Glory And Honors

(December 2, 2004/ 6:55 am)

Oftentimes, I would get so caught up in the praises of the people that I forget the credit belongs to my Maker. In school, for example, I was beginning to get special recognition for my creative writings.

Once I had asked Him, “Lord, I know the credit for my accomplishments belongs to You, but...don’t I deserve the praise, too? After all, I did write them. The ideas did come from my mind. They didn’t just appear out of nowhere.”

HE replied with a question. “Alysia, who gave you these ideas for the stories?”

“Uh...I...I... I suppose these ideas were planted by You, right?”

“YES. And now that we’re on the topic…

Who made your mind in the first place?

Who gave you the ability to think?

Who gave your fingers the ability to type words?

Who gave you your every breath?

Who let strength flow through your body? 

Who gave you life?

Did not I?”

“Wow... I never thought of it that way... Thank You, Lord. Uhh... Gee...what else can I say?”

 

 “The Gardener”  (December 2, 2004/ 6:34 am)

There once lived a man who was a talented gardener.  He grew plants that produced flowers blossoming with petals as vivid as the rainbow, with scents sweeter than perfume.  “You are so good!” many people would praise him.  The man would often shyly say his thanks, but deep inside his heart, he would echo their praises, “Yup, they’re so right! I am so good!”  He was talented and he knew it.

Time passed. As the plants continued to grow, people continued to shower the man with praises, and the man continued to believe in himself.  Until one day…

The plants stopped growing.

At first, the gardener wasn’t fazed at all. ‘This is nothing,’ he thought. ‘I’ve been through worse.’

But as each day went by, still nothing happened. The man was perplexed. What had happened? He had done everything he could.  But no matter what he did, the seeds simply refused to grow.

With each passing day, the gardener’s anxiety grew, and his self-confidence waned.  Finally, in desperation, he cried to the sky, “WHY?! Why won’t the plants grow?!?”

It was then that he felt a Voice speak to his heart.

 

“Who sends the rain that waters the plants?

Who sends the nutrients and microorganisms that nourish the soil?

Who commands the seed to come out of its shell, break forth through the soil and reach for the sunlight above?

 

Can you command the plants to rise up, grow, and bloom?

Who are you to say you’re so wonderful and able to do anything?

Did you make your hands? Did you make your mind?

Who gave your mind wisdom and knowledge?

Who told your heart to keep on beating?

 

Did man make man?

 

I tell you, if you keep looking to yourself,

You will only stumble and fall.

One minute you’re so high with exhilaration,

and the next you’re down with despair.

 

So, when you think you have done something good,

Or when people praise you for the accomplishments in your life,

Rather than looking at yourself,

Look to Me and praise Me, instead.

 

The more you praise and believe in yourself,

The more you are setting yourself up for greater disappointment and grief.

Because man by nature is wavering,

But I AM steady and constant.

 

Remember, your hands may have tilled the soil and planted the seed,

But I made your hands, I created the soil and the seed.

 

Without you, plants will continue to grow.

 

But without Me, there wouldn’t even be a you.”