Harvest

I am currently taking a Botany class at OU.  I went into this thinking that it would be a blow off class and I could make an easy grade.  What all do you need to know about plants anyway?  Well my first test grade sure proved me wrong.  Although the class is hard, and although I have never been much of a science person, I have learned some incredible things that strengthen my relationship with God because they are so mind blowing and creative.  My big, Alexandra is teaching me about the names of God, and God as the "Creator" is Elohim.  I am seeing "Elohim" constantly throughout this class as I marvel at the mysteries of the earth, specifically in plants. For instance, did you know that the seeds of an apple contain a small amount of cyanide?  This poisonous chemical can kill us instantly if we consume a lot of it.  However the main reason for this is to give off a bitter taste to animals when they try to eat the seeds.  This bitter taste forces the animal to spit out the seed which then provides the opportunity for the seed to be planted to grow into another apple tree.  Or, the fact that when bees stop at a plant to eat or drink, the pollen of the plant rubs off on the bee which is later transported elsewhere when the bee travels.  These processes are so amazing because they are natural yet they are the way plants reproduce and plants grow in other places.  The other day I asked my botany teacher if he believed in God.  His response was "no, I believe in evolution."  This comment frustrated me because the work of Elohim is so evident in the world around us.  But it really got me thinking about God's word and our job to transport it.  Just like bees, or birds, animals and insects, we receive the word and the message of what God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ.  It is up to us what we do with that word and it is our job to transport it to other people and places so that we can "reproduce," or grow a new plant.  If God hadn't created animals and insects to eat pollen or fruit, and if God hadn't created plants to give off a pollen or seed that could be transported, plants would die and they would go extinct.  Fruit wouldn't be produced.  God didn't create us to just sit around.  He created us to glorify Him and we do that by living our lives for Him and telling everyone around us.  We are the messengers.  The cells of a plant contain Messenger RNA which aids in the replication of cells.  The DNA in each cell replicates by the thousands every second! That is mind blowing.  What do you think the world would look like if we aided in the replication of new believers?  What if thousands were replicated every second?  "They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;"-Psalm 107:37


This applies to my life perfectly and it should all the time, however it is so funny to see how God teaches us things through our classes, the people we come into contact with, and everything else.  God is so much smarter then us!  God is so creative, fun, and loving!!  We are so blessed to have a father that laughs with us and carries us through life.  


One of the main things I have noticed about college is the difference in thinking.  In high school, we worry about who we will go to the prom with, what college we will get into, what people at our school think about us, and whether or not we are popular.  In college, the conversations and thoughts shift to what am I going to do with my life?  What if I don't get a job?  Who will I marry?  It is amazing to me how our cares and worries shift, just over a couple months.  Looking back on high school, I can see where God worked on me in certain areas of my life, what God brought me through, and the person I have become today and who I still am to become.  We have all been through this and we are all still living!  Jesus says in Matthew 6:28-34, "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  We are not to worry!!!  God will bring us through it!


A friend gave me this a few years ago and I constantly read it to remind myself of how much God wants to be in control of my life and that He promises to fulfill us when we seek Him.


The Perfect Love
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone; to have a deep soul relationship with another; to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.  But God, to a christian says, "no...not until you are satisfied with being loved by me alone; giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me; having an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone.  I love you, but until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found, you will never be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.  You cannot be united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of any other yearnings, desires or longings, and exclusive of anything or anyone else.  I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, stop dreaming and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing-one that you cannot even imagine!  Listen to me, I want you to have the best.  The very best!  Please allow me to bring it to you.  It is what I want to do for you.  You just keep watching me and expect all of the greatest things.  Keep listening and keep learning the things that I am telling you.  Then you just wait, that's all."  "Don't be anxious.  Don't worry.  Don't look around at the things others have gotten, or the things that I have given them.  Don't look at the things that you want.  You just keep looking up to me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.  And then, when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful then any you would ever dream of.  You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready- and by the way, I am working, even at this very moment, to have both of you ready at the same time- until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life that I have prepared for you, you will not be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me, and this, the perfect love.  I want you to have the most wonderful love.  I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with myself.  What you are looking for, the perfect love."


I love this because it not only applies to our relationship with a man or women, but it applies to everything in our lives.  The relationships we have with people, the jobs we have, the things we are involved in, but most importantly our relationship with Christ.  We don't have to worry about who we will marry, where we will work, or anything else because God already knows!  We must be 100% satisfied in Elohim or we will miss what He wants to give us.  My challenge to myself is to stop worrying about the problems of the world and start worrying about whether God is holding all of my heart.  I want the very best and He is the only one who will provide it.

911 Shelter

As a freshman, I've found myself frequently exploring the library and all of its secret places.  One of the first things I notice every time I enter, is that there are always people sleeping on the couches and chairs, no matter which way you turn.  I'm not talking about just sitting back with eyes closed.  I mean legit, sound asleep, sprawled out, sleeping.  This makes me wonder whether these people don't get enough sleep, or the couches are just that great.  Or perhaps the library is a place of refuge, or a place to renew strength before another class.  Maybe it is the only place in their life that is 100% quiet once you enter, problems are left outside the door.  Then I remembered Psalm 91:1.  "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  

As I enter this new stage of my life, I find myself constantly having to remind myself of this verse. Running from class to class, and event to event, my life seems to become very loud and chaotic. Just like the library, I need a place to run too that will offer me peace and rest.  The answer?  I have to dwell in the shelter of my heavenly father.  The definition of a shelter is a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger.  A "shelter" that provides safety and peace, like a library.  We turn to our shelter in our emergencies and problems.  Ironically this verse is 91:1 or "911."  How many times do you feel like you need to call 911 on your life?  What problems or things are you holding on to that are making your life loud?  My challenge to myself and everyone this week is to seek your shelter.  God is waiting for us with open arms to come running to Him and find rest.