Wildflowers

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:12). 

In late Spring Trish, my wife, and I spent a week travelling in our State's mid-west. For me this was a bucket list trip. It was the peak wildflower time ..

I've always loved the outdoors; there is a popular expression: "the great Australian outdoor way of life", and this is me, and Trish, and our children and now, their young and growing families ..

..

You can see why we are world famous for wild flowers here, such glory. So reflective of our generous creator God.







.
.

.







As soon as the soil type changed, or even the way the land slopes towards the sun, or is able to retain the rain's moisture, the varieties change .. a constant parade of never-seen-before delicacy and beauty.









.
.
.

.









"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1).











.
.

Late Winter and Spring were unusually rainy this year. This meant that those parts of our vast State where wildflowers bloom late were especially well blessed. They flourished and we rejoiced in the beauty. We stayed in Moora, Canamah, Jurien, Coomalo.










.
,

"Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever" (Isaiah 55:13).





..

Trish can only get away in school holidays so we had to wait until very late September and early October for our adventure. Where we went, this was the best time to visit this year. Such amazing variety, such awesome beauty.



..
..

"As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes" (Psalm 103:15).













..

..







The hundreds of species were scattered so randomly, casting seed, their babies growing together, even sharing root-space sometimes, stunning ..












..

We would stop the car to check out a flower and be delighted to find ten or fifteen different kinds within a few steps. Each uniquely different. So beautiful, planted by God Himself for His own joy. Probably no-one else stopped just there all year long!










..
..

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12).






..
..

..
..

..
..

We had planned a driving holiday and stayed in four places. But if you knew the best spot for the time of your trip, you could easily spend a whole week in one place, just wandering around. So awesomely variable, such explosive growth.









..
..

"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy" (Psalm 96:12).










..
..

These meadows and roadsides are not lush or luxuriant like rainforests. I was always aware that these millions of plants are really tough. This is low rainfall country and these lovely, and often delicate looking, plants and shrubs have to fight to establish themselves and to endure. I was just so aware that I was looking at pictures of Christian life .. Beautiful, not always easy, having to push through, to hang on, and to persevere .. But, nevertheless, a glory to Jesus!







..
..

"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these" (Luke 12:27).











..
..

..
..

They were scattered so randomly, casting seed, their babies growing together, even sharing root-space sometimes, stunning ..










..
..

"My beloved is to me a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of En-gedi, famed for its fragrant shrubs" (Song of Solomon 1:14).











..
..

..
..

..
..

..
..

Some were so very delicate while others seemed to be tough to survive in our sunburnt country, robust, even spiky like desert plants ..







..
..

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.   In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind" (John 1:1-4).




..
..

..
..

..
..

..
..

..
..

..
..
Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Permalink

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2017/11/wildflowers.html

Amen.

Fallow

Being Refreshed

(Exodus 23:10-11)
"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie fallow, un-ploughed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat".

A Picture Came To Me At Church:
There, in the sunlight, is a field. It is scraggly and uncared-for. Different kinds of plants grow there, some with bright flowers. Many are weeds. Butterflies, bright and busy, fill the air.

I asked our Lord: "Jesus, is this field just going to waste? Why is this land abandoned instead of being worked? Is this as a sign for some of us here? What does it mean?"

Jesus Was Saying:
"See this field? It may look abandoned, like waste ground, but it is fallow. A fine crop was harvested here, now it has a different kind of life; it may seem very random and messy, but this is good. It is part of my plan. This field is resting, it is being refreshed.

The butterflies and birds and small creatures can use the land and feed from it. Worms are attracted to this soil because it contains what was left after the harvest. Soon the ground will be ready for a new crop, that harvest will be greater because the field was allowed to be fallow".

That day in church this word from Jesus spoke clearly to a number of us. Some had seen that their ministries had changed and were showing little fruit. Others had come to the end of something in Christ, and did not know what the Lord had planned for them. We were all encouraged. Fallow is good.

Favourite Bible Verses:

(Colossians 3:12)
Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance.

(James 5:7-8)
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Thank you, Jesus.

• Permalink to web page

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/05/fallow.html

"Fallow" is now a podcast on Spotify under PsalmsOfJohn

• Public link to podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1evw9CqFVpErg6qj0VVeJU

Bless you. Bless us all.