Planting the Seeds of Peace
I have a brown thumb. Actually, that's being generous. It's more like a thumb of death when it comes to plants. I've given up trying to grow anything because no matter how carefully I follow the instructions or how diligently I water and tend, most plants barely last a week before keeling over. My friends and family have learned not to gift me plants anymore, having witnessed too many botanical tragedies. Even my attempt at growing a supposedly unkillable miniature rosebush ended in disaster. (Who knew they could actually shrivel up and die from too much attention?)
Yet, despite my gardening failures, James 3:18 has been lingering in my thoughts lately: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The imagery here is powerful. Peace isn't described as something we manufacture in a crisis.
Partridges, Promises, and Peace
I never thought I'd write a devotion about partridges, but here we are. You see, I'd always pictured partridges as elegant birds, similar to doves. But when I saw a couple in my yard the other day, I was in for a surprise. These birds were round, more like a bowling ball than a dove. It got me thinking about how often our expectations don't match reality.
Consider the story of Sarah and Abraham, a tale of God’s unwavering faithfulness. Despite their old age and childlessness, God promised them a son. Sarah, in her disbelief, even laughed at the news. Yet, God kept His promise, and they were blessed with a son, Isaac. It wasn’t what they expected, but it was far better than they could have imagined.
The Power of Stillness to Refresh and Transform
Ah, the joys of automated technology and its misinterpretations! It never fails to surprise us with its unintentional comedy. The other day, I received a call on the automated announcement line from our beloved home church in South Carolina. Unfortunately, I missed the ring, and it went straight to voicemail. When I checked the message later, I laughed out loud. The visual voicemail system decided to have a little fun and mixed up "choir practice" with "quiet practice." Oh, the wonders of technology!