Don't Judge a Plant in Winter
Hi friends.
Since we bought a house in the dead of winter, it’s been an interesting experience watching things come back to life without having any frame of reference for how it was the year before. Several bushes that I thought were completely dead (and looked like they’d been dead for years) are now green and lush and very much not dead. In May I declared this bush dead and put it on my list to be ripped out, but thankfully I’m a slow ripper-outer because look at its pretty flowers! It turned out to be very much not dead.
Don’t we do that in life sometimes? We declare a relationship or idea or dream dead without giving it a chance? When life is hard it can be almost impossible to see anything but the very next moment and it often feels like the dreams are permanently dead… but what if they’re just dormant?
I don’t know what your story has been, but it feels like I’ve been in a life winter season for a long, long time. Recently my husband and I have been talking about plans for the future and some of my old dreams that I thought were ready-for-the-burn-pile dead are starting to have a bud or two sprout on the dry branches. Will they continue to bud and blossom and grow into a gorgeous bush full of life? Only God knows, but I’m thankful I didn’t toss them out completely.
In Isaiah 43 we see the Jews coming out of exile. God reminds them of who He is and what He has done for them throughout history, and tells them:
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.Isaiah 43:19
While those specific words were meant for the Jews in their particular situation (so don’t proof text it), over and over in scripture we see a God who makes things new. The gospel is the ultimate made new message.
I’m not talking about prosperity gospel stuff- some dreams need to and do die. But if we are seeking the Lord and we have long-standing a desire to do something that is in line with His word, maybe we shouldn’t give up on it so quickly even if it looks like nothing is happening. Maybe the dead bush isn’t actually dead, maybe it’s just a late bloomer.
Here’s to holding out hope for dreams to come true in His timing.
-Moriah
I’m listening to…
→ The Hidden Key to Powerful Prayer - Susie Larson Podcast
This episode for real changed my life last month. It’s worth your time.
→ Therapy and Theology - Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast
I love love love the Therapy and Theology episodes. It’s Lysa Terkeurst (who is a wealth of “life is hard” experiences that we can all relate to in some way), Jim Cress (Lysa’s licensed Christian counselor), and Dr. Joel Mudamalle (P31 Min Resident Theologian) and they get together to discuss issues and how therapy and theology intersect for the healthiest version of ourselves.
I’m reading…
I had no idea blood sugar regulation was so important, beyond the extreme situations like diabetes. Turns out, it can really affect how you feel from moment to moment throughout your day, and most of us need to give it some attention! This book gives clear education on why it’s important and simple steps you can easily implement to help.
While it would be foolish to say that all disease is because of emotions, there is evidence that emotions may very well play a part in how our bodies express genes and react to our environments. This book was so interesting, combining studies and anecdotal evidence around how “stuffing” emotions can show up as varying health conditions.
I’m loving…
→ The ocean
I’m sorry, I know you can’t buy it if it’s not near you, but if it is near you, you should take advantage of it. People pay money to go on vacation at it. Don’t take it for granted.
I’m cooking…
→ Sausage Boiled Dinner Soup
(Yes I made it up. Usually once a week or so we have what I call a “waste not want not” dinner where I use up whatever needs to be used. Sometimes it’s weird, other times it turns into a keeper recipe like this one.)
4 bratwursts
2 cajun sausages
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 head green cabbage, sliced thinly into shreds
6 carrots, sliced
2-4 potatoes, cubed
4 cups chicken broth
Salt & pepper
Slice up the sausages and cook them and the garlic and onions until the sausages are cooked through and the onion is soft. Add your veggies, broth, and salt and pepper and cook until veggies are soft, 20ish minutes.
→ Raspberry Mint “Lemonade”
Fresh mint, chopped
Handful of raspberries
Half a lemon, squeezed
Water
Salt
Stir it all up in your cup and enjoy a drink that makes your brain think you’re having fun but also won’t spike your blood sugar.