What a picture – crimson red tulips standing tall amongst a field of pure white ones, amazing! This was taken in the Netherlands, what a treat to see them in person!
Question - if white bulbs were the plan then where did the random red ones come from?
I was driving along in my car and listening to a song by Alanis Morissette called ‘Wunderkind’ which was sung as a theme for the movie – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! What struck me at the time was the chorus at the end…
Lyrics to song ‘Wunderkind’ by Alanis Morissette
Oh perilous place Walk backwards toward you Blink disbelieving eyes Chilled to the bone
Most visibly brave No apprehended bloom First to take this foot to virgin snow I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
I am a Wunderkind, oh
And I lift the envelope pushed far enough to believe this I am a princess on the way to my throne Destined to serve, destined to roam Oh ominous place
Spellbound and unchild-proofed My least favorite shelter Bear alone Compatriots in face
They'd cringe if I told you
Our best back-pocket secret Our bond full-blown
And I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment I am a Wunderkind, oh And I am a pioneer naive enough to believe this I am a princess on the way to my throne
Destined to seek, destined to know Most beautiful place Reborn and blown off roof My view about-face whether
Great will be done I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment I am a Wunderkind, oh I am a ground-breaker naive enough to believe this I am a princess on the way to my throne I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment I am a Wunderkind, oh I am a Joan of Arc and smart enough to believe this I am a princess on the way to my throne Destined to reign, destined to roam Destined to reign, destined to roam Destined to reign, destined to roam Destined to reign, destined to roam
There were 2 words in the song that stood out … the first ‘Magnet’
If we as Christians are magnets, then we attract God’s favour – Priscilla Shirer says https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3vOmBp_m1I
Favour is God’s presence on your life
Favour is what opens up doors that no man can shut
Favour is what puts you in positions that nobody really thinks your qualified for
Favour is what enables you to do what you know is beyond your capacity, but God has positioned you & placed you and prepared the way for you
If you have the Holy Spirit then you have God’s favour on your life!
I have felt many times over the years that in each season/chapter of my life it has most certainly been God positioning me for what was to come, what I had to rise to and what he had already prepared for me. Looking back, I could not have achieved/survived any of my past experiences without it being totally God’s workmanship all the way!
· Leaving school in year 10 to get accepted into TAFE
· Getting my very first job with a Christian Firm
· Marrying husband & moving to the opposite side of nation to finding church family and starting a home together
· Every part and parcel of my personal working career since
· Mission’s trips
· International holiday travels over decades
· Traversing care of ageing parents & more
· Publishing two books
And the second is ‘Joan of Arc’ who believing God spoke to her brought about a French war victory in 1453.
I was on holiday in Vienna, Austria in 2017 and visited the St Stephens Cathedral in the old town square, where inside there is a statue of Joan of Arc! I was very taken with her story and stood looking at this statue for some time. Trying my best to imagine what really stirred her to push as hard as she did to have an audience with the King, present her story and go to the war front of the day! What bravery and courage to see her quest through and believe in her heart that she was a magnet for God’s favour in her day.
I looked at the picture earlier of the crimson red tulips standing tall against all the white ones and wondered if I am convicted enough here in my season to stand out like that for my Lord and saviour who has done so much for me. Can I too be convicted that ‘I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment’ like the song says and exhibit God’s favour thru my life for others to see?
From the song…
Destined to serve – Praying that my commitment to serve my Heavenly Father will not waiver
Destined to roam – In every place the Lord guides me/takes me, praying there will be many opportunities to share God's Love with others
Destined to seek – Continuing to discover more and more of what my Heavenly Father has and asks of me
Destined to know – Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. – Prov 3:5-7 MSG
Praying that with every choice I make moving forward, I am considering firsthand what God would have me do in every set of circumstances – to reveal his loving goodness to many for eternity!