THE ROSE OF SHARON

“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”

Song of Songs 2:1

Though it’s usually read to children, The 'Little Rose of Sharon' is a poignant story with a magnificent lesson for all of us. It tells of a beautiful red rose that grew in a field of other flowers and trees near the town of Sharon long ago. Just above the sweet rose was a fig tree where a family of white doves had built a nest for their new eggs.

Looking all around, the rose was overjoyed at the beauty God had given her and hoped He was pleased with her lovely red petals and sweet fragrance. Indeed, God loved and little flower and smiled upon her every day.

One night a terrible storm came. The little rose swayed in the wind, bending and twisting, trying to hold on. When the storm finally came to an end she had survived with all her pedals and beauty intact.

But the little dove eggs that were in the fig tree above had fallen to the ground just underneath the rose. Tired from the storm, the mother and father doves could not lift the eggs back to the nest. Night came again and it was very cold. The rose knew that if the baby doves were not protected they would die.

With a smile, the lovely rose shed her beautiful red petals over the baby dove eggs to keep them warm and safe from the cold night.

Not knowing what the rose had one the parents of the baby doves had lost all hope. But, in the morning they saw a tiny movement underneath the red petals. They flew down to this warm red blanket shouted with joy as their newborn doves popped out. 

The rose was happy that she had made this sacrifice, but was afraid that God would no longer find her beautiful. When the Lord came to visit the rose, He was more pleased than ever before. He told her, “My Son will one day do the same for all mankind. He will give of Himself and sacrifice His love just as you have done.”

Like the Rose of Sharon and Christ Himself, we are sometimes called to sacrifice ourselves. And so it has been through the history of the world and of our nation.

236 years ago, fifty-six men gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. Their devotion to this new republic resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.

At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

There may be no reward here on earth for the sacrifices we make to serve the Lord, those we love or a life-saving cause. But, rest assured, the Lord God looks after you now and for eternity. Like the little rose who dropped its beautiful pedals to save the baby doves, you are called to be like Christ, a living sacrifice, in whom He is well pleased.

This week’s prayer

Dear Jesus, You have called me to be a living sacrifice. Open my eyes to the everyday opportunities to sacrifice myself so that others will see You in what I do. To Christ be all the honor and Glory. Amen.

THE CALL IS FOR YOU

And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

                                                                                        Mark 3:13-15

If I had been Jesus’ Human Resources manager, I would have chosen an entirely different group of apostles for Him. The people Jesus chose are a strange group of men, especially when you consider that He was just beginning His ministry. Remember, they would eventually deny him, doubt him, betray him, misunderstand him, and argue over who was the most important in his ministry. Why then did He choose them?

The reason why Jesus decided to call them and not some others was not immediately clear to the disciples either. But very quickly, Jesus instructed them, guided them, and served as a model for them during his earthly ministry. Yet, they would not fully understand until, on Pentecost, they received the Holy Spirit.

Gloriously, what was true for these twelve is just as true for each of us! His call is not to a select few but to everyone. Yes, Jesus summons each of us – You! - to be with Him. He is also calling you to go forth just as He sent those first twelve!

Now, you might feel reluctant to join Him because you don’t understand His call or don’t feel adequate to serve Him. So, I’ll remind you again. Neither did the apostles. It took a lot of time, work, and grace, but with only one exception, they stuck with Him to the end and became the greatest ministry team of all time.

The Lord does not want you to be discouraged or to put yourself down for any weaknesses you may see in yourself. You are a pilgrim on a journey, a work in process. This means that if you are obedient, The Father will provide for you just as He did for disciples.

Jesus doesn’t call you just to be a spectator of His ministry. He is calling upon you to play a vital and influential role in it. Of course, it is important to be with Jesus in prayer and worship, but it is just as important that you go out and actively build His kingdom. Right now, you have an eternal opportunity: you can take up the call to follow Jesus. You can allow His grace to transform you to be the blessing for others that The Lord is calling you to be.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man  who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Today’s Prayer

“Father, my heart is filled with thanksgiving that your Son has called me to go out and be His hands and feet in the world. Allow me your grace as I venture out to reach others with your love. And please, guide and empower me with your Holy Spirit so that I may always run to win your great victory!. Amen.”

A FATHER'S PLACE

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word!”

Proverbs 15:23

Sitting in a restaurant recently, I watched a little girl climb up to her father’s lap, snuggle deeply into his arms and say warmly, “This is my safe place!”

Fathers, YOU are the “safe place” for your children. Without exception, you are their protector and provider. That’s all children really need from you. They just want to be in the same place as you, with you, and have you totally be with them.

It’s simple. They desperately, urgently need your time with the TV, cell phone, and computer all off. Your children need a safe place where you can ask them the important questions . . . and where they can answer them safely. “How are you and the Lord getting along?” “How can we pray today?” “What’s worrying you the most?” “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today?” “What’s the best thing you learned?”

They need the safe place you give them so they can cry or laugh, be silly or silent, challenge or cherish, and have it all be okay. They just need a time to relax and sink into your arms and your heart with no distractions or agendas. Then they will always know that they can come to you, pray with you, and if you have truly opened the door to them, come to you for help.

Your children need a place where their opinions and perspectives are respected, and where God always has the last Word. They need a leader in their life who is a gentleman not a general. Being a father is far more than being a disciplinarian. Keep in mind that knowing the Lord is on your side means it’s okay to be gracious, assured, relaxed . . . even human.

Your children need a family shepherd. You don’t need to show them absolute and infallible authority. Just live your life with a powerful thirst for God and they will be thirsty for Him all the days of their lives.

Here are some wonderful words of wisdom to consider:

The Lord needs Fathers who:

·       Are committed to their children.

·       Know their children.

·       Are consistent in their attitudes and behavior.

·       Protect and provide for their children.

·       Love their children’s mother.

·       Actively listen to their children.

·       Spiritually equip their children.

The Lord needs Fathers who teach:

• Kindness by being thoughtful and gracious.
• Patience by being gentle and understanding.
• Honesty by keeping his promises to his family no matter what.
• Courage by living fearlessly with faith, in all circumstances.
• Justice by being fair and dealing equally with everyone.
• Obedience to God’s Word.
• Love for God and His Church. 

Father's Day prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for entrusting these children to me. Help me to be the father you need me to be in every situation. Give me the strength and patience to truly be available for my children whenever they need me. Provide me with the wisdom and the words that they will need in the coming years. Allow me to love them with Your heart, hold them with Your Hands, guide them with Your Word and see them through Your Eyes. Amen.

GET ANGRY

Be angry but do not sin.

Ephesians 4:26 (NRSV)

There is no doubt about it, Jesus was angry when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple. In His rage He tore through the place because they had taken a place of worship and turned it into a "den of robbers." This was His Father’s house and these greedy merchants were using it for unrighteous profit and gain!

But, what is behind this story? Why were they in the Temple in the first place? Moneychangers were supposed to be an answer to a problem raised by Roman coinage which had the image of Caesar on them. Because the Roman Emperor’s face was on all the coins, they were unacceptable for Jewish Temple ceremonies. All the people visiting the Temple had to exchange their Roman coins for coins that were acceptable.

If you have traveled to other countries then you have had the pleasure of trading American Dollars for the local currency. Whether it was at a bank, the airport, or the hotel lobby, this is a very profitable enterprise for the moneychangers.

The moneychangers Jesus confronted, however, had brought their little shops right into the Temple itself. In constant competition with other moneychangers, their priority was to take advantage of worshippers coming to the Temple. What made the situation even worse and what incensed Jesus even more was that they were also selling sacrificial animals within the Temple walls. Considering only their profit and the money they could make from weary travelers, they had no concern for the fact that these animals could violate the sanctuary. The most sacred place of worship had become a commercialized circus.

How dare they? This was his Father's house! He shocked them all by turning over their tables, scattering all the precious coins across the pavement. With a whip he forced the traders out of the temple and released the sacrificial animals they were selling into the courtyard away from the Holy ground. When things calmed down and the Temple was cleansed, you can be certain the people there wondered what had come over Jesus. Yet, no one protested. They all knew Jesus was right.

The anger Jesus experienced was the kind of righteous anger that boils through our veins when we witness a clear and unmistakable injustice. Christ's example tells us there are times when a Christian ought to get upset about the injustices of our world. And there are certainly no shortage of injustices. While we are certainly not to use our anger as an excuse to sin, to offend those we love, or to force our will on others, our Lord does want us to express and use our passionate, righteous anger to cleanse the world of those things He finds offensive. Which of God’s battles will you take up and fight for today?

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, infuse me with a sense of passion for changing the injustices of this world. Give me the vision to see what offends you and grant me the courage to fight the good fight with righteous anger. Please don’t let me turn away from the things you need me to see. Help me to face each of these with your strength, always following the glorious example of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

FILLING THE EMPTY SKY

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:17-21

In September 2003, NASA decided to look into the emptiest section of the night sky. At a point southwest of the Constellation Orion, there is a tiny spec of sky with very little to see. This spot of emptiness is only about one-tenth the size of the full moon, but scientists were curious about what the Hubble Space Telescope would find in a place where there appeared to be a complete void. So they took picture – a very long picture. For eleven days the sophisticated orbiting satellite pointed its camera at this little area of nothing.

The resulting photograph is one of the most astounding discoveries in history.

Known as the Ultra Deep Field, the image shows 10,000 previously unknown galaxies. Every point of light in thisphotograph is an entire galaxy, each containing hundreds of millions of stars. And this is only one tiny view of the universe our Lord created.

Even in smallest places where there seems to be nothing, God has been at work in more ways than we can imagine. Every place He goes is filled with His abundance!

That is why it is so important to open your heart, your mind and your life to God’s presence. The Disciples worried there would be no way to feed the thousands who had come to hear Jesus speak. In response, Jesus told them to pass the empty baskets to the people. But, they were far from empty. Like the baskets He filled with loaves and fishes, or the limitless night sky He filled with stars, Jesus will fill you to overflowing.

Take a lesson from the Hubble Telescope: the longer you open your eyes, the more you will see God’s work in your life. The longer you open your heart, the more you will experience His love. And the more you open your life, the more you will be filled with His grace and blessings.

Open yourself. Open wide and allow the Lord God to pour His abundant overflow into your every dark corner. Like those hidden galaxies, you may find He has been there all along.

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, You have filled the void of space with endless wonders for us to see! I confess I have not filled my life with You. But, that will all change from this moment forward. Fill me with Your love in the same way you have placed stars in the sky. Place within me an endless faith for You, so that I may show the wonders of Your kingdom to the world. Amen.

FILLING THE EMPTY CHAIR

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

                                                Matthew 11:28

An old story. But one worth remembering . . .

Without no where else to turn, the daughter of a very sick man called the local pastor to come and pray with her ailing father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in his death bed, his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The pastor assumed the elderly man had been told of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me," he said.

"No, who are you?"

"I'm the pastor of the church just down the street," he replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I assumed you knew I was coming."

"Oh, the chair, yes, well," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

Puzzled, the pastor quietly shut the door.

"I've never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my

life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it never made sense to me. So I never bothered."

"I just plain forgot about prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago when my best friend said to me, 'Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. It’s really easy to do. Here’s all you have to do. Sit down on a chair and place an empty chair in front of you. Then just imagine seeing Jesus seeing sitting there.’ I gave my friend a look because this was sounding a little strange, but he just said, ‘It's not weird. Remember, He promised, 'I'll be with you always.' So, He really is sitting there with you. So, just take a few minutes and speak to Him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now.’"

"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that now I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd send me off some where."

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to keep praying no matter what. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

Just two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her father had died that afternoon. “Thank you for coming to see him. I know he enjoyed his time with you. He seemed very encouraged when you left.”

"Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked.

"Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him, but he had passed. But there was something strange, In fact, beyond strange. I really don’t understand it. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for giving me peace, rest and comfort all the days of my life. Remind me today that I can rest my head, my heart and my life upon you anytime because you are with me all the time. Allow me to accept your love, your kindness and your friendship even when I forget that you are right beside me in the light and the dark, the beginning and the end, now and forever. Amen.