Ever been a gourd?

[gatheredfragments]

God makes things happen and we don't understand what is going on until its over. 

For a long while I had been in a friendship that made absolutetly no sense to the common understanding of anyone, yet there was an incredible bond of the TRUTH, in Universalism, and growth in the study of the Word, and the wisdom that comes of the nations as God scattered Israel among them to learn from foreigners.

It ended with a judgment call, one that was not desired, but forced. 

The whole situation made no sense, until the re-reading of Jonah brought it all to light, even though that truth, and many more universal truths were understood at the start of this friendship.  God put his hand on the situation and created a bond that the people involved would not have kept for their own sakes.  It lasted for the length of time necessary until God had established what he wanted in the worlds of each person for the sake of His will.

The after effect was that what God had grown for comfort, as the gourd was for Jonah who suffered participation in something he did not want to be involved in, this 'relationship' that provided something that 1. came to form 2. grew and provided comfort in that form 3. died and left the form after serving its purpose.

God created the vine, the gourd, and the worm that killed it. 

How marvelous HE is. 

We are gourds for one another in the time God requires it.  And I think the most marvelous thing of that, is His power to develop love, where in our human hearts, it would not normally reside.

He humbles me....what can I do but give thanks...over and over....

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9:  :thumbsup: Wonderful insight and explanation of a spiritual truth. Yes, it's happened to me many times, but I didn't realize until now I was being His "gourd", LOL. Thanks for clearing that up. Good one.  :HeartThrob:

[Kratos]

Very good insight. The problem comes when we use our own natural strength to continue to be the gourd once God is done with the purpose. Many churches and ministries are dried up and dead gourds, but they just do not know that the purpose for which they were created has long since past.

It is the same with many once blessed by the Lord relationships that have completed their purpose in Him, but are maintained by natural love or soul ties.  This is not the way of life.

John the Baptist knew when it was time for him to decrease so the next thing in God could increase. May we not only rejoice in being a gourd for other, but also, to know and rejoice when God dries a part of our life up as a gourd which is finished.

John

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: John, those words are Spirit and they are life. Blessings to you.......

[gatheredfragments]

Indeed John...

sometimes love ..as the Holy Spirit teaches us ...is so beautiful...we don't want to let go...
but God does have his 'seasons' for all things...

and as we all know...gourds are seasonal growths...every fall...they follow the path of nature itself.

[Michele]

I'm going out on a limb here.......but we have an old lady around town......she's know as the "Gourd Lady".  She makes all sorts of fascinating decorations and things with........you guessed it -- Gourds.  She is well know in these parts.

Reminds me how God can turn us into something very beautiful and unique......we must just give Him time.