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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The Wholeness of God

Unseasonably warm weather has been the norm this spring where I live in Southwest California. The last few weeks have held a hint of summer days spent at the beach and weekend barbeques. My apologies to everyone who is currently buried under snow drifts taller than your SUV. Stay with me and dream a bit.

While enjoying the supreme temperatures on Saturday night at our first seasonal outdoor barbeque, I started thinking about the fun ahead at future cookouts. Which naturally lead me to ponder what I might bring along to the next get-together. Of course, then I thought of watermelon, that lead to seeds and on to my daughter who has probably never eaten a watermelon with seeds, and finally, stay with me here, I arrived at the Wholeness of God.

No wonder our husbands shake their heads and contemplate, “How did she come up with that?” (Am I alone here?)

During this visit to the various parts of my brain, I stumbled over the seeds. My daughter has been raised eating seedless watermelon. It is likely she hasn't enjoyed the fun of digging through the juicy, red fruit searching for a seed to spit at her older, grown-up brother. Seed fights and eating melon to the rind expired as seedless melons flooded the grocery stores. She will never delight in an errant vine growing in the grass or holding a slice as it drips from her elbow. For this generation, watermelon is served in precisely cut squares or in fantastic fruit bowls as melons balls.

I somehow feel sad about this lost experience. Seeded watermelon is fun. The sweet heart of the melon is the prize. The seeds are work to separate out but they offer laughs and somewhat mischievous opportunities. Thinking about the sweet, delectable heart of the watermelon made me think about God’s heart. (The brain is firing again.)

It is God’s heart where we find complete security, purpose, forgiveness and love. In His heart we are made whole. It is where we always want to dwell and never leave. But, God is much more than heart. God is Holy. Sometimes I find myself completely wrapped up in God’s heart but ignoring the wholeness of God.

The holiness of God:

He freely forgives. He deserves our respect.
He bestows mercy richly. He is worthy of honor.
His grace abounds. He merits joyful gratitude.
He protects avidly. We owe Him priority.
He loves purely. He warrants our adoration.
He blesses abundantly. Our responsibility is due.

I cannot pick and choose only the sweet parts of God. To love God is to love His holiness, His wholeness and embrace all of Him. Resting securely in His love I am able to dig deep through His heart and search for those seeds of wisdom, the whole of God. There I discover His majesty, sovereignty, eminence, and limitless facets of His character.

From this day forward when I see a watermelon, I will be reminded of the holiness of God. I will rejoice in His love. I will reverence His name. It is my fervent prayer that you will too. In fact, (brain going again) I think I will head to the market and search for a seeded watermelon to share with my daughter.


Be blessed with His profound nobleness today!

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12 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Bless you, I really enjoyed this. I agree with you about seeded watermelons.

March 21, 2007 at 1:11 AM  
Blogger 2nd Cup of Coffee said...

You can bet every time I eat a watermelon this year I'll think about this post!

March 21, 2007 at 6:09 AM  
Blogger Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

My boys would never forgive me if I bought seedless watermelon..it is one of the only times I encourage them to spit!

"I cannot pick and choose only the sweet parts of God." Love this..that's the Oprah mentality that is being pushed on our generation..pick out a pretty Psalm and claim you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Thanks for telling the truth of the matter! :)

March 21, 2007 at 8:35 AM  
Blogger Lori said...

Now I am hungry for juicy watermelon. I am so glad it is not only my brain that follows those lines of thinking.

Holy, Holy, Holy....God Almighty.

Amen.

March 21, 2007 at 9:57 AM  
Blogger Susannah said...

I love seedless watermelon too! You've made me think of the seed-principle built into creation (Genesis 1:28-29) and how important this concept is to the program of God. He talks about his Word being like seeds, which bring forth Life in the soil of human hearts. As a writer, you're sowing important seed, and as much as I wish watermelons, grapes, and apples were seedless, I'd be foolish to wish them away! Have a wonderful Wednesday! :~)

March 21, 2007 at 11:26 AM  
Blogger Laurie said...

If we new the vitamin content of most fruit seeds we wouldn't be so quick to discard them! :)
Beautiful words of encouragement Lynn, I love the way you think and gather your thoughts from the simplicities of life. The LORD be magnified!

Love and Hugs to you!!

March 21, 2007 at 11:41 AM  
Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

I accept your apology as I dig through the snow here ~ wink.

You're right Lynn, we can't pick and choose because when we do, we're creating our own image of Him. And worshipping a God that only exists in our minds. No matter how we slice it, He's the same today as He always was.

March 21, 2007 at 12:40 PM  
Blogger Faerylandmom said...

You know what's weird? I totally understood how you got from seed-spitting fights to God's holiness. My mind seems to work the same way. :)

March 21, 2007 at 2:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love all you gals!

I cannot wait to meet each of you face-to-face at the foot of the throne.

Thank you for stopping and sharing a slice of watermelon and the Holiness of God with me today. Love and hugs, Lynn

March 21, 2007 at 3:20 PM  
Blogger Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

Mmmm...watermelon.
Mmmm...God. He is so sweet, and fun.
Let's dig away together, Lynn!

March 21, 2007 at 8:05 PM  
Blogger Christine said...

I love this! I think we are too often only willing to accept the fruit and not the seeds. But seeds are what bring forth life in the long run!

Thanks for the great image!

March 22, 2007 at 2:37 PM  
Blogger kymk99 said...

I think you need to make a point of finding a seeded watermelon this summer. My son was really good at teaching his little sister how to spit watermelon seeds last summer. It made for some really sweet pictures!

March 23, 2007 at 12:43 AM  

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