Tag Archives: Flower

Whose Flower

13 Sep

“. . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”   Matthew 6:28

I’m God’s favorite; I just know it.

.

There it was, a beautiful purple Aster, growing all alone in a dry, brown field. Drought had hit Northern Arizona and the normally green fields and trees were brown and brittle. Yet there it was.

Its green leaves were brilliant against the brown. The purple flower faced diligently toward the sun, soaking in the warmth. I knew as I enjoyed its delicate beauty that God had sent it – just for me.

We had just moved to a small town, far from our church family of 10 years. I felt small in a large empty land; alone. All my years of ministry seemed to be sitting on a shelf and I was seeking God to know why He had planted us here and what He wanted us to do next.

There was His answer – in a barren field. Bloom where you’re planted. Become a flower in the desert with your eyes only on the Son. There I can use you to touch My hurting children.

Thank you Father, for never forgetting who we are. Thank you Father that you love your children so very much. Thank you Father for gifts, physical and spiritual – just when we need them. Thank you Father for planting me where You need me most. Let me always remain your humble servant.

My, My. Whose flower will I be?

——

Written By Linda J. Humes

11/25/2002

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LORD OF THE DANCE

15 Dec

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Ecclesiastes 3:4

—

Take My hand as I draw you near,

Rest your cheek tenderly against Mine.

—

My arm holds firmly across your back,

You are fully enveloped in My love.

This is our time of intimacy.

—

Now step boldly back, secure in My love, safe.

Dance before Me, as a delicate flower.

The sweet fragrance so intoxicating.

This is our time of thankfulness.

—

Step back again and dance fervently,

Firmly plant your feet,

Chase away the evil with your hands.

Fight away the temptation that searches out our children.

—

This is our time of intercession.

—

As you grow faint, weary in the battle,

Step back to me, safely in My arms, enveloped in My arms,

Receiving My strength, receiving My love,

This is our time of renewing.

—

Take My hand.

—

Written 2-6-2002

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WHOSE FLOWER?

23 Sep

“. . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”   Matthew 6:28

I’m God’s favorite; I just know it.

There it was, a beautiful purple Aster, growing all alone in a dry, brown field. Drought had hit Northern Arizona and the normally green fields and trees were brown and brittle. Yet there it was.

Its green leaves were brilliant against the brown. The purple flower faced diligently toward the sun, soaking in the warmth. I knew as I enjoyed its delicate beauty that God had sent it – just for me.

We had just moved to a small town, far from our church family of 10 years. I felt small in a large empty land; alone. All my years of ministry seemed to be sitting on a shelf and I was seeking God to know why He had planted us here and what He wanted us to do next.

There was His answer – in a barren field. Bloom where you’re planted. Become a flower in the desert with your eyes only on the Son. There I can use you to touch My hurting children.

Thank you Father, for never forgetting who we are. Thank you Father that you love your children so very much. Thank you Father for gifts, physical and spiritual – just when we need them. Thank you Father for planting me where You need me most. Let me always remain your humble servant.

My, My. Whose flower will I be?

Written 11/25/2002

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God’s Perfect Gift

10 Sep

 

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.  Song of Solomon 2:1 KJV

 

You came up,

 out of the desert,

 as a pure white rose,

 born in a wilderness,

 breathtakingly fragrant.


You stood for all that was true,

 in a land without water,

 in a world wroth with sin,

 forged in pain.


People searched you out,

 grasping at your petals,

 a sweet scent to hold on to,

 until only the stem remained,

 circled about with thorns.


When it seemed to all,

 that nothing was left,

 You bloomed again,

 as the Phoenix bird,

 rising from the ashes,

 lifted high above the crowd,

 on an unfinished wooden cross.


In your final flower,

 the new petals fell,

 each bearing the name,

 of sin and pain,

 all that was removed,

 from our condemned lives.


The petals falling,

 willingly given,

 to redeem the lost,

 every provision considered,

 every provision met.


First fell shame,

 for not recognizing,

 who You were,

 then guilt,

 for the pain You endured.


There was sickness,

 depression, fear,

 sins of the past,

 broken in travel,

 to the generations,

 of the future.


On and on they fell,

 one by one,

 stripping away hopelessness,

 giving new life,

 in the sight of eternity.


As the last petal fell,

 Your Father, our Father,

 gasped,

 shaking the earth with His pain,

 dimming the light from the sky.


There You hung,

 looking no more,

 than a dry broken twig,

 soon to be buried,

 in the bowels of the earth.


Yet, inside that twig,

 lay a seed,

 a new life,

 taking root in the earth,

 preparing to grow,

 preparing to bloom,

 as Aaron’s rod,

 a sign to the nations,

 of God’s perfect love,

 in the gift of,

the Rose.

 

Written 11-14-98

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THISTLE

27 Apr

Thistle

By Linda J. Humes

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

I live in an area where wild flowers grace the hills and valleys for months, changing colors in wonderful blankets of purple, white and yellow. Their blooms smile upward as cold winter winds turn to warm spring breezes. Beautiful flowers, once planted in domestic beds, moved about by the constant winds that blow here.

Those flowers that remain in beds grow full and lush, tended by caring hands. Those that grow wild are small; their roots are shallow, for lack of water, of cultivated soil, of carefully added nutrients.

I’m always delighted by the wild alyssum, snap dragons, morning glories and evening primrose that pop-up in my yard. When the leaves first surface I contemplate the color and shape – is it weed or flower? Do I pluck it out or wait and see. I wait.

Even the sharp prickly thistle, easily recognized, I leave unharmed until the beautiful purple flower has shown its glory. Being careful to remove the entire plant before the delicate petals turn to seeds and parachute away on the wings of the wind.

I wonder if that is similar to the way God looks down on us – His children. Watching as the tiniest green leaf breaks the soil. Watching to see whether we grow as a flower in His glory – or branch out prickly branches while charismatically enticing the unsuspecting with temporary beauty.

When He sees a heart of tenderness, is that when He sends the caretaker that removes the weeds and tares that surround us, stealing our nutrients, crowding our lives, restricting our growth or causing death? Does He watch as we sit at the edge of sin, enjoying the temporary beauty – wondering if we will grab onto the seed after the flower is gone, flying away to watch the sin replant and bloom and float and replant and bloom and float . . . . Does He watch to see if we will pluck the sin away, to the deepest depth of its root; at first sight – or maybe just in time?

I wonder what Jesus saw when He looked down from the cross that fate-filled day; was it the lilies of the field that took His breath? Was it carefully raised, tender plants that chose to leave on the winds of changing doctrine? Or was it the thistles and the crown of thorns that threatened His children?

I wonder if He cried out for the new leaves breaking the surface of the earth, searching, seeking for a drop of moisture – for a chance to bloom. Or was His cry for you – was it perhaps for me?

Yes, I believe it was.

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