Today our writings return with a post entitled "DIE TO LIVE." Jan writes from the perspective of a seed in the first paragraph, and then reflects those same thoughts from the perspective of herself in the following paragraph. See if you can follow along with each sentence/thought in each paragraph mirroring the other, the first being a total metaphor for the second.
We pray that the WFM retreat has gone well this weekend (which is why there were no posts for several days!). May your days be blessed by our writings again as they resume this week.
Blessings,
Jan and Corinne
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Today's Devotional:
"DIE TO LIVE"
by
Jan Andersen
I am just a lowly seed. I came from the fruit of a plant that has deep roots. My tiny form has a hard outer shell, but inside I am actually kind of soft. I don't feel very pretty, especially compared to those beautiful flowers praising the sun that smell so sweet, or the ripened fruit on the branches that taste so delicious. And now I am dirty as well, having fallen to the ground, surrounded by the rotting meat of the fruit from which I came. I am dying within as I am buried in the decomposing dirt. But that fertilizer causes a miracle to occur as my thick outer shell falls away. Water seeps in and my insides swell, sending tentacles downward to soak up more, and shoots push upward through the earth that has covered me. My shoots become branches, reaching to the sky, flowering profusely and producing good fruit. I have struggled from being a mere seed to becoming a worthwhile plant, providing food to the world around me. Even though I died as a seed, I live again as a beautiful plant, thriving in the sun!
I am just a lowly person. I came from a family that has deep roots. My hard outer shell that I have developed protects my vulnerable inner self, that soft soul within me. I don’t feel very pretty, especially compared to those beautiful people I see on TV or in magazines. My life hasn't always been that pretty either when I see all the mistakes I have made in the past. At times I feel dirty and as though I have fallen into a deep pit, surrounded by the rotten choices I've made. I am dying within as I am buried in sin. But God uses all my experiences like fertilizer to enrich my life. A miracle begins to occur as my hard outer shell falls away. God, out of his great mercy, chooses to forgive me for all things in my past, no matter how big or small. Faith was planted in my heart through the waters of baptism, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit. I study his Word in the Bible to soak up more understanding and to keep me rooted in God. My arms raise up like branches in praise toward the heavens. My hands bear fruit by doing good works out of thanks to God for all he has done. These works provide a witness to the world, and the struggles I experience make me grow so that I can help others around me. Even though I died to sin, I live again in Christ, thriving in the Son!
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for creating and planting me in this world, watering my soul with faith through your Holy Spirit, and rooting me in Christ, Jesus, who bore my sins on the cross! Help me to daily die to sin and live for righteousness. May I produce good fruit and be a good witness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Grow in Grace and Knowledge!
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Prayers are lifted up daily for
you by the Devotional Writers
and the Monthly Writing Staff
of Women's Focus Ministries.
Blog Writers:
Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Collette Phillips, Cathy Friberg, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors:
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,
Lisabeth Lipp, and Nandita Bhatnagar
Wow! What a tremendous article. Thank you!
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