So, I was out early yesterday morning putting a little extra water on the garden before things heated up. (we are currently having a heat spell!) I was delighting over the sunflowers greeting the day!
And I was delighting over the pumpkins greeting the day!
And I was delighting over the cucumbers greeting the day!
Well, lo and behold … what a cute little bug! I wonder if it’s some sort of firefly?
No. Evidently it’s a Common Red Soldier Beetle.
Well, isn’t that cool!
This verse immediately popped into my mind: “Endure hardship … like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:3
… and …
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
This totally calls for a “Red, white, and blue” post.
Red! As citizens of the “Red, white, and blue” we are, at the same time, soldiers of our King Jesus Christ. Just like this little Common Red Soldier Beetle, we too are common ordinary people, soldiering for King Jesus!
As a common, ordinary citizen, soldiering for King Jesus, we defend truth! And we fight against lies.
As a common, ordinary citizen, soldiering for King Jesus, we defend justice! And we fight against tyranny.
Red, white, and blue … we are just common ordinary people (just like a little Common Red Soldier Beetle) but we fight to protect our “garden” (which is our country). We fight to defend our “garden.”
Yes, it’s hard.
But we “endure hardship … like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:3
“The one [Jesus Christ] who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
“We are more than conquerors through him [Jesus Christ] who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
White! The beans in the garden are loaded with white blooms!
The white blooms are becoming an abundant harvest! The white blooms are producing much!
The white blooms are making the garden a place of beauty and joy!
Red, white, and blue … we have so much potential. We are called by God to be fruitful! We are called by God to produce much!
Wherever you are “planted” in this “garden” (which is our country), grow your heart out! Be fruitful! Produce much with what you’ve been given. Use your giftings, talents, and abilities to do something good. Use your time to do something good. Be an encourager. Bloom your heart out and make the “garden” (which is our country) a place of beauty and joy!
Blue! Would you believe there is “blue” in my garden. Check it out … the connector valves on the soaker hoses are blue.
The garden cannot survive or thrive without water.
So also, the “garden” (which is our country) cannot survive or thrive without the life-giving “living water” of Jesus Christ.
In speaking to a nation concerning their future generations, God says: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” – Isaiah 44:3
Red, white, and blue … our “garden” (which is our country) cannot survive without the “living water” of Jesus Christ. We ourselves need Jesus! Our families need Jesus! Our children need Jesus! Our neighbors need Jesus! Our city needs Jesus! Our country needs Jesus!
Red, white, and blue … we have work to do!
Red – We must soldier faithfully for King Jesus!
White – We must bloom, be fruitful, and produce much!
Blue – We must build connections (like the blue connectors on the soaker hoses) so that our children, our families, our neighbors, our city, and our country (aka: our garden) can receive the life-giving “living water” of Jesus Christ.
