Tag: #nature

Purpose in the Pain

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I look forward to spring flowers and sunny days kayaking in this season of cold and wintry conditions. Even though the first snow excites me, I miss running. There are reasons to appreciate all seasons. It is the same with life. I realize that if I had not been in the valley, at times, I might not have appreciated the mountaintop experiences as notably.

The valley also helps us learn to depend on God. It may seem the opposite of our nature, but thanking God during those seasons is beneficial. We can blossom even during the off-season if rooted in His Word, allowing it to cultivate the spiritual soil for ultimate growth.

Similarly, God designed the flower to reach its full potential through proper preparation. Its cycles are fascinating. Before we plant flowers, we must cultivate the soil and prepare it to receive the seed for ultimate growth. If the ground is too hard, the seed won’t take root.

The Avas Flowers site explains the cycles of a flower’s life:

Seed Stage: Every seed has a miniature plant that needs the proper nutrients to begin new growth. Some seeds can still grow after many years if they are correctly kept.

Germination: A seed in the earth will need warmth and water to grow. Some even need light at this stage. The seed will absorb water to split the outer shell, opening it up to a transformation as it begins to sprout a stem. The tiny root begins to push its way down as it grows. According to this article, seeds have different needs; some need to go through a fire to sprout, while others go through the stomachs of animals.

Growth: When the leaves begin to form, they convert energy from sunlight and water along with other nutrients to use as food. The root system uses the food to continue to develop, anchoring the plant into the ground, and uses root hairs to absorb water and nutrients. The stem is used to reach toward the light as it sends water and food to the roots and leaves. Then the buds begin to develop to later produce the beautiful blooms we so enjoy.

Reproduction: As the bud forms, it has a tiny but complete flower. Over time, the bud opens and blossoms into a mature flower.

Pollination: Flowers depend on insects, birds, animals, wind, and water to carry pollen from flower to flower. Without pollinators, they could not produce more seeds or new plant life. Even flowers that can’t make their pollen rely on and benefit from other plants during cross-pollination, resulting in more vigorous plants.

Spreading Seeds: This is the final stage in many ways. The wind can scatter the seeds, and the fur of animals, such as humans, water, etc., can carry the seeds to other locations. But a new plant life cycle begins once the seeds fall to the ground.

Consider the God-given design and the little details for a flower to grow, bloom, and thrive. Now, think about how we are designed. Cultivating the hard ground to prepare for the seed is like God cultivating our hearts – if it is still a hard and stony heart, the seed won’t take root. It must be rooted in fertile soil and be fed the right messages of His truth to grow to its full potential.

The roots send nutrients through the stem so it can stand firm to produce the bloom. We also need to be rooted deep in the Word to be fed and stand firm against the enemy to deliver the kind of fruit pleasing to the Creator.

The flower needs the sun’s light to flourish, just as we need the light of the Son in our lives. When we bloom where we are planted, God can use us no matter where we are if we stand tall and look to Him. He supplies the living water of the Spirit to nourish us and help us grow to our full potential into the beautiful bloom He created us to be.

We can grow better if we surround ourselves with suitable pollinators (Christian friends). At times in our lives when we cannot self-pollinate, we have others to lift us and help us through to the other side. It has been said that we are the average of the friends we hang out with the most. In that case, we need to find friends like what we want to become. Otherwise, we will be taken over by weeds, smothered, and eventually wilt.

There is a full- complete flower inside all of us waiting to bloom in the light of Christ’s love. Some of us go through the fire to get there; everyone goes through different experiences that lead us to Christ. But our life experiences help us relate, and we can share our story to assist others by spreading the seeds and message to direct others to Christ and, ultimately, the Kingdom.

Some of the most challenging seasons in our lives bless us and others the most, depending on how much we allow God to use them.

Food for thought:

What if the thing you are going through is preparing you for a bigger purpose?

Matthew 3:18-32

(Parable of the seeds)

Propel Forward

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Kayaking on a serene lake has been a vision of mine for a few years. Not knowing how to kayak alone kept me from making it a reality until recently. While strolling through the Lexington Parks & Recreation website, I stumbled upon an introduction to kayaking class at Jacobson Park. I eagerly signed up. This was the perfect opportunity.

After being instructed on land, I embarked on my maiden voyage with a few other participants, each in a brightly colored teal or red vessel. Landing my bum in the seat was not a graceful act by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did manage it and began to focus on the technique our instructor gave us.

After several minutes of ensuring we were secure, she turned us loose on the lake to roam at leisure and try our new skills. I headed for the other end of the lake to a cove filled with many kinds of waterfowl.

To propel forward at the smoothest pace possible, focusing on the paddling technique, which did not come naturally, was critical. As I improved my new skills, my body began to sway from side to side with each stroke, creating a motion I still feel when I close my eyes and imagine I am on the lake. It is a tranquil place to be.

I realized afterward that everything else on my mind that morning had vanished as I peacefully made my way across the quiet waters, focusing on my technique so that I could do my best to master the new skills and enjoy the journey.

Isn’t that what we are called to do in life? Focus on improving ourselves and being our best for God instead of looking at the mistakes of others, pointing fingers, and complaining. When I am focused on my flaws, improving myself, and trying to please God daily in my words and deeds, I don’t have time to criticize others. This makes the journey more enjoyable in light of God’s grace and love as I try to master these new techniques and learn to love others well.

God is not done. He is always working. He has the final say. I am a work in progress, and so are you. I have more peace at the end of the day when I show others the grace that God has shown me and work to please God, not people. That is the best way to propel our relationship with Christ forwardand experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

The kayaking class was an outstanding experience that gave me the confidence to go again, hopefully in the not-so-distant future. God gives us strength in our weakness, courage to overcome fear, and the God-confidence we need to embrace who He created us to be.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7, ESV, emphasis added).

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, NLT, emphasis added).

Migration

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Elephants have always been very prominent in my life. Even as a child I loved them. Not that I had one for pet or anything. I just thought they were fascinating. I am not completely sure why I was drawn to them, but I was. I let them go for a little while and now they have marched back into my life with exponential meaning.

I sought out some interesting facts about them after I noticed them more often. Did you know the male and female herds do not stay together, for the most part? The female herd is led by the matriarch until she dies. Then her oldest daughter or a sister takes her place at the front of the line.

The older females are known to be full of wisdom and great at leading herds away from potential dangers. In other words, they are mature female leaders of the pack with abundant knowledge on helping the younger elephants survive in the wild.

Their large ears aid them in hearing the call of another elephant from their herd. In fact, they can hear the distress call from over five miles away, as well as any predators that could threaten their young ones.

Aren’t we supposed to do the same thing as mature adult women of Christ? We can lead other women to the truths of God’s word, share our wisdom, experiences and lead our friends, family, and young girls away from potential dangers of this world.

If we could use our own keen sense of hearing on God’s voice and be obedient to His call, we can show up when others need our help and support them through Christian love. The best leaders are those who are servants first, to Christ and then to others by putting their knowledge into action and setting good examples as role models.

I wrote this some time ago, but recently watched the new Disney Nature series on Elephants- I highly recommend it. God’s design and attention to detail is fascinating. In fact, as we search for wholesome things to watch, this Disney series has been a go-to recently; we also watched the series on dolphins and bears.

One common theme I noticed, is that all of them have a migration period. Even butterflies and birds of all kinds, including geese, migrate as well, although I have not watched any documentaries on those yet. Whether it is to find food, warmer temps, safer living quarters…etc. It is in their nature to migrate. They all take their young ones along, teaching them and protecting them along the way. The journey is not always easy. They incur battles and trek through all kinds of treacherous territory on their way to a better place.

Aren’t we also migrating? We are seeking a better place as we migrate towards Heaven. Sometimes our path is treacherous, and we have battles to fight along the way. We teach and protect our young on the journey of life. We have mountains to climb and valleys to go through but there are many meadows, places of rest, playful times as well. We can enjoy the journey knowing where we are headed.

Some of the animals have made the trek before but others trust and follow their leaders. I hope I can lead others on the journey towards Christ…towards something better. This life is temporary- it is not our true home. Let us migrate and enjoy the journey as we all trust and follow the ultimate leader.

“Wherever you go, I will go; where you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:16

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

References sited: Thoughtco

https://www.thoughtco.com/10-facts-about-elephants-4134152

A Flower’s Life

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Let’s look at the life of a flower and how it reaches the beautiful blooming stage that we all enjoy. Before we plant flowers, we need to cultivate the soil and prepare it to receive the seed for ultimate growth. If the ground is too hard the seed won’t take root.

Seed Stage: Every seed holds a miniature plant inside that needs the right nutrients to begin new growth. Some seeds are still capable of growth after many years if they are properly kept.

Germination: A seed in the earth will need warmth and water in order to grow. Some even need light at this stage. The seed will absorb water to split the outer shell, opening it up to a transformation as it begins to sprout a stem. The tiny root begins to push its way down as it begins to grow. According to an article I read, seeds have different needs; some need to go through a fire in order to sprout while others go through the stomachs of animals.

Growth: When the leaves begin to form, they convert energy from sunlight and water along with other nutrients to use as food. As the root system uses the food to continue to develop, anchoring the plant into the ground and uses root hairs to absorb water and nutrients. The stem is used to reach toward the light as it sends water and food to the roots and leaves. Then the buds begin to develop to later produce the beautiful blooms we so enjoy.

Reproduction: As the bud forms, it has a tiny but complete flower inside it. Over time, the bud opens and blossoms into a mature flower.

Pollination: Flowers depend on insects, birds, animals, wind, and water to carry pollen from flower to flower. Without pollinators, they couldn’t produce more seeds or new plant life. Even flowers that can’t produce their own pollen, rely on and benefit from other plants during the cross-pollination process, resulting in stronger plants.

Spreading Seeds: This is the final stage which is done in many ways. The wind can scatter the seeds, the fur of animals can carry the seeds to other locations, humans, water, etc. But once the seeds fall to the ground, a new plant life cycle begins again.

Consider the God-given design and the little details that take place for a flower to grow, bloom and thrive. Now think about how we are designed. Cultivating the hard ground to prepare it for the seed is like God cultivating our hearts- if it is still a hard and stony heart, the seed won’t take root. It must be rooted in fertile soil and be fed the right messages of His truth to grow to the full potential.

The roots send nutrients up through the stem so it can stand firm to produce the bloom. We also need to be rooted deep in the word to be fed and stand strong against the enemy to produce the kind of fruit that is pleasing to the Creator.

The flower needs the light of the sun to flourish just as we need the light of the Son in our lives. When we bloom where we are planted God can use us no matter where we are if we are standing tall and looking to Him. He provides the living water of the Spirit to nourish us and help us grow to our full potential, into the beautiful bloom He created us to be.

If we surround ourselves with the right pollinators (Christian friends) we can have a better chance of growth. At times in our lives when we are not able to self-pollinate, we have others to lift us up and help us through to the other side. It has been said that we are the average of the friends we hang out with the most. In that case, we need to find friends who are like what we want to become. Otherwise, we will be taken over by weeds and smothered and eventually wilt.

There is a full- complete flower inside all of us waiting to bloom in the light of Christ’s love. Some of us go through the fire to get there, everyone goes through different experiences that lead us to Christ. But it is our life experiences that helps us relate and we can share our story to help others, by spreading the seeds and message to lead others to Christ and ultimately the Kingdom.

Matthew 3:18-32

(Parable of the seeds)

(Reference: https://www.avasflowers.net/the-stages-of-the-flower-life-cycle)

The Truth in a Nutshell

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Let’s get straight to the point. God is bigger than ALL of this! Anything to the contrary comes from a place of fear and panic and is nothing but diabolical.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) God has always provided. He will continue to provide and protect His people. This is the same God who shut the mouths of lions. God is not the author of confusion and chaos.

Let us be the calm in the storm. Let us sing praises to His name and be grateful for the little things we usually take for granted. Don’t drink the chaos Kook-aid, ya’ll. (I am pretty sure that is a long, lost proverb.) We can be smart, stay safe and not be fearful.

No matter what happens, God is with us. We can trust Him with the outcome. Share this truth with someone today who might need a word of encouragement in the middle of the storm.

When this is all over, go on that trip you’ve been thinking about for years, take the leap of faith and do that thing God has been nudging you to do, get out and enjoy God’s creation in nature, see other parts of the world…start marking those items off your bucket list. If you don’t have a bucket list, it is an excellent time to make one.

Be kind. Share with others in need. Show love. God’s got this…and us!

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:33-34

#ThrowbackThursday

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell
Hidden Treasure

Too much fun not share again…this trip was in 2018.

Tucked away deep in the hills of North Carolina, I found a gem called “Sapphire.”

In and out of down pours, half the day, I traveled the treacherous curvy roads in search of the Brook Trout Inn. Nestled in the side of a mountain, the quaint little inn was friendly and welcoming.

Just like home away from home, they provided all the necessary ingredients and appliances to make yourself some breakfast in a cozy sitting room off from the main lobby.

I chose this location because it was nearby the fly-fishing excursion I had planned for the next day. A guided wade trip on private waters led by Headwater Outfitters.

My helpful guide, Chris, supplied all the necessary equipment including the awesome waders and boots. All I had to do was show up. The weather was a bit threatening with storms the night before. But, the morning of my trip, the sun was breaking through the trees hitting the water with a brilliant glow, as I maneuvered the slippery rocks, with one hand on my guide’s arm, like an usher leading me to my seat at the theatre.

The play was magnificent as the rainbow trout put on a show just for me. What a thrill to set the hook on a 20-inch trout and have it leap out of the water making a big splash as I reeled him in. Once the hook is set, the trick is knowing when to reel and when to let it run with the line while keeping the rod high and bent until Chris swooped him up in the net.

He agreed to one photo before leaping back in the murky waters to warn his friends of my arrival. Looks as though I caused quite a stir, so we moved up stream to find another hiding place.

The trout wasn’t the only hidden treasure I found that day. I saw a blue heron gracefully soaring above the tree line. A dragonfly floated by to say hello just as a mayfly landed on Chris’ arm. As we hiked around the trail to dip back in another area of the river, a swallowtail caught my attention.  

I would have loved to taken photos of the swiftly flowing water crashing over the rocks under the canopy of trees, but I was sort of preoccupied with fishing and not falling, so I didn’t chance taking the camera with me.

What a blessing to be out in nature and experience God’s beauty and creation as I mark another one off the bucket list.

The day before my trip I woke with this in my thoughts: “Search for Me throughout your day like hidden treasure.”