Hibiscus Plant
This Hibiscus plant is one of our favorites every year. It continues to put out blooms all summer long. During the winter it dies back to the ground and leaves a skeleton of dead branches. But, in early spring, the new shoots begin to show above the ground and by the end of spring it’s grown back to this size. Amazing how God brings life back to it!
It reminds me of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, as God gave us a picture of His power to give life to the dead – such as with us sinners who were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), but now live through Jesus’ sacrifice.
“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones…he said to me, “son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD… So I prophesied as I was commanded…and the bones came together…and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them…and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army” Ezekiel 37:1-10 ESV
By the power of God, we live!
I’ve been reading a book by Richard Blackaby called The Seasons of God that is due out in August. He talks so often about this cyclical way that God is at work in us, in our relationships with others, in our faith, in our ministries. We can allow Him to take any season of deadness and lead us to a season of new life.
Thanks Heather – I definitely see the cycles in my life, and the “down” portion is always when I’m not trusting and following Him. Sounds like a good book.
Great post! I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Congratulations! You can read more about it at faithrises.com. 🙂
I love the promise of “new birth” portrayed by plants.
Thanks, Jo – me too. One of the wonderful things in gardening.
This is one of your “great posts worth seeing” that shows up when you LIKE one of my posts. 🙂
Thanks Christine – I wasn’t aware of that – I’ll have to look closer because I don’t remember seeing that info coming from others who “like” mine.