Before I moved to New Mexico, I always pictured the desert as a barren and desolate place. Girl, was I pleasantly surprised! There is so much beauty here. I tell people that I feel like I live in a glass dome, not as being trapped inside one, but as being able to see beauty as far as my eye can see. For example, when I look up on most days, I can literally see 180 degrees of unobstructed view of clear, blue and sometimes even turquoise skies. The sunsets here are truly some of God’s most magnificent masterpieces. Only heaven can create those colors; I know because I have tried to no avail to duplicate them when I paint.
“Once upon a time…she was bound in a kingdom where she could only color within the lines, but then the Master came and released her to the Kingdom of Grace where together, they would paint a masterpiece.” From “Her Treasures: A Life Brand New” on page 10.
Wouldn’t you agree that most women love flowers? Remember the story of the “Secret Garden?” This is where the eyes of a few children, who believed that they were broken, were opened to the magic and wonder of God’s beautiful creation. It healed and changed them, forever. Do you ever wonder why God gave us color and flowers? Are these not expressions of his glory, his grace, and life itself? Are these not evidence of his amazing love? His gift of flowers Is just one of the many ways that he has chosen to delight us.
Here in the desert of New Mexico, as well as other regions of the world, we have very specific types of flowers. They were designed in such a way in order for them to survive in such a hot and dry climate. As I became aware of the stories of the women in the Bible who had either “desert experiences” or major issues in their lives, I saw certain similarities to specific flowers that bloom in the desert. I call these women the “Desert Blooms.”
In my last entry, I described “Hannah is like the Sunflower that blooms in the desert. It stretches its neck high into the sky and faces the sun. All day it moves in a graceful dance following the pattern of the sun.” From “Her Treasures: A Life Brand New” on page 52.
The New Mexico Primrose also known as the “pink-lady” It is a shy but persistent, four-petaled, ornamental plant that lies low to the ground. It spreads on shallow roots and makes an excellent ground cover. Guess who in the Bible I see as the primrose. Here’s a clue…For 12 years she had suffered; she could not be shy. If only she could touch him; she had to try.
You are right if you guessed “the Woman with the issue of blood.” You can read her account in Mark 9:20-22. You might say this issue had become a “Goliath” in her life. What we are not told in the scriptures, but that we can surmise from history, is that this woman had quite an issue in more ways than one. Can you imagine what her life was like…constantly worrying that her condition was fatal, having to hide from those who considered her to be unclean and from those who could have even tried to stone her due to their fear of exposure. She was an outcast in society and had likely exhausted all of her financial resources searching for a cure. She was more than shy; she lived in constant shame and fear. Approaching Jesus in the crowd may have been one of the most brave and dangerous things that she had ever done in her life. But He was her last hope, and her faith propelled her to take the next step toward her healing. Obviously, the hope of a positive outcome was well worth the risk. In her case, it was a matter of life or death; somehow, she knew that one touch from Him would infuse life into her ravished body.
Take a moment and put yourself in her place. Maybe this is the story of your life. You might not be dealing with an issue of blood, but there may be a “Goliath” that is draining you from having any real joy in life. What is holding you back? You may feel ashamed of something that has burdened you for a lifetime. Maybe you feel like an outcast due to some weakness, either real or imagined. Maybe you’re just tired of living in fear without hope. Know that you are not alone; we’ve all been there in some way or another. There is someone ready and willing to fight for us. There is always someone who will encourage us to take that next step away from the fleshly actions, the negative thoughts and feelings, and those walls that we have built around our hearts. We need to remember that “He is always for us and not against us.” We need to remember that “He is always with us; he lives in our hearts and there His spirit is always comforting and guiding us into all truth.” We just have to grab it and hold on to it, because our very life depends on it.
One question that would be good for you to ponder is this… Is her story really about her persistence or about His goodness?
I imagine this beautiful picture of “the Woman with the issue of blood.” When Jesus finally saw her and realized her great need, He would have been filled with such compassion that He would have stopped whatever he was doing; he would have stooped down, lifted her sweet head, stared into her tear-filled eyes and said, “Your faith has healed you.” Oh my! Goosebumps galore! That’s how much He loves you, ladies. No “Goliath” is too big for him to slay. He will fight for you. Don’t shy away from the Grace that he is offering you…you might miss out on something BIG. Open your eyes and see that even in the midst of your issues, there is beauty all around. Then take that next step to your healing…to your victory. CRY OUT TO HIM IN FAITH. My insightful, 18 year old grandson, Drew, really gets it, as he recently said to me, “Whenever anyone came to Jesus with brokenness, they walked away healed…they were restored.”
This is beautiful! So much truth but what really speaks to me is the contrast between persistence and God's goodness. I will be persistent in finding God's goodness all around me.