God's Bouquet

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: Luke 12:28, "And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"(NLT)

Devotion:
My mother-in-law owned a flower shop years ago. She enjoyed putting together gorgeous bouquets of mixed flowers, each one bringing a special smell, color, texture, or shape to the creation. Each flower different, yet each one contributing to the overall effect.

She explained that you have to treat each type of flower differently in order for it to do as well as possible. For example, daisies and mums have to have their stems hammered in order to absorb the water in the vase. Delicate roses have to be gently cut at an angle and placed immediately in warm water. Other varieties do well with a simple straight cut.

She said it occurred to her one day as she worked that people are a lot like those flowers. We're all created differently—all uniquely beautiful and designed to contribute something to God's bigger picture, His beautiful arrangement in His kingdom here on earth. Some of us need to be pruned a little more arduously to reach our maximum potential. Some of us are hardy to begin with and need to be softened--maybe even hammered. And some of us have to be handled gently if we're to thrive. The Lord knows the conditions under which we'll flourish for Him.

How true! And when we yield to the Master Florist's techniques, He carefully places us in exactly the right spot among others who are different enough to allow all our special variations to blend, but shine through and be appreciated. He arranges us where we compliment each other and come together to be a part of something breathtakingly beautiful.

Father God, thank you for creating each of us uniquely. Thank you for caring for each of us in the special way that will bring us to our maximum potential in the beautiful bouquet of Your kingdom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: Have you found yourself asking God "Why?" lately? Put your trust in the hands of the Master Gardner who knows exactly what you need in order to fulfill your highest purpose.

Power Verses:
Matthew 6:28-29, "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."(NIV)
Isaiah 35:1-3, "Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees."(NLT)
Song of Solomon 2:12, "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land."(NIV)

***Special thanks to my mother-in-law, Chalice Baier, for the Good Word that led to this devotional. :-)