I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! [Ephesians 1:17-19 (The Message)]
I am not a gardener. I am, however, willing to get on my knees, get my hands dirty, and invest some sweat equity in doing whatever work it takes to help around the yard. My wife, Jackie, however, has a knack for knowing how to prepare and prune those areas which call for extra attention each year. This year’s lilies are evidence of this special gift she shares with our backyard:
The lilies are proclaiming their presence each day with an abundance of color, majestically positioning themselves with an upright posture, and leaning toward the sun for the energy that helps them thrive. This leaning is called phototropism – “the phenomenon of plants growing toward the direction of a light source” (https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/glossary). It’s a beautiful reminder for all of us to consider, as we seek to stand tall in our faith.
Who am I leaning toward? Who gives me intelligence and discernment? Who keeps my eyes focused and clear? Who is the source of endless energy, boundless strength?! Jesus, blessed Jesus! As I lean toward Jesus, I draw from this endless energy and boundless strength, so that I can…
Love unconditionally.
Follow obediently.
Learn continually.
Live faithfully.
Pray unceasingly.
Attend responsibly.
Give generously.
Serve sacrificially.
Witness unashamedly.
Keep leaning, my friends,
David
If you would like to view past editions of Driving with David, follow this link:
https://beacondistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/