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June 30, 2006
Lilies Among Thorns

Like a lily among thorns is my beloved among the daughters.

My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.

There is a certain type of lily that grows among thorns. You can not pick these lilies without lacerating your hands. There is a huge contrast between the velvety softness, the beauty of theses lilies and the sharp tangled hedge of the surrounding piercing thorns.

Beloved, do you remember another garden? A garden where your soul and mine were gathered by the lover of our souls. This gathering of souls resulted, not only in lacerated hands, but also lacerated his feet, head, side, heart and innermost soul.

Jesus pressed through those terrible thorns, paying the greatest price for our sins. He did this just so we might be His: His beloved. Jesus calls his chosen lilies among the thorns, He calls them by name.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

He came to gather, rescue his beloved through the thorns. Never will He forget Calvary and its thorns, nor will His chosen, His beloved.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

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Let us always remember and the thorns ...

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head ...

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This really brings Esther to mind -- a pure white lily among thorns. She was under the Lord's rule even though she was queen to a people other than the Lord's and subject to a king other than the Lord....

It's interesting when you think of this parable Judges 9:8-15

vs 15 The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'

Esther was under the 'thorns' rule yet since she submitted to the Lord's rule -- a higher rule -- not only was she saved but also the Lord's people were saved...

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June 2006
The Beauty of a Crown

The Beauty of a Crown Karen Holland     5-20-06   No eye can see
No ear can perceive	1 Cor 2:9-10; Isa 64:4
The beauty of the crown You bore for me.	Jn 19:2
Broken vessel
Your life, a sweet fragrance
Poured out in a scarlet flow
Pierced for our transgressions	Jn 19:34; Isa 53:5,12
The pearl of greatest price	Mt 13:45-46
A perfect sacrifice.	1 Cor 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19
Mourning, for the pierced one there will be.	Zech 12:10
But on that day every eye will see
You coming with clouds	Rev 1:4-7
KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS
Upon Your head
The beauty of the many crowns.	Rev 19:12, 16
On that day You, the LORD of hosts will be
Beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning	Isaiah 61:1-3
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
A crown of glory and a diadem of beauty	Isaiah 28:5
An everlasting crown to all those who believed.
The beauty of a crown
is not what eyes can see;
It's the scarlet thread of love
that flows throughout eternity.	Psalm 103:17-19

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Scirpture refs:
1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Isaiah 64:4; John 19:2, 34

Isaiah 53:5, 12; Mt 13:45-46; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19

Zech 12:10; Rev 1:4-7; Rev 19:12, 16

Isa 61:1-3; Isa 28:5; Psalm 103:17-19

***

Crown You are crushed to be bread to the world. This is the divine hug. Your robe of righteousness is an ocean. You are cradled in his arms of love. New ministries are birthed for transformation. The crisis of faith is to deliver from fear.Your intercessor is near. Don't be ashamed. Angels behold your destiny. The correction is for your protection.You are in the shadow of the Almighty. What has puzzled you will be clear. Get ready for creative ministry with love at the center. Receive the crown prepared for you. This is your blessing. a word from the Heart Byron Putnam

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June 15, 2006
The Rose of Sharon

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

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the rose ..

I got the name desert rose from the above verses. I've included the link to this poem:
The Desert Rose

Something has always puzzled me about these verses.

It's often been taught that Jesus is the Rose of Sharon. Yet in the Song of Solomon the NIV has beloved saying 'I am the rose of Sharon'.

Beloved is the shulamite woman. Last december 2005 the Lord really opened my eyes that this shulamite woman represents the bride -- Christ's church -- the lover of Christ.

The rose is considered the most perfect of flowers.

Jesus is perfect -- without sin or blemish -- the perfect rose.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Christ gave himself as a sacrifice that the church might be made spotless -- perfect -- a perfect bride -- lover -- another rose.

Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I love this idea from the below article!

Normally in a husband-wife or boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, it is the male who gives roses to the wife or girlfriend. Since Jesus is considered the Bridegroom in His relationship with His church, it would thus be Jesus coming to us to give us the flowers. However, in this case, God may be going one step further -- for He gave us Jesus -- the most perfect flower...

The most perfect rose -- the most perfect love...

By using this symbolism in Song 2:1. It seems the Lord may be trying to tell us of the perfect love relationship He wants each of us to have with His Son Jesus Christ.

The phrase Desert Rose always brought the shulamite woman to my mind. Now it also brings Jesus as the perfect rose -- the perfect rose -- we the bride are made into by the blood of the Lamb...

2 Cor 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Psalm 4:6
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

Ideas from -- Jesus as the Rose of Sharon?:
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/Jesus-as-the-Rose-of-Sharon.html

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June 13, 2006
Desert Rose

Life is filled with deserts. But take heart - there is much hope in this promise. In fact tremendous spiritual growth can happen in the midst of our dry desert. I have found this to be especially true. With God we can look forward to a period of richness and EXTREME joy if we rest in the knowledge that "this too shall pass". God is with us.

Isaiah 51:3
Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

Amongst flowers the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the garden of the soul than the rose can be in the gardens of earth. Let Jesus into your dry desert heart. Let this blessed rose take root and bloom there forever.

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Isaiah 35:1-2
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
Like the rose, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly even with joy and singing.



The Desert Rose
Karen Holland

Desert rose, whose beauty shines
Grows in a most unlikely place.
In the hottest heat this rose is born.
A burst of sudden color, surprising grace,
Beauty in the desert amidst the thorns.
Like gold in the furnace tried, refined.
The petals unfurl, ever so slowly
Against the blast of heat and wind.
For this beauty is born in storms
Against the greatest of odds
Where all is dry, barren, wasted - dying
From lack of water.
The desert rose not only blooms
but thrives.

The sweet beauty, the surprising grace,
the miracle of the desert rose
doesn't dare to compare
to the heart of stone
touched by His Spirit and made new.
The heart of stone, touched, made new,
through faith,
where Jesus has taken root ,
sings, thrives and blooms.






Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

_____________________
Thank You Lord that You are with us - especially in the desert. Help each of us look forward to the blooming of the rose in the midst of our deserts. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

More: The Desert and the Rose

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June 11, 2006
Desert Bloom

Desert blooms are born in season out of storms...

Song of Solomon 2:10-12
My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come ...


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Light Shining Out of Darkness
by William Cowper

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God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.



Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the LORD by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.




His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
GOD is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.



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June 3, 2006
Seasons & Bulbs

It's hard to believe when you look at a flower bulb - brown, hard and often with a dry papery skin - that anything awaits, promised, inside. But it does.

Tucked in the depths of each mahogany, paper-sheathed sphere is the beginning of a new plant complete with an embryonic blossom. Need proof? Take a single ready to plant Hyacinth and cut it in half from top to bottom. You'll see a tiny bud and stem inside. This is pictured above.

Around these easily recognizable botanical parts is soft tissue that cushions the tiny sprout and provides nutritional support to the new plant as it grows. Together these parts comprise a magical combination of promise and practicality.

Of course, the best way to see the promise of the flower within the bulb -- is not to cut it in half -- it's to plant it. With the addition of water and warmth, in time, tiny green shoots emerge. With more care and good soil, in season, leaves unfurl, and budding stems stretch skyward. Then, one day when you are immersed in your regular routine, you realize that it has happened. Big, beautiful blooms in incredible colors have covered your new plants, a sweet sight and scent. These blooms are glorious.

And the best part? This is only the beginning. With attention to a few basic needs, this flower bulb magic will thrill you again and again, season after season.



Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

Only God Can See
Author Unknown

In the bulb there is a flower,
In the seed, an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise,
Butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter,
There's a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until it's season,
Something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody,
There's a dawn in every darkness,
Bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future,
What it holds a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning,
In our time, infinity,
In our doubt, there is believing,
In our Life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection,

At the last a victory,
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see.




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Thank You Lord that You are 'all seeing', 'all knowing'. Help us each discover & trust Your plans, for only You alone can see & know all.

Psalm 139:1-6
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

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June 3, 2006
Lord of the Breakthrough

2 Samuel 5:20
'As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me.'

Revelation 19:11-16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
       KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

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*** When heaven is open

*** the white horse
      -- God's power & strength
      -- purity & royalty will be publicly visible

*** the white horse is what is noticed first breaking forth

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David knew God as the Lord of the Breakthrough. One day David and his armies came to the Valley of Gibeon. There he confronted and completely defeated the Philistines. "David said, 'As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me.' So that place was called Baal Perazim" (2 Sam 5:20 ). David named the place ba'al_peratsiym (in Hebrew). He gave the place a name taken from the Philistine language and culture - calling Jehovah 'Baal Perazim' or "Lord of the Breakthrough," possessor of the breaches.

You see only a few verses before this encounter in the valley of Baal Perazim we find David and his mighty men attacking a walled city. It was not just any walled city. David took his prized city - he had taken Jerusalem! It was inhabited by the Jebusites, who David annihilated, "David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.... David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David" (2 Sam 5:7-8 ).

The way they took the fortress was not by violence, sheer force of numbers or starving them out. David literally "broke through" into the city by sending his men in through the water shaft (well or aqueduct). "As waters break out," he said in the valley battle a few days later, "As my men broke out from the waters and stormed the city, so I have watched you break out against the Philistines". Perhaps he had this in mind when he watched God do the very same thing - his God 'broke through' in surprise and defeated them...

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Micah 2:12-13
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. {Rev 19:6}

The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. (KJV)

Rev 19:6
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Isaiah 28 ref to Mount Perazim:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2028;&version=31

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June 2, 2006
Broken Chains

Psalm 107:13-14

Broken Chains
Caitlin