Cows Across the Road
I’m assuming these are a sight for winter in this field. Since our neighbor put in a pivot irrigation system a couple of years ago, I imagine he plans to move the cows somewhere else and plant something that can be irrigated. Either way, some of the cows were interested in me, too.
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.
Sometimes we don’t notice what’s around us.
Digital cameras have made field engineering easier these days. I work as an electrical power engineer and a few years ago had to make detailed notes in the field so I could remember what equipment and hardware were on the individual poles. But now, I can take a hundred pictures if needed to get all the details. The digital part makes it easy and economical to click away.
However, as things get easier, we do have to remember to pay attention to the details and watch what’s going on – or we may miss something. As I checked on this pole’s photo I noticed what I had missed. As you can see, it’s a beautifully clear jet vapor trail. I had not noticed it when “clicking away”.
It’s easy, in this busy world, to get caught up in just being busy (and with the focus above, digital devices can make that worse instead of better). We can develop tunnel vision and miss what is important – miss out on opportunities that God gives us to serve Him and others. So, as we look around, focusing on what we think is important, we need to ask “what else is in this scene that I need to be aware of?” We could be missing a blessing from God.
“Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear.” Isaiah 42:20 NKJV
Spider Lilies, or Surprise Lilies, or Hurricane Lilies
Here’s one group of this year’s Spider Lilies. (Also known as Surprise Lilies or Hurricane Lilies).
You can see where the Spider comes from. I read some on the Surprise name – one thought is that they spring up just as a flower first, so you don’t see them coming, or they pop up in different places they weren’t in before. Hurricane denotes the time of year they bloom – and there’s even a tropical storm in the Gulf whose remnants are supposed to come through here in the next few days.
They are certainly ever faithful year after year – and new ones show up each year all over the beds and even in the yard. Reminded me once more of the wonderful passage from Lamentations. It makes it clear why we should hope and trust in the Lord.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV
Jasmine in Bloom
A “sweet savor” isn’t a common twenty-first century phrase used to describe good smells – but it would appropriately describe the wonderful treat that greets Sharon and me when we go outside these days. The confederate jasmine is in full bloom and super full fragrance. It doesn’t matter which door we exit – the pleasing aroma from the one vine comes over the top of the house or around the corners to reach us.
The phrase is common in the Bible, though, especially in Leviticus. That’s where we get details of the sacrifices required under the Law. The burnt offerings were made “for a sweet savor unto the Lord”. Since God is a spirit (John 4:24), there must be something spiritual about the use of the phrase, rather than an actual physical smell.
We get some insight in Hosea 6:6, when God says: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings“. And, again when Jesus refers to that verse in Matthew 9:13: “But, go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance“.
So, like many things in the Bible, it comes back to the attitude and “heart not just head” perspective (ex: See Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13). God desires we show mercy to others, and know and obey Him rather than just perform the rituals. Jesus didn’t come to call to repentance those who think they’re righteous, but those who know they are sinners.
Our sacrifices to God are not burnt offerings anymore, but our praise, prayer, thanksgiving, obedience and worship are what we offer. And, from reading the verses above, those are what God was looking for all along. However, the burnt offerings were also important back then, or God would not have instituted them. One purpose was to show those making the offerings that they weren’t long lasting – as soon as they finished one, they began preparing for the next. (Perhaps the “sweet savor” was a reminder of that constant need, and God’s “heart” requirements to the people who smelled it).
But, the main purpose was to picture Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He would make (and now has made) for His children. All the many purposes of the different offerings were fulfilled in Jesus. And, there is no more need for any physical sacrifice – He has fulfilled that once and for all.
So, perhaps, we can let the aromas of the jasmines, the roses, the comfort food on the stove, and (add your favorite here)be a sweet savor to remind us to sacrifice our love (from the heart not just the head) to Christ, and remember always what He has done to save us.
“he (Jesus) entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption (for us).” Hebrews 9:12 ESV
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 