Invasion

The Leaves of  Ranuculus repens  Creeping buttercup

For the past several years I've been fighting  this low growing perennial, Ranuculus repens , Creeping buttercup, "opportunistic colonizers" according to Wikipedia. Many years ago I found this inconspicuous plant, which is usually in the woods,  hiding near the foundation of the house, mostly out of sight and out of the way. I didn't know it's identity and tenacity until it bloomed.

Yellow flowers appear this month to herald the invasion

 It has invaded the long border that faces south and seems not the same diminutive plant I see in the woods outside the gates of our garden. I guess this is how it is "opportunistic".Next thing I knew, being away from the long border for a while due to illness, it took over all.
For several years, not liking to apply herbicides, I've tried to dig out the roots to exterminate it. But it seems that, much like the bindweed, one little piece of root will propagate many more plants.

So I decide to cut some flowers and bring them inside. I watch them for a few days. They don't wilt. Every night they close up their petals and every day they open them up again, looking as good as they were the day before.

There is a sort of luminosity to them and every day they glow in my face. I guess this is what we did with buttercups as a child. We picked them and placed it under a friend's chin to "See if they liked butter" by the yellow glow on their skin. The buttercups were not invasive then, or so it seemed. But times have changed.

Believing that God is sovereign in all life, I ask, "For what purpose are they taking over the garden beds and what am I to do about it?" 

Perhaps they are a strange metaphor:

What creeps into our lives, unannounced and seems to take over without our even recognizing it until too late, starts to rule our lives and change it. Eradicating it seems hopeless. Can we ever bring something back to where it was or where we thought it was? I see this happening in all of life, our families, our community, our country, and even greater in the world. 

But by the grace of God:

• Keep a watchful eye around you.
• Be proactive.
• Look to the world and anywhere in your country and life where harm is creeping in.
• Pray fervently for grace, wisdom and eyes to be open for solutions, words and actions.

Where in your life can you ask for God's grace to redeem you so you can return to peace and His control which is the solution to tough problems?

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Jesus speaking to Paul
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" Paul 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

Peace Like a River

Sunday morning as we strolled out on the back deck to view the garden we saw an amazing sight. Rising from the northeast horizon, these high streaming clouds reminded us of a river. It was almost surreal like a warning or a message.

 We stopped to ponder the beauty and perhaps its reason, preparing us for our church service later that morning of self-examination.  Here are some thoughts:

1.        "Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18.
 Is it God’s warning to us of judgment for our disobedience as revealed in His Word the Bible?

2.        “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165.
 Is it encouragement to keep studying His word, the Bible, so we know what He desires of us?

3.      “For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.’” Isaiah 66:12
  Is it a chance to look at where I have anxiety (lack of peace) and where I stumble so I might humble myself to hear God’s remedy?

What would you glean?

Lions in our midst trying to destroy peace

"Daniel in the Lion's Den" by Briton Riviere 1892 (depicting Daniel 6:16-24)

picture in our home bought in Florida antique shop years ago

What is your reaction to this picture?

“The Lord is near. Be not anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5b-7

The messiness of the garden brings me no peace. A bank has been cut in preparation for another rock wall. Island time waits for everyone, but in the meantime there are piles of dirt everywhere and plumbing parts. Someone came yesterday to prepare forms for the footing. Other projects in the yard, waiting for help, are also unfinished. I have no peace when outside is a mess. I handle larger problems better but don't recognize the lions hiding behind anxiety in everyday life.

Although I have not experienced great persecution as believers elsewhere in the world who are suffering because of their faith, I have had a taste of what it might feel like. When regularly radiated for cancer, the technicians, because of my frozen shoulder, had to strap my arm to a post and move the post back . Every day for 8 weeks I experienced torture-like pain. I prayed silently for help. The Lord said, "turn your eyes on me, I care for you." So I sang to myself while the machine hummed. Soon, "the things of this earth became strangely dim." The lion of cancer did not destroy my peace here.

I ask Jesus,

•  "Why do I have such anxiety, lack of peace about the outside mess?"He says, "You're looking too much at the earth."
• What in my life are You pointing to? Where else have I experienced this lack of peace?" It is usually linked to a past difficult time. "Where Jesus were you then?" 

Listen closely to what he has to say. What truth do you hear from him?."You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32