If you look closely you will noticed her wings are a bit damaged. A beautiful female Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Makes one wonder what happened? We don’t know but the first thought might be a few close calls with a bird or two.
She has chosen to fly and be and do her duty and show her beauty.
All of us most likely have been marred in some way be it physically, emotionally or spiritually. And, maybe all three. I sure have!
Jesus sure understands our hurts. Our needs and even our desires.
“Jesus understands every weakness of ours,…” (Hebrews 4:15)
“… For in him we live, and move, and have our being;..” (Acts 17:28)
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
In Him we renew our strength.
Isaiah 40:31 – but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
“Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27-28)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)
Fly my friends and do your duty and show your beauty! You are loved!
thedailylily.com 
I love the photo and what you wrote, Sara.
I noticed in the photo that the flower seemed to be doing its duty as well; and from the looks of the pollen area, must have had many visitors who depended on its life-giving sustenance.
It was encouraging to read the scriptures and words and know that though we are weak and marred, God still gives us unique duties that He entrusts and enables us to do by His power and strength.
Debi, interesting how the flower in photo shows the flower has been serving sustenance for the guest even thought it shows it knows the pain of being marred. The butterfly found sustenance after an attack on its very being, its wings!
This brings me to a contemplative thought John saw and recorded in the Book of Revelation. Jesus, surely understood when the church, us, needed the giver of life to supply sustenance He stood and stands ready even now ready and willing to share a meal.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 NIV
“If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”
—1 Corinthians 12:17-18 (NRSVUE)
So often I hear others say we don’t know our gifts and I’ve wondered the same at times. Yet, when we focus on “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose”
Just a thought, wonder how the butterfly knew just where to go for the sustenance she needed.
And, how and when God knows when to stand at the door of the church and knock. If, someone hears and opens the door food will be served!
WOW! What is God saying to the church? Do we as the church hear his knock? Who will hear the knock and open the door?
Surveys show church attendance has dropped quite a dip over time. Wonder if the church is operating on their pride and not humility? Wonder if there is no one to hear and open the door?
One of my devotions this morning spoke to the church needs and those contributing…”food insecure, alcoholics,addicts, struggling with mental health challenges — People with felony records, those unable to look others in the eye, people unreliable with their time all have something to contribute….”
Yes, our butterfly has been marred and our flower showing aging signs yet the meeting together is beneficial as both show their beauty by doing!
As I sat quietly and read this blog, and looked at the beautiful picture above, I couldn’t help but think of the poor widow. (NIV) “The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Then I reread the verses shared above from, Isaiah, Matthew, and Joshua. This widow had to have the courage and trust in the Lord, don’t you think? 🦋 🙏✝️
The above Scriptures are from Mark 12: 41-44.
Very insightful thinking Tammy! This widow strains the imagination to imagine a widow giving all she had to live on and placing it into the temple treasury.
Some might say today, man that takes guts! Others a faith bigger than most. Or, some even in our temples might say she should have kept that for herself. And, more likely than not she probably was not even noticed that is except by the One that really matters.
Yes, and amen! This widow surely had strength and courage. As I contemplate this widow in my heart I’m thinking she must have understood and practiced prayer and quiet time with the Lord. Just as Tammy sat quietly and read this blog and listened, she heard.
I would like to share as I sit quietly early this am and studied the sharing of this widow’s giving I was encouraged to give my small portion to a cause that I wanted to give but my mind kept saying, “What does this look like to others that give thousands!” My heart says it’s not the others! It’s the One that always sees! 🧡
Thanks Tammy for sharing your gift of encouragement!
”It’s the One that always sees!” So true 🙏✝️
It seems that what Tammy and Sara both shared and wrote, apart, yet virtually present, with both focused on the Lord, provides a great example of this scripture Sara quoted above, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”
—1 Corinthians 12:17-18 (NRSVUE)… “If, someone hears and opens the door food will be served!”
Looks like food was served…just like in the photo.
Debi, you have reminded us of the Body of Christ how most times we are apart but often virtually present. With the scripture of how God assigns our body parts aka as the gifts we function in and places us where he chooses.
Keeping in mind the ONE part is only had by Christ; “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,”
“which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:23 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.23.NIV
“I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well. God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. The church is the body of Christ and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 CEV
https://bible.com/bible/392/eph.1.19-23.CEV
It’s so beautiful when we enjoy virtual. Just as our radios, TV’s and news print etc etc. not forgetting cars, trains and planes that carry the body parts wherever they need to go. And, less we forget even birds are messengers, “Don’t let yourself think about cursing the king; don’t curse the rich, not even in secret. A little bird might hear and tell everything.”
Ecclesiastes 10:20 CEV
https://bible.com/bible/392/ecc.10.20.CEV
When we stay connected the excitment of power will astonish us at times and surely those that are not body parts just might make a decision to become a body part wherever they may be!