Christian Living

Blessings From God – Strangers in a Strange Land

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments
Tibouchina bush

Tibouchina bush

Here’s one that’s not usually from around here – but it’s adapted wonderfully. As I understand it, it’s more of a tropical or semi-tropical plant. So, the winters are cold enough in south Georgia that it dies back to the ground each year.

But, it comes back in the spring and forms a perfectly shaped bush with beautiful flowers. It continues to bloom for several months. In the picture below you can see the blooms, and the many buds that will follow behind.

Tibouchina flowers

Tibouchina flowers

Yet another example of being strangers in a strange land and blooming where you’re planted!

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13 ESV

And, we who are blessed with faith, by grace, have received the things promised. Yet, even though, like the saints of old written about in Hebrews 11,  we are still strangers and exiles on the earth, we are called to spread the blessings where we are.

Four Things I Discovered in a Year of Blogging

/ Bill Jones / 26 Comments

Sunflower and Butterfly Bush

Since I’m approaching the one year anniversary of my blog, and this month’s theme for the ChristianWriters.com blogchain is “Discovery”, I’m taking the opportunity to note a few things I’ve discovered along the way. They’re in no particular order, and presented as relating to life, not just blogging.

One blogging tip often given is to include a photograph. Over time, I noticed that blogs with photos do tend to get your attention quickly. Although I don’t think I have a special talent, I adopted the advice. When I did, I discovered I paid more attention to the intricacies and wonders of God’s creation. So, don’t just follow the cliche and stop and smell the roses:

1. We should stop and view the world around us as if looking for a great photograph that says: “Look what our God created and blessed me with!”

 “Views” are good – meaning someone at least stopped by your blog – but, you don’t know if they read it or just moved on. “Likes” are better and actually pretty neat. I take all that I get (naively, for a few I realize) as meaning someone did read the post, liked it and took the time to click the button.

But, I’ve discovered that the best of all are the real (non-spam) comments. The commenter read the post and thought about it enough to reply with an additional aspect, a word of thanks or a question. It also means they opened themselves up to possibly get a reply back – ie: open communication.

2. We build relationships by communicating. We should take the time and effort to do just that – with others around us and with God – that’s the best of all.

Some blogs have thousands of followers, and get thousands of “likes”. I’m nowhere near that level. At times, the low numbers of views, likes and comments can be discouraging and make me wonder if it’s worth it. Then, I get a comment to the effect of “Thank you, Bill. That’s just what I needed to read today”. And, then I can thank God, and rediscover that He has a purpose for me, and that day it was to write those specific words.

3. We should look for opportunities God gives us to write or say just the right words for someone each day. And, on the other side, when someone writes or says the right words for us, we need to let them know and encourage them.

4. In most things in life, especially relationships, it’s not how much or how many, but how deep.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 ESV

Please check out the other “discovery” blogs on the appropriate dates in the list on the right.

Blessings From God – Butterflies

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments

Joe Pye Weed with Butterflies

I’ve focused on blessings from God the last couple of weeks, and today I thought it worthwhile to continue. Here’s a photo of 4 large (and beautiful) butterflies on the Joe Pye Weed plant in one of the flower beds out back. God’s creation just amazes me constantly.

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;  we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalms 100 ESV

Blessings from God – Surprise Lilies

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Red Spider Lily, Hurricane Lily, Surprise Lily

I guess the official “common name” of this flower is Red Spider Lily.

Down here in the South, if you’re close enough to the coast to notice hurricane season, they’re sometimes called Hurricane  Lilies. Since they’ve been blooming over the last two or three weeks, they usually bloom at the height of hurricane season.

But, my favorite name is Surprise Lily. I don’t know if there’s an official reason for that name, but, several possibilities come to mind. One is the time of the season – everything’s winding down and more unexpected flowers arrive – surprise!

As you see, there aren’t any leaves that come up first to let you know there’s a flower on the way – it just shoots up from the ground – surprise!. And as you also see, it’s not in a bed, it’s just coming up in the middle of the grass. Each year more show up in new places – surprise!

So, I guess the theme of this one is more surprise blessings from God. More than we can even think.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV