Do Not Fear

I fell on the ice, hurt my right wrist, dusted off the snow while walking through the door, and started weeping, "Lord, it hurts so-o much, I am out of sick days and I don't know how I am going to work this physically challenging work.... Please, talk to me!"

I opened the bible randomly, and my eyes fell on verse 57, Lamentations 3,"You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear."

 

Photo credit: ryk_neethling. http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2010-11/editing-bible. 2014

Last Night's Storm

The wind is having a blast, I thought listening to the severe rattling of the windows in my room. I had the feeling that the glass will burst out any moment and cover my bed with sharp transparent daggers.

God is not the source of that storm, but He is my shelter in the midst of it. Isaiah 25:4 says, "…You are a refuge from the storm…"

"I will have peace in the midst of the storm, Lord, for you will protect me," I whispered and drifted back to sleep.

Photo credit: paul bica, impending storms, 2007. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dexxus/4670941507.2014

You Shall Live and Not Die

 

One look at my hibiscus made me stop in my tracks. The bright green leaves had turned yellowish and most of them had withered up. Bare branches stuck out of the main stem in grayish color.

"My hibiscus tree is dying!" I mumbled. It seemed only a few days ago it bloomed in enormous bright pink blossoms challenging the power of the fierce winter storm raging outside. Snuggled against the corner of my warm dining room the plant was full of life and promises. A bible verse from Proverbs 18:21 came to my mind, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

"In the name of Jesus I speak LIFE over this tree. It will live and not die!" I proclaimed boldly and walked away.

A few days later, sweeping the dead leaves, I decided to prune it. Scissors in hand, I looked closely at the branches.

They were covered with tiny green buds.

Photo credit: Sheba, John, Hibiscus Pink Macro-01, 2011, http://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/6016802186/in/pool-hibiscuspics, 2014