Conform Not

I took this picture last Saturday. Yup, that's right - the day it was really cold, windy and a bit snowy. It was ten degrees when I took this. But if you'll notice, the flowers are vividly blooming. These flowers are always the first to bloom in our flower bed. They pop up about the end of February and bloom for about three weeks. They are called Glory of the Snow or Snow Glories ( Chionodoxa forbesii). Tamra and I bought these bulbs from our nephew, Evan, when he was selling them for a school project. We really didn't know what we were buying for sure, but thought it would be neat to have some extra flowers in the front.

If you'll notice, there are no other flowers blooming in the picture, nor is there anything else that is even remotely a bit green. This flower is the first to bloom in the spring season. In fact it gets its name from that because it is often seen poking through the snow - again when nothing else is even thinking of blooming.

When I saw these beautiful blue blooms, I thought of the fact that those flowers are such independent little boogers. They just do their own thing. God made them that way. I also thought of the verse in Romans 12:2 that says, Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

God's word tells us that we are not to follow the ways of this world. Hmmm.....just like the Glory of the Snow. If it bloomed when all of the other flowers bloom, it would quickly wither and die. So it is with us. If we follow the ways of everyone else, straying from the teachings and commandments of God, we soon "wither and die" spiritually. God gave us independence from others and the world so that we may follow Him and his will.

Isn't it great to be able to follow such a Savior who wants us to do our own thing? Take some time this week to ask God what that thing is you're supposed to do. You may just bloom in the process!