A recent visit with Oh Deery Floral prompted our attention to pomegranates, for this organic wedding florist enjoys 23 trees in her home office backyard! She incorporates their greenery in her designs for a fruitful flair. A young business owner, Briley Studdard stepped in faith, following her delight for flowers into a new career in floral design.
Being around the flowers,
I knew this is where I wanted to be…
“It’s about so much more than flowers,”
the LORD said to me.
—Briley Studdard, owner & designer, Oh Deery Floral
She has come to see that ministering the fruit of the Spirit to brides and couples as they make their way through weddings plans and pressures is the Lord’s ministry in her life.
Pomegranate Ministry
Inspired by the sing-song in Briley’s heart, we add Pomegranate to our unfolding A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word, an alphabet primer filled with all we love from the plant devotions in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible.
is for pomegranate
that makes a big splash;
God’s wonderful blessing
revealed in a flash
of its multitude of seeds—
enjoyed fresh or juiced,
secured in thick rind
of this brilliant produce.
Pomegranates grow on large
shrubs or small trees,
multi-trunked, vase-like form
and easy to please.
Uncomplicated culture—
a little water, lots of sun,
few pests or diseases—
makes growing them fun!
Pomegranates kept company with
the great holy land fruits,
promised by God
through cultivating pursuits.
First scouts brought samples back,
their size gigantic.
Later Solomon planted them
in his gardens romantic.
Priest-hems were embroidered
with pomegranates and bells,
and the plump produce
decorated palace capitals.
Flowers first bloom
once winter is past;
orangy-red and bell-shaped
into summer they last
until fruit begins forming,
dangled on branch tips—
teasing, enticing
to bring to the lips.
Which explains why these fruits
are abundant in Songs.
The beloveds’ vineyard visit
tells how their hearts longed
for all that is fruitful
to reflect their love:
Abundant blessing
poured out from above.
Pomegranates embody
God’s blessed truth:
Despite unproductiveness,
“From this day on, I will bless you.”
For God’s Spirit within
will bear fruit as well.
Sweet attributes
of our character tells
of His dwelling in us.
His fruits are a must—
self-control, kindness , joy,
patience, gentleness.
These fruits adorn us,
to be worn for ministry:
faithfulness and love,
goodness and peace.
Live life by the Spirit,
keep in His step;
plant your own pomegranate—
on its fruitfulness you can bet.
Photo Credits:
©2015 Shelley S. Cramm I spy a pomegranate flower, “orangy-red and bell-shaped”
©2015 Briley Studdard, Oh Deery Floral Inspiration for an All Green wedding
