"Rise 'n' Shine"

This yellow rose has very little scent but it blooms profusely and stands tall and straight with lots of clusters. Its petals are pointed like stars.

In Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God, he mentions the story of Lazarus and when he died. All the way through the final sickness and death, Jesus did not respond. Even though Lazarus was mentioned as the one He loved. Mary and Martha told Jesus that if he had come their brother would not have died. Jesus told them they were correct, Lazarus would not have died because they knew that He would have healed him. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives, and believes in me will never die."

Henry Blackaby suggests that not only did Jesus want them to know that He could heal but He wanted them to know a greater revelation of himself. He is the Resurrection and the Life. John Piper states that "we must never forget that God's silences are not his rejections. They are preparation for a greater revelation of him." Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Just as Jesus asked Martha, "Do you believe this?", we should remember that a greater revelation is coming. So, Rise and Shine!

"Friendship Roses"

Our pastor http://TheHarvestNow.com has been talking about relationships. The most important one being our relationship with God. He challenged us to whether we can call ourselves God's friend. James 2:23 says Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." and he was called God's friend." The topic brought to mind the old hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" written in 1855.

What a privilege to carry all our sins and griefs to Him because He promises to bear them. We forfeit peace and bear needless pain just because we do not take it to God in prayer. He makes a way for our trials and temptations and troubles. He is our refuge. We should never be discouraged. He shares our sorrows. Jesus knows our every weakness.Take it to Him in prayer. He is a faithful friend. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you take it to Him in prayer? Are you a friend of God? Check out the website for our church.http://TheHarvestNow.com

"Mary Rose"

This rose is sweetly fragrant, vigorous and spreading. "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him."

Peter and the disciple ran to the empty tomb, looked inside and they believed. "Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying." We know the story...she saw two angels where Jesus' body had been. They asked her why she was crying. She told them they have have taken My Lord away and didn't know where. She saw a man she thought was the gardener and asked him where the body was. But when "Jesus said to her, "Mary." "She turned and cried out teacher..." "Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me...Go instead to my brothers and tell them..." Mary went to the disciples to spread the news "I have seen the Lord."

Jesus is alive. He arose from the dead. He lives today. Are we holding on to Him or are we spreading the sweet fragrance of His life, His death, His resurrection. Are we a "Mary Rose"? Jesus is Risen. Hallejuah!

"Deep Secret"

You have to look deep into this rose to behold the color. It is rich and sweet. My THOUGHTS on the Passover may seem deep but they are rich and sweet... Psalm 25:14 says "The Secret of the Lord is with them who fear him and He will show them his covenant." KJV

John 13:21 - "When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples whom He loved. Then leaning back on Jesus breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped bread he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the table knew for what reason he said this to him.

For some THOUGHT because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him buy those things we need for the feast or that he should give something to the poor." NIV

I pondered how many times have we been in a group of people watching what was going on perplexed about what was being said, not understanding why someone else was chosen to run the errand, who was being talked about and what they did to deserve recognition. The same thoughts these disciples must have thought. The disciples THOUGHT two different things. Neither one was an accurate THOUGHT.

However, Jesus had given them the answer. One would betray Him. It would happen when he dipped the bread. And to do it quickly. But scripture tells us they THOUGHT Judas was leaving to buy more food or to feed the poor. Are our thoughts on the One who loves us so much He gave His life for us that we could be with Him forever? Or are our thoughts focused on wrong thoughts? God's Word promises us that "...his secret is with the righteous." Prov 3:32 KJV We just have to look deep for them.