Perspective

It remains to be seen whether or not Billy will remember our conversation and his father’s counsel. I, however, have been practicing seeing the flowers instead of the weeds in my daily life, trusting my heavenly Father to remind me of my commitment to do so should I start to lose focus. By the power of the Spirit, I will endeavor to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Dear Lord, thank You for the brief encounter with my little neighbor, a reminder that I, too, can fall prey to negativity. You have not withheld any good thing from me. Please help me remember that when I’m tempted to complain.

[1] Name has been changed.

Finding Hope in My Garden

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

Often, when I’m working in my garden, a spiritual tie-in will occur to me. Such was the case last week.

The perennials are winding down for this year, looking rather bedraggled after enduring weeks of hot, dry weather. Soon, many of them will drop their leaves or die back completely to the ground. I’ll help others by removing this year’s growth so they can rest over the winter. But even as the plants are completing another cycle of flourishing, they’re preparing for the next.

Seeds

Seed heads have formed on numerous plants, including ornamental grasses, butterfly weed, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Some of the seeds will land in a favorable place, germinate, and produce new plants, while others provide food for hungry birds. Still others can be shared with fellow gardeners.  

As I survey the variety of seeds adorning the plants, harvest some to share and leave the rest to reproduce or feed the birds, I’m reminded of God’s promise after the flood, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

I’m also challenged. How am I sharing the bounty of spiritual blessings and wisdom God has imparted to me? Am I planting seeds that will bear spiritual fruit even after I’m gone? Am I sharing bits of Biblical wisdom to nourish fellow believers?

Buds

And then there are buds that have already formed on spring-blooming plants, the promise of future flowers when the conditions are right. The buds remind me that we’ve been sealed with the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Just as the buds are waiting to blossom, we too are awaiting our glorification, knowing that when Jesus appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Bulbs

Bulbs are mysterious. It takes faith to believe the homely yet intriguing packages will one day produce something beautiful. Inspecting the daffodil bulbs I purchased a few days ago, I was reminded of the assurance that one day, most likely after a period of resting in the ground unless Jesus returns first (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), my perishable body will be raised to glory, imperishable:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Hope in Him!

In a few months, springtime will return to the little plot of ground God has entrusted to me, exuberantly pointing us toward Jesus’ return when all things will be made new and all of creation will praise Him. Until then, I will make note of the evidence of things to come, resting in the assurance that God will fulfill all His promises.

Dear Lord, thank You that Your invisible attributes, namely, Your eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (Romans 1:20).

Hugs

/ Patsy Kuipers / 1 Comment

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.        
Psalm 34:18

Bedraggled

I’ve lived in Georgia long enough to know gardening can be a challenge as summer draws to a close. This year is no different. I can barely set foot outside without becoming mosquito bait, I’ve had less than half an inch of rain in the past month, and only the most heat-loving of my plants are tolerating the hot, dry conditions. The rest look tired and bedraggled, a reflection of how I’ve been feeling. (See my last post, “What a Friend,” for more on that subject.)

I’ve spent hours moving the sprinkler around the past couple of weeks in hopes of helping my plants survive until it eventually rains. One recent morning, as I went out to turn the water on, my butterfly weed caught my eye.

“Just great. Now something’s been eating my butterfly weed.”

Merry Munchers

Then it dawned on me. “Something’s been eating the butterfly weed!” Sure enough, upon closer inspection, I spied a nearly-grown Monarch butterfly caterpillar methodically munching on one of the few leaves remaining on the plant.

Thrilled, I crossed the driveway to check the butterfly weed planted on the other side. Those plants were almost stripped bare, too, but there were three tiny caterpillars chewing through the tough remains.

My dear friend Susan Hunt refers to such encounters as “heavenly hugs,” those specific touches that remind us that God knows each of His children intimately.

Preoccupied

How could I have missed seeing the caterpillars earlier? I’m usually so observant when I’m in my garden, intentionally searching for treasures that I imagine my heavenly Father placing here and there, then watching with anticipation, waiting for me to find them.

The fact that I hadn’t seen the caterpillars when they first showed up was a clear indication of my gloomy state of mind as I focused instead on the heat, drought, and mosquitoes that were robbing me of the usual joy of being in my garden. Being deprived of that comfort made the other, non-garden concerns even weightier.

Refocus

Seeing the caterpillars reminded me that there had been other treasures in the previous weeks, including a cheerful volunteer sunflower planted by an unknown critter and daily visits from the feisty hummingbird that frequents the black-and-blue salvia near my front door.

A friend, knowing my struggles of the past few weeks, reminded me of the Apostle Paul’s directive in his letter to the Philippians, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8), which followed his mandate, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Our focus matters. The attitude of our hearts matters.

Regardless of our circumstances, God has not left us. He invites us to bring our concerns to Him, thankful for the evidence of His love all around us, confident that He will hear us and grant us His peace, peace unlike any the world can give.

Dear Lord, please enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may see your good gifts, reminders of Your great love for us, and a mere foretaste of our glorious inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:18).

Put Off and Put On

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:29-30 CSB

About this time each year, my crape myrtle starts falling apart. At least that’s what it looks like to those who don’t realize the exfoliating bark is one of the cherished characteristics of these beautiful trees. Watching the process reminds me of one of my favorite spiritual principles, that of putting off and putting on. So, once again, I will share it with you, dear readers.

Color Harmony

Throughout most of the years I worked for a large corporation, I held the role of colorist. As such, I developed, named, and presented new carpet color options to our customers. After all the time spent honing my skills at work, I relished the opportunity to choose the interior and exterior colors when we built our home in Georgia.

My late husband’s specialty was horticulture, an equally creative endeavor. When I chose a terra cotta color scheme for the bricks and shutters of our house, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be for him to select the must-have southern plant on our list – a crape myrtle.

Even so, being a skilled horticulturalist, Ray made an excellent choice. Unlike other cultivars whose pink or purple flowers would have clashed with our cinnamon-colored exterior and offended my color sensibilities, the creamy-white blossoms of the now-stately Natchez create a harmoniously floriferous cascade each summer. But the brilliance of Ray’s choice is most apparent in the fall, for it is then that the annual process of exfoliation occurs.

As summer wanes, cracks appear in the bark along the mighty trunk, signaling the coming changes. Soon, the cracks become fissures as the old skin lifts away from the tree before finally letting go entirely, falling to the ground in long, jagged shards. To the uninitiated observer, this series of events may be unsettling. How could such an extreme shedding of bark possibly benefit the plant? Yet that very act allows the trunk to increase its girth and grow stronger. Best of all, it reveals the most magnificent cinnamon-colored covering.

Ray saw the potential in the sapling he planted so long ago. He knew what it could become.

Putting Off, Putting On

There are several concepts that I consider to be spiritual touchstones. One such idea is that of putting off and putting on. In His analogy of an unclean spirit leaving a man only to return to its neat but empty former abode, Jesus made it clear it’s not enough to make a show of getting rid of sinful thoughts and behavior (Matthew 12:43-45). Instead, our repentance must be true, the kind that produces fruit in keeping with our profession of faith (Matthew 3:8), as we put on right thinking and conduct pleasing to God.

The Apostle Paul affirms this teaching in his letter to the Romans, where he encourages his readers not to conform to the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds (Romans 12:2). In his letter to the Ephesians, he goes even further. After admonishing them to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24), Paul goes on to provide specific examples of behavior to put off as well as corresponding replacements:

  • Put away falsehood and speak the truth. (vs. 25)
  • Let the thief no longer steal but perform honest labor. (vs. 28)
  • Do not use unwholesome language, but that which benefits and builds up those who listen. (vs.29)
  • Put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, and every form of malice. Be kind to one another, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. (vs. 31-32)

Refined By the Spirit

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, God already counts us as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), but the renovation process is far from complete. We are not yet holy as He is Holy, nor will our makeover be complete until Jesus returns. The Spirit is at work in us, transforming us with the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20).

At times, our refinement is painful as God strips away bits of our old nature. Our Savior suffered much (Isaiah 53:3-6). How better to know Him than to endure loss, sorrow, and persecution as He did (Romans 8:17)? Such challenges may cause outside observers or even believers themselves to question God’s methods, but we can trust the One who made us has a perfect plan to work all things together for our good and His glory (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).

Just as Ray knew what the crape myrtle could become, given sufficient time and proper care, God knows who He created us to be (Ephesians 2:10). Furthermore, He’s promised to complete the work He’s begun in us (Philippians 1:6) and never to leave or forsake us at any point in the process (Deuteronomy 31:8). The Helper will be with us to remind us of His promises, empower us to do His will, and enable us to persevere to the end (John 14:16-17, 26). On that glorious day when Jesus returns, our transformation will be complete. All vestiges of our sinful selves will disappear, and we will gather around the throne, our new selves robed in white, to forever praise our Redeemer King (Revelation 7:9-17).

Dear Lord, thank You that You are in the process of making all things new, including Your children. Thank You for sending Your all-powerful Spirit who is transforming us from one degree of glory to another until the day we fully resemble our elder Brother, Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Signs of Life, Reprise

/ Patsy Kuipers / Leave a comment

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Let All Creation Sing

Some years ago, I attended a horticulture conference where one of the speakers began her talk by saying, “Summer, fall, and winter are seasons. Spring is a miracle!”

I often think of her comment when we’re on the cusp of spring, anticipating the glorious bursting forth of foliage and flowers when all creation joins in a chorus of praise to the Creator, pointing us to Jesus’ resurrection.

Yet, even when I stroll my garden in the winter, weeks before the magnificent display of new life, I find signs of what will be. Leafless branches sport tiny buds, which will become the next season’s greenery. Flowering shrubs often set their buds months before they bloom. They sit patiently, awaiting the time of their awakening. After years of watching the cycle repeat, I confidently look forward to the beauty to come.

I find bulbs and seeds to be equally remarkable. They don’t look like much, but each holds the promise of what it will become. Given time and the proper conditions, even the tiniest of seeds will produce a towering tree with branches to provide shelter for nesting birds (Mark 40:30-32).

His Life in Us

The introductory verse above from Galatians affirms the status of those who believe in Christ as Savior. We are alive in Him. And though we will continue to struggle with sin as long as we’re in the flesh, God already counts us righteous because of Jesus’ sacrifice. The Spirit is at work within us, with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20), transforming us more and more into the image of the Son.

Just as the promise of what will be resides in buds and bulbs and seeds, we have the assurance that He who began a good work in us will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Aspirations

The first half of Acts chapter 4 describes an occasion when Jewish religious leaders arrested Peter and John, then summoned them to give an account of healing a crippled man (Acts 4:1-22). No matter how much the leaders threatened them, they boldly proclaimed the power of Jesus and His resurrection, giving Him full credit for their ability to heal.

Verse 13 has always inspired me:  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Emphasis mine.)

That’s me, common and ordinary, nothing of my own to boast about (Ephesians 2:8-9), but I want to look different – to captivate others with the beauty and aroma of Christ – because I’ve been with Him. 

Blessed to Be a Blessing

God chose a people for Himself, not to take them out of the world immediately, but to join Him in reconciling the nations to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

While we live as sojourners between the now and not yet, we’re called to manifest signs of the life of Christ in us, always ready to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Paul tells us we’re God’s workmanship in Christ and that He prepared good works for us to carry out (Ephesians 2:10). According to James, good works provide evidence of a faith that’s alive and well (James 2:14-26).

Likewise, the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control –  reflects our abiding dependence on the One who makes all things new, including us.

So, dear readers, won’t you join me in endeavoring to embrace and embody who we are in Christ so that our lives might bear much fruit for Him?

Dear Lord, what a gift You give us in the beauty of springtime when reminders of Jesus’ resurrection are all around us. Thank You for the assurance we have in Him that we, too, will be raised to eternal life. Until then, please help us exhibit unmistakable signs of His life in us to a world in need of hope.

Scuppy the Fern

/ Patsy Kuipers / 2 Comments

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17

The summer heat and humidity are finally beginning to loosen their grip on our little corner of the world. My grandchildren and I took advantage of the lovely weather a few days ago and went for a walk, our first one in recent memory.

I’m not sure if Joshua or I spotted it first, but there, in an overgrown patch next to the big sidewalk, as we’ve come to refer to the half-mile of concrete that stretches from their property to Main Street, was a unique fern.

As soon as I saw it, I wanted it. It was delicate and petite, unlike most of the exuberant ferns already sprawling in my woods. Lyla and Emma, ahead of us on their scooters, circled back to see what had caught our attention.

All of us agreed it was quite lovely yet apparently unnoticed or cared for by anyone else, given the state of its surroundings. A discussion ensued regarding whether or not it would be acceptable to rescue it. I initially said, “No, we don’t know who owns the property, but we do know it’s not ours.”

As we continued our walk, the rationalizations began, with each of us contributing to the debate.

“Maybe it’s in the right-of-way and will just get mowed down if we don’t save it!”

“If it is on someone’s property, I bet they don’t know or care that it’s there.”

“Let’s see if anyone is in the yard next door when we go back by. Then we can ask.”

Each time one of us would offer a new suggestion to justify digging it up, I would say, “We really shouldn’t.” Then we passed by it on our way back home. I looked longingly at the fern, and said, “I’ll ask Mommy. She can be my conscience.”

When my daughter Mary arrived home, Joshua told her about the fern, and I told her about our debate regarding its status, ending with, “I told the kids I’d let you be my conscience.”

Mary looked at me with an amused smile and an expression that said, “You already know the answer, Mom.”

I conceded, “You’re right. No digging! It’s not my property or my plant,” consoling myself with the hope of finding a grape fern (yes, Joshua and I looked it up) at a future native plant sale.

When I returned to Mary’s house several days later, Joshua could barely contain himself.

“Grammie! Guess what I found?! A fern like the one we saw on our walk. It’s in our yard!”

Sure enough, there, nestled next to the trunk of the Japanese maple not ten feet from their front door, was a grape fern. Joshua was adamant. “I want you to have it, Grammie. I know it will be happy in your garden.”

He handed me his trowel, and I proceeded to carefully dig up the tiny treasure.

“Thank you, Joshua! I’m glad we didn’t dig the other one up. Looks like God had one for us all along.”

Some might see the little plant as a reward for doing the right thing, but I don’t. Knowing we’ve made God-honoring choices is a reward in itself. Instead, I see it as a reminder that God is fully capable of providing whatever He deems is good for us. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10-11) and cares for the birds and the lilies (Matthew 6:25-33). We have no reason to covet, rationalize, and certainly not steal!

I’ll readily admit that I didn’t “need” the fern, but I can never have too many reminders of God’s steadfast, intimate love. He sees me. He knows me, you, and each of His children by name. And, like a loving Father, He delights in giving us good gifts (Matthew 7:11).  

Even though many of my plants have connections to special people or events, I don’t think I’ve ever named one, but we decided the fern deserved a name. According to Joshua, it needed to be inspired by grapes since it’s a grape fern. I chose Scuppy, short for scuppernong, grapes that have a special connection to my mom, which is a story for another time.

When others see Scuppy in my garden, they’ll see a delicate fern, but I’ll see a memorial. Not one as imposing as the one erected by the Israelites when they crossed over the Jordan River (Joshua 4:1-8), but a monument nonetheless. One that will remind me that God has already given the priceless gift of His Son and will not withhold any lesser thing that He deems good for us (Romans 8:32).