The other day I was traveling north on highway 49 headed to Jackson. For whatever reason, I wasn’t in the mood to listen to my iPod nor talk on the phone. That heightened my awareness of the surroundings. It was a really good exercise. I saw things I’ve never seen before. Well, maybe I had seen them, but they didn’t make enough of an impression on me for them to register in my mind.
       So, I’m just driving along when I see this sign that reads, “Peas and Beans, Peaches and _________.” Fill in the blank. I wonder how many of you automatically assumed the answer to be plums. That’s what I thought. I was wrong. The answer is ferns. The sign read, “Peas and Beans, Peaches and Ferns.” Ferns? What in the world do ferns have to do with peaches?
       I didn’t have time to turn around and investigate. I was racing the clock. I had to be at my parents’ church by three. Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about that sign. My curiosity was definitely piqued. I decided to do some research. As it turns out, ferns are flowerless plants. They have no seeds and carry no major economic significance. Yet, being vascular, they are able to circulate resources through the plant. Interesting.
       It dawned on me that ferns and Christians have a lot in common. At night when the lights are out, and we are left to ponder our personal thoughts and feelings, some of us confess to ourselves that we feel out of place in the company of others, out of sync with the world around us even insignificant in the life of the church. Because our tithe seems small, and some churchfolk treat us as if we are unworthy to share space with them, we speculate whether we should bother to make an appearance. We wonder just why our names have been added to the roll. The pain felt in those moments is enough to sow seeds of doubt, discouragement and depression. BUT, there is a Word from the Lord. Receive this affirmation found in Psalm 139:14-17:

                     Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
                     Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it.
                     You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
                      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
                     You saw me before I was born.
                     Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
                     Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
                     How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
                     They cannot be numbered.         (New Living Translation)

       I challenge you today to embrace your “fernness.” For the purposes of this illustration, claim the fact that you have no seeds. Doubt, discouragement and depression cannot take root in you! God has chosen you to partner with Him for the good work of Kingdom-building. By the sheer power of who you are, God uses you to breathe life through the body of Christ and beyond to reach the lost. Why else would there be upwards of 10,000 of our type? God has graced us with all we need to move the mission of the Church forward. And God has strategically placed us right where we are so that we can be used to resource the Church.
       Regardless of what society leads us to believe, it is really okay if we don’t fit in. Stop worrying about not being the popular choice of people. Don’t fret about looking out of place. You are unique. You are valuable. You are essential. You are an all-important member of the family of God. Act like a fern.
                                                            love, miracles and blessings...denise