"Gloire de Dijon"

It occured to me one day that the Scripture gives us the Grace of growing old. This rose is a climber stretching its fragrance and glory to the heavens.

After Peter's denial the Lord restored Peter. "Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted but when you are old you will stretch our your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him "Follow me."

Jesus says "Follow me."

Jesus says "Feed my sheep."

Jesus says "Stretch out your arms "

and "Glorify Me."

As we age, someone else will dress us and lead us where we do not want to go (hospital, retirement home, nursing home, leaving your home and downsizing), however as we grow older we can still Follow Jesus, Feed His Sheep, Stretch out our arms and Glorify Him.

John 21:20 "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who leaned back against Jesus at the supper...). John (the one who understood the love of Jesus) was the eyewitness and the one who wrote this account.

Scentsational

The best time to smell the roses is midmorning when the sun has just reached the garden. I found this to be true in spending time with my grandchildren. They are so eager to learn, chatty and full of life midmorning and I enjoy the sweet fragrance of their love.

While doing a craft one morning with three of my grandchildren, Alyssa said "I am making mine for the one who loves me the most." And Julia said "Well, we all know that is Gran." I also have a grandson who feels the same way. He said to his dad on the drive to my house last week "I know Gran will be so happy that I am coming to spend the night with her." This caused me to ponder why these two feel that I love them more than the others and why the others thought I loved these two the most. At first I wondered if I did. Did I have favorites?

As I mentally thought about each grandchild and how unique and different but also very much alike, I realized how much I deeply loved each one of them. Nick who is mature, self disciplined, a thinker, compassionate, smart and sensitive. Jack who is smart, determined, inquisitive and compassionate. Julia who is mature, independent, confident, coordinated and charismatic. Alyssa who is smart, cute, cuddly, compassionate, humorous and talkative. Hunter who is friendly, dramatic, expressive, energetic, charming. Cooper who is cuddly, humorous, talkative, coordinated, charming. Palmer who is easy-going, sweet, content, and loved. Sophie who is easy going, content, sweet, happy and loved. They are each one unique but alike and loved very much. And I pray that they will not only know how much I love them but "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ." Eph 3:18

It is written "...the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him." Now all of my grandchildren recline next to me when I sit down or they are in my lap. I believe that the "disciple whom Jesus loved" that reclined next to him understood unconditional love. He understood the love of Jesus. He felt the love of Jesus. He knew the love of Jesus. He felt safe with Jesus. He knew that nothing would ever separate him from this love. He knew, he would never be rejected, abandoned, humiliated, ridiculed or intimated. "...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Why do some feel more loved? Why do some think others are more loved? As believers in Jesus Christ, we must understand that we are all unique and different but still alike and loved very much. The disciple whom Jesus loved understood. He got it!We need to transfer this love from our head to our heart. We need to live in that realm of unconditional love. Let us enjoy being Your Favorite, O Lord, "the one you love" sending out the sweet fragrance of love to others. This rose is intensely fragrant. A bouquet will perfume the entire room. Zechariah 12:10 promises "I will pour out upon the house...the Spirit of ... favor." (Amplified Version)

In the Rose Garden

It occurred to me today while swinging in the swing with my three year old grandson that my life is like the rose garden.

It was a beautiful, clear, blue sky 80 degree day and we were singing nursery rhymes. God's word says "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing." Isaiah 35:2 So, we were singing nursery rhymes but my heart was singing with the beauty of the changing of the seasons from winter to spring, from the dry brown grass and dead flower beds to the signs of green grass and budding flowers.

The sweet fragrance of the honeysuckle, the wild violets and wild periwinkles, the blooming pinks, and the budding lillies made me joyful. Then I noticed...the weeds. There were more weeds than blossoms. I realized that as I was emerging from my long winter's nap, I had also accumulated quite a few bad habits myself. Snacking all day, lack of exercise, long naps, lethargy, and "I don't wanta's" could choke out the beauty of the blossoming desert.

But just as the flowers see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God, I, too, will keep my eyes fixed on the One who promises that the desert would blossom like a rose, that feeble hands, knees and hearts would be strengthened, and the sick would be healed. Isaiah 35 NIV

So as I pull weeds in the flower garden, I will also pull them from my soul giving thanks to Him who gives us Hope to become all we are meant to be.

I've Arrived

I am approaching my 60th birthday. What better way to begin your 60th year by starting a blog? With the encouragement of my children and my grandchildren, here I go. I've always considered life a journey and welcome the excitement of new adventures. Psalms 84:5-7 says "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (tears), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength til each appears before God in Zion." So I am setting out on the "blogging pilgrammage."

I don't feel 60, look 60 or act 60 or think 60. I don't know what 60 is suppose to feel like, look like, act like or think like but I suppose I always thought 60 was old. It is hard for me to say that I am going to be 60 and hard for me to think that I am going to be 60. But 60, I will be. They say 60 is the new 40 for the baby boomers. So, I am trying to remember how I felt at 40. As I remember, 40 did not bother me. Actually, I still feel young because I am a 60 year old child. Yes, my parents are still alive. That makes me still a child. And I still wonder what I will do when I grow up. And the answer is part of the journey.

I have begun a new career as a Pastoral Counselor. http://mercymatters.org How exciting is it to know God has called you to ministry? Psalm 71:18 "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."

So here I am. I have arrived on a Blog!