Delay

In 2005 we took a senior mission trip to Europe.  There were four seniors, with me and my wife as sponsors.  It was just as cheap to fly out of Chattanooga as it was to drive to Atlanta and pay for parking for 2 weeks, so we flew out of Chattanooga thru Atlanta to Amsterdam, our final destination.  But Chattanooga is so close to Atlanta that Delta wouldn’t let the flight leave Chattanooga until there was a landing slot in Atlanta.  Our flight was delayed twice, but finally took off.  So, when we landed in Atlanta, our connecting flight to Amsterdam had already left.  What a bummer.  But as we stood at the ticket counter, our delay turned into excitement for the kids.  Since the delay was caused by Delta’s scheduling, it was their responsibility to get us to Amsterdam some way or another.  The ticket agent was thinking aloud, “Well, I could put you through Zurich, (the kids got excited) but there aren’t enough seats.”  Then the agent said, “I could get you to London, (more excitement) but the connection from London to Amsterdam is no good.”  These teenagers had never been out of the country and were excited at the prospects of seeing an extra European city, even if it was only for a couple of hours.  To the kids’ delight, we ended up going through Paris.  Delta made good on their promise to get us to our final destination safe and sound.  Hey, often we have delays and side trips in life.  Some delays are exciting but other delays are fearful.  Often, life doesn’t turn out exactly how we had planned it.  But God has promised to get us to heaven safe and sound.  That is His responsibility, and one that He takes seriously.  Paul said it best in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  You can trust God to see you safely through to your final destination - your eternal home.

Transparency

Kids are honest.  If they are hungry, they whine.  If they are afraid, they tell us.  If they think something is unfair, they say so right out loud.  But we adults have learned to control our emotions.  Well, kind of.  When we are hungry, we have learned to be patient and wait.  When we are afraid, we have learned to pretend not to be afraid.  We “whistle in the dark” and act as if nothing is wrong.  We learn to put up with unfairness and just keep it all inside.  As adults we have learned to be independent and strong.  But there is only so much “stuff” that we can keep inside.  Only so much that we can push down before it all comes out.  Paul said it best in II Co 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  If we will admit the harsh things in life, we can face them.  If we lean upon our heavenly Father, He will comfort us.  He has promised to be with us, right there in the midst of our struggles.  Hey, you can lean on the dear Lord.  You can be honest with God.  Don’t be afraid.  He’s right there.

Pruning Poinsettias

My son-in-law owns a greenhouse.  Alex and his brothers do a great job growing beautiful plants.  Spring bedding plants, summer ferns, fall mums, or Christmas poinsettias, South Central Growers is always a beautiful place to visit.  I like the machinery too.  I am fascinated with the automatic watering systems.  I like watching the seeding machine and the automatic plugger.  Amazing.  They have a machine that “shaves” the poinsettias.  A poinsettia will grow big and tall, but tall is not a desirable trait in a Christmas poinsettia.  Full and round is.  So, Ron Van Der Hengst sets the “pruner” to a height that leaves five or six lateral buds on the stem cutting off the terminal bud.  The remaining buds produce bracs that branch out making a gorgeous, full poinsettia.  The poinsettia is beautiful because of the pruning.  Jesus Christ said in John 15:1 & 2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman … every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”  Ron knows what he is doing when he prunes the poinsettia, and God knows what He is doing when He prunes on your life.  The good good Lord uses bad things that come into your life to make you a better person.  He knows exactly what He is up to.  You can trust Him … in the good times and in the bad times.  God uses everything for your good and for His glory.  So, don’t fight God.  Thrust Him and know that He is doing what is best in your life.