Scripture:
1Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49
Luke 8:4-15
Reflection:
"What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies." 1 Corinthians 15:36
I’ve been thinking about seeds lately – actually marveling at them. It’s mind-boggling to me that a tiny little seed has the potential hiding within it to produce a tree, or a bush, and then flowers and fruit! How can something so small end up so big?
We too began as a seed and look at us now! Besides physical growth, we grow emotionally and spiritually, and often that growth comes from dying – dying to ourselves. Most of us still have some dying to do . . . not just at the end of our earthly lives, but each day as we try to become more and more like our Lord Jesus.
I love caffeine. I love how it makes me feel – energetic and motivated. The problem for me is that it ends up controlling me: if I run out, I have to go find some, if I have any after 3 p.m. I have a hard time falling asleep, and it elevates my blood pressure. What’s also interesting is that when I’m on caffeine I’m not as sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I just power through my day and don’t stop to pray as I go.
I have finally faced the music, and realize this is an area of my life where I need to die to myself and go against the flow. It’s hard because it’s so readily available, plus people like Dr. Oz say that some caffeine is good for you. Still, God has shown me repeatedly that it isn’t good for me, so it’s got to go! Today I am 64 days caffeine free and recently my blood pressure was 108/80!
I’m sharing this with you because maybe you too have felt a nudge to get off caffeine, but the world keeps you hooked! I want to give you permission to join me and quit being controlled by the need for caffeine (or alcohol, or food, or too much TV, or whatever your problem area is). As we die to ourselves, we become more and more the person that God created us to be, and we will be able to bear more fruit for the Kingdom.
Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Portland, OR and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. Janice also leads women’s retreats. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.jcarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected]