Flowers for the Living

Tonight  my daughter and I were going through boxes of pictures and memorabilia belonging to my mother-in-law, who is very ill. We recently moved her things out of her apartment after she had to be put in a nursing home. My husband asked us to look through the family pictures and find some of his mother through the years.  As we were sorting through the pictures and items that were dear to her, we found cards that she had received from her loved ones.  Several were from her son, Tom, who passed away years ago. I noticed he had written several notes of love and encouragement to his parents on many occasions telling them how much he loved them and what they meant to him. How wonderful that he expressed his thankfulness and gratitude to them while he had the opportunity.  He let them know that they had been great parents and he appreciated their sacrifice to provide for their six children.

Reading my brother-in-law's cards and notes made me ponder the importance of showing our love to people while we can. I remembered the phrase, Give Flowers for the Living. We do not hesitate to send flowers when someone dies to express our affection or say wonderful things about them at their funeral. But, often we regret that we didn't tell them how much they meant to us.

Flowers for the Living are those gifts of friendship, joy, gratitude, encouragement, and sharing given in appreciation. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I thank God for you…whenever I think of you.  My constant prayers for you are a real joy, for they bring back to mind how we have worked together for the gospel from the first.”  Paul sent his flowers in the form of a letter. Mary brought her flowers to Jesus in the alabaster box of ointment and anointed him. The flowers that you give may come through a kind word, freshly baked pie, or even a gentle touch.

Henry Ward Beecher was pleading for Flowers for the Living when he said, “Do not keep alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead.  Fill their lives with sweetness, speak approvingly, and cheer them with words and deeds while their ear can hear them and their hearts be thrilled by them.”

Let's send our Flowers for the Living and release the wonderful fragrance of love and friendship!

The Heart

This is my first time to have a blog. When I was choosing a name for my blog page I wanted to express the importance of applying the nuggets and truths in the Bible to our lives in order to live happily in every area of our lives. Of course, that includes the issues of our heart.  I remembered the scripture in Proverbs that says that the heart is the "wellspring of life." (Prov. 4:23)

Wellspring - a source of abundant and continual supply

Heart – the center of one’s being; feelings, emotions, character, devotions

Our heart can be an indicator of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It is the fountain of life for our mind and body. We are instructed to "guard" our hearts. Whatever you allow in your life and mind can effect your well being. It will bring life or destruction, good or evil, success or failure,  and even sickness or health. Don't let your heart become a dumping ground for anything and everything.

God wants us to guard our heart so rivers of living water will flow through us. Your heart is the fountain of life for your mind and body. Make sure you only allow Godly things to be planted in your spirit. You must be selective as to what you allow your eyes to see and your ears to hear, because it will end up in your heart. Keep the river of God flowing purely and do not polute it or you will become bitter, sick, or spiritually dry. A healthy heart is a happy heart!

Proverbs  4:23  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalms 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer

Source of our Wellspring

Jesus is our Source of Living Water – Our Wellspring of Life

John 7:38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus said that whoever believes in Him will have living water flow out of his heart. We have an unending source of His love, mercy, grace and everything we need to live a happy life.

John 4:10
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

In this passage, Jesus approached a woman in Samaria and asked her to draw him a drink from the well. Then he offered her a drink of "living water." He told her whoever takes a drink of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. Jesus is our unending source of living water--our wellspring of life. You can come to Him just as you are! Don't be hesitant to come because of your mistakes and sins. He will love you just like you are and wash you clean with His living water that will fill your soul with peace. 

In Bible days, the Jews did not associate with Samaritans.The Samaritan woman was astonished that Jesus, being a Jew, even approached her. Jesus will receive you with open arms, no matter who you are or what you have done. She was living with a man that was not her husband and had been married five times previously. This did not surprise Jesus. He was aware of her lifestyle and offered her a new life.  Come to Jesus today and let Him give you the Living Water!

Jeremiah 17:13
LORD, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.

In Jeremiah, we see that the only way to cut off that wellspring of living water in your life is to "forsake" the Lord.  It is your choice.  Choose life today!