The Rose

The Rose

Once there was a little rose bud.  She couldn’t remember her beginning but she remembered being a tiny bud on a large bush.  Of course she had some memories here and there, of growing up.  She remembered the feel of the warm sunlight surrounding her as well as the raindrops bouncing off her head.   She also remembered feeling the shadow of the gardener covering her, when he would add fertilizer to the rose bush or water it on dry days. There were memories of the cool breezes that comforted her and the storms with loud banging that would cause the little bud to tremble.  During all these things the little bud continued to grow bigger and bigger, until one day, she felt like she was about to burst.  

That day she felt the presence of the gardener very near to her.  She could hear his voice and feel the warmth of the sun shining on every part of her exterior.  She knew it was time to open up and bloom and yet there was something holding her back.  She trembled at the thought of raindrops possibly pelting her petals or harsh winds pulling them off. 

Then she heard the voice of the gardener, gently whispering to her and speaking deep into the center of her being.  “Wake up little Rose, it’s time to bloom.  Let go of holding everything in.  In releasing you will find freedom and others will see the beauty that is deep within.  I am the gardener who planted you.  I watered, fertilized and tended you too.  You were created to show my glory by coming to full bloom. Don’t be afraid of losing your petals or you beauty too.  Each petal has a story and when one falls to the ground, I pick it up and save it for the future.  I bring it back to life and it becomes a sweet aroma to me, as well as a fragrance that touches others for eternity.”

Where are you on your journey in the garden?  Are you the tiny bud still growing?   Or are you the bud ready to bloom but trying to hold back because of fear?  Maybe you were the Rose, blooming, opening up your petals starting to share the beauty of God working in you; but now some of your petals are bruised and have been pelted off by life’s storms.  It is in this place of feeling vulnerable that you can still trust the Gardener to hold and cherish you.  It is in sharing of yourself with others that they can see the sweet aroma of Christ in you.

Whatever you have experienced in life, may you know that you are truly cherished by the Lord and of great value.  May you be a sweet fragrance of Christ  to others.   

Love,  Triss

We are children of God, His church

"For is Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."  Galatians 3:26-29

The other day I was having a Biblical discussion with two young ladies that came to my door. As we were talking back and forth, the Holy Spirit gave me scriptures to share.  It was a good discussion and after they left, I felt like I had listened to them, as well as  shared with them all that was on my heart.

One belief that these two young women held onto was that their church was the true church.  I shared some scriptures and reasons that I did not believe that was true.  As I continued to ponder our conversation and what the true church is; I came upon the passage of faith in Galatians.

In Galatians 3, the apostle Paul discusses our justification by faith instead of  by the works of the law.  What justifies us, is faith in Christ, the promise given to Abraham of salvation through his offspring, given before the law came into effect.  He goes on to say that the law was like a guardian until the promise was brought to completion through Christ.

Galatians 3 also states  that we are sons of God through faith in Christ.  It is not our race, nationality, sex (male or female), or our economic status that makes us children of God.  It is also not which church we are attending, instead it is placing our hope of right standing with God through Christ Jesus our Lord!

All who put their trust in the Son of God, Jesus, for salvation,they are part of the true church.  There are basic believes and principals that all Christians adhere to, but there are also preferences in style of preaching, music and  of course, our own personal opinions.   We need to not let our opinions and preferences get in the way of our relationship as the corporate body of Christ.

I have had the blessing and opportunity to attend a variety of  denomination of churches and have grown in my faith through each one. What is most important for me, is to attend a church that glorifies the Lord, preaches the word and encourages me, as well as develop me spiritually. I desires to walk in a manner that is worthy of Christ and to encourage His body of believers.

My hope and prayer is that you are in  a church family that is strengthening your faith and leading you to encourage others also.  May we spur one another on to good works in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love,
Triss