Crocus: a symbol of resurrection

Crocus:

They significantly symbolize hope and cheerfulness during the end of winter with their vibrancy covering the foothills of cold and elevated mountains withstanding harsh icy winds thus representing floral resurrection and beginning of spring. (**Read more at Buzzle: What do crocus flowers symbolize?)

“Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,
the badlands will celebrate and flower—
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
a symphony of song and color.” (Isaiah 35:1 MSG)

I was mesmerized several weeks ago by Isaiah 35:1.  It painted the most beautiful word picture.  I could almost hear the melody.  It prompted me to research the crocus.  It drew me to a paintbrush and blank canvas.

At the time I was painting the crocus, I did not know the message God would reveal through the unfolding flower; so, over the next several weeks I simply started a draft with the crocus painting as the feature image and began to collect pieces of the puzzle until it all became clear today.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Romans 5:10-11 (NASB)

There are no coincidences in God’s economy.  There are only revelations along the way of God’s divine plan, that was set in motion before the foundation of the earth.

I wrote this to a brother in Uganda yesterday:
Happy Easter friend! So thankful for our Jesus! Although on different continents, we stand at the foot of the cross and at the empty tomb together!
______
Christ modeled the ministry of reconciliation for us and then passed the baton to us!
A kingdom or a house divided can not stand! See Mark 3:24-25.
Since I have been on this earth, I have never experienced a time where our country, churches and homes have needed a reminder of this truth more.
Christ never asked us to be carbon copies of one another. If that is what HE intended, HE would have made us that way. A creator would not be creative if HE simply made replicas.
HE made each of us unique and called us to unity-unique AND unified not diverse AND divided.

Fresh “perspectacles”

No one or nothing fills the gap like Christ can!
Christ was the original GAP GUY! Everything else pales in comparison!

As Christ’s children, our “Why” is to be a minister of reconciliation.
Our “WHAT” is anything our hand finds to do or our mouth chooses to speak or our mind stops to ponder! The array of categories is endless and vibrantly colorful!
So WHAT WILL BE OUR WHAT for today!
Happy Easter!
‪#‎UniqueAndUnified‬

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”  (Mark 3:24-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So let’s start with our kingdom:

Our nation has some decisions to make.

The closest I have come to personally knowing any of our political candidates was through a coat check photo opportunity back in February of 2007.

Donald and Melania Trump, Stephanie, Melissa and me-Valentine’s 2007 New York City

So, based on my one personal encounter with Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, they were both very nice.  They did not act bothered or impatient and they wished us well, as we visited their city that they loved.

I loved the movie “Gifted Hands” and had I been given the opportunity, I would have voted for Ben Carson, because he gave God all the credit for his strengths.

I love the fact that Hillary Clinton said, “It takes a village,” all those years ago. (I don’t know if she coined that or not but I remember she said it and it rang true!)

 May our nation come together in all of our unique textures and tones, reconciling our differences and show the world a united front,

IN GOD WE TRUST!

That’s all I got for you politically.

Let’s move on to our houses:

When we look at the divorce rate in America, we find it at 40-50%.  Based on this statistic, our houses are fractured.  However, Christ trumps stats every time.  He is still in the business of putting the lonely in families and making all things new.

Please watch this touching song written and performed by Kelly Clarkson.  She wrote “Piece by Piece” remembering the abandonment of her own father and singing a tribute to her husband, the man her father never was.  Listen carefully to the lyrics and allow your heart to moved.  Let the tears fall.

Then, listen to the song again through the lens of Christ.

“Piece by piece
He restored my faith
That a man can be kind
And a father could stay”

We have a Heavenly Father who restores our faith, came as the kindest man whom ever lived-Jesus, and promises to never leave or forsake us!  God

Kelly Clarkson singing “Piece by Piece” on American Idol

To God’s House, The Big “C” Church:

It is no surprise that that Bride of Christ is splintered.  The enemy of our soul hates God’s House.  Satan is crafty but not creative.  He is still attacking the Church and dividing the individual houses like oil and water.

BUT REMEMBER

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”  (Matthew 16:18 NASB)

My gratitude for a unified House, made up of all the unique house:

Racial Reconciliation:

For the love of Pete, when will we stop letting satan stir this caldron of hate!  This has been a pressure point for me since I was a little girl.  From the time I remember remembering, the people who loved me unconditionally were colorful. My world has never been monochromatic and for that I am eternally grateful.  From what I understand, Heaven is going to have more diversity and colors than a box of crayola and that makes me crazy happy!

“I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages.” Rev. 7:9 (MSG)

I have always had a hard time staying quiet in a racially charged environment, but then again maybe we was never meant to keep quiet in the face of injustice.

“Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”

Prov. 31:8-9 NASB

I am from Memphis originally.  “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett hit home with me.  Skeeter is my hero, second only to Aibileen.

When the movie hit the big screen, Memphis heated up.  The Commercial Appeal published some articles related to “The Help” and below I have included my response to the paper.  I figured we should all use our freedom of speech, a privilege best used when promoting peace and unity.

To Whom it my concern,

My name is Katie Johnson Wilson and I am one of the children referenced in your article about “The Help”. I had the blessing of being raised by “2 Mommas” and I have many friends with more stories of love and gratitude like mine. I had 2 women who invested in me and pointed me to Christ. They poured their hearts into my life, into everyone in their sphere of influence.   Watching these matriarchs throughout my life has inspired me to “pay it forward.”   I am now blessed with 3 children of my own and we spend family time in urban ministry. We do Bible Study at the Boys and Girls Club and I mentor young women in an inner city high school, all in the name of Christ. My calling to offer hope to the next generation is reinforced and modeled by the 2 matriarchs in my life–Mom and Aunt Leta.

My memories of Memphis are beautiful. Let’s put Memphis on the map for its love, peace, and unity. I was so blessed to have grown up in the River City and I want the world to know how much kindness, generosity and goodwill really exists there. You will find people of every race with open hands, hearts and homes. Let us take a movie like “The Help” and move forward in a positive response–show love to all people, all the time, in all places, in whatever way we can. Let us be creative and spontaneous and look for opportunities to reach out, help the oppressed, share words of loving kindness, break the chains of generational bondage and embrace the beautiful legacies that have been left for us.

I would like to take this opportunity to embrace my legacy here:

MY MATRIARCHS

I suppose God knew, that I’d need 2
A gift HE gave to me.

They planted seeds, they met my needs-
2 Matriarchs succeed!

A little girl with long blond curls
Remembers days of love

While one would dress me up for church
Sit beside me on the pew
The other played the AM preacher
and shared her gospel tune.

Why God would give me 4 knees bent
I guess I’ll never know.
These women had their work cut out
As I began to grow

Mistakes I made
Their love, it stayed.

Their knees grow old together
The Lord, HE heard their pleas.
My heart has grown in grace and love
Now I live on my knees.

The world would like to separate
Taint the past and stir the hate.

My matriarchs are different,
And yet, they are the same.
They’re best friends, sisters, confidants-
United in HIS name.

Now I am a mother with 3 who look to me,
Mom, Aunt Leta, Katie-all on bended knee!
Thank you both for your LEGACY!!!!!

I suppose God knew that I’d need 2,
A gift HE gave to me.

They planted seeds, they met my needs-
2 matriarchs succeed!

THANK YOU! I am eternally grateful!

Go God!

Katie “Two Shoes” Johnson Wilson
Huntsville, AL

P.S. Aunt Leta calls me Two Shoes

My Aunt Leta-1968

Aunt Leta, Bertha, Shannon(my first cousin), and me (I look about 8 or 9 so it is probably 1978-79)

Aunt Leta, My Dad(Fletcher), and Bertha: Looks like New Year’s Eve. (which is my birthday!) Aunt Leta worked for my dad before my parents were married. My dad was from Illinois originally.  When he moved to the south, Aunt Leta was one of his first friends. She was my dad’s best friend for sure! When he died, way to young at 63, a hole was left in a lot of hearts. I was only 21, entirely too young to say good-bye to my daddy!

meAunt Leta, Bertha and My wedding, 1993

My people! 1993

Lunch at Houston’s in Memphis about a month before my mom(JoAnn) passed away.  Mom would have called Aunt Leta her best friend as well!

Aunt Leta’s surprise 90th B-day party at Outback in Memphis-2014!

Who would have thought a little crocus painting would have turned into all this?

I pray my stories stir you to search your own, but most of all, I pray they inspire you to move forward in resurrected life, to move toward reconciliation in all areas of your life and to share your gold as you go!

Happy Easter!

(A portion of my poem: TWEET THAT, because if sings of my gratitude for what Jesus did for me on the cross, Easter in a nutshell!)

…They will know we are Christians, by our love-by our love
Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.

Service and sacrifice–don’t ever quite trying!
Lay your life down for others
Thank Christ for dying—BUT REMEMBER—-
HE didn’t stay in the grave!
Do not fear—-
Be brave!

TWEET THAT!!!!!

So, where do you want or need to see reconciliation in your life?  It is more that possible for him who believes!

Please watch the Natalie Grant video below.  Prepare to be blessed!

“Clean” by Natalie Grant (Live)

**

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NIV)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.