A Rosebud Opens

This five-minute adaptation is to all the rosebuds in my life, most devotedly my daughter.
"Rejoice... in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth."

The bud and foliage hold little promise but daily the rose grows.
Threads of color, offer promise, peeping through the green.
The bloom widens, then bursts, and there the flower is revealed.
Watching in admiration and delight, it matures to full size and beauty.
Waiting, until it is reached and then gradually the flower is complete.
At that moment, the opening blossom is blended with the grace & charm of the bud.
Girlhood is an opening flower emerging into womanhood.

Womanhood has charms of its own.
This wonderful experience, this transformation, this blossoming is a miracle to behold in life's garden.
Girlhood is the rose half-open.
It is charming with a beauty and coloring of youth.
Behold the affections held especially for childhood, blending with the graces and powers of womanhood.
Appreciate these golden days my dear.
While you have your own irritations, these carefree days are in many ways the happiest in life.

You stand where the brook and the river meet.
A time will come when these days and toys will be tucked away,
and the wonderful joys of womanhood will arrive.
Girlhood days are happy days.
This is revealed in the blush of your cheeks, the youth in your veins,
for the cares of life have not settled upon your heart.
You continue to catch the notes of music, and respond so pleasurably to fancy.

Full of song and laughter.
Your magic-view hides the pains of life and reveals the joys that are so often overlooked.
Your heart, beats with eagerness, with no doubt that conquest is possible.
No defeats, failures, disappointments!
Every thorn is hidden, every rose is revealed.
Contagious are your joy and optimism.
Your presence cheers the soul. Your hope and laughter quickens the pulse.

Older ones know what life holds, yet your ways woo and influence them.
Garlands upon your lips meet the depths of each heart joyously and unafraid.
I shan't chill the warmth and animation of happy girlhood.
If just ahead you knew that your back would bend and your heart would break,
"would the knowing" actually make it less painful?
No! So, for now, laugh and play for this is your day.
Dream, aspire, climb new heights.

What a pessimist I would be if I were to discourage your dreams, your hopes.
Enjoy your blue skies, and light paths.
But, beware, Girlhood is not without danger.
The most beautiful rose would be blighted; even the brightest would fail, if the blight of sin is ignored.
Your inheritance will only prove pure, beautiful, and useful; if it is not robbed in childhood.
Guard your bud-laden rose vine, my dear.... so that it won't be trampled upon and robbed of it's unsullied purity.
Girlhood is a time of making ready.

Maturity, independence will come.
For a while, let those who lead you- carry the burdens, burdens that would be ill-fit for young shoulders.
In so short a time, these who lead- will let go, and then you, too, will step into the world of womanhood.
For now- rejoice, dream, sip the honey of these sweet girlhood days;
but beware to guard the slip of your feet.
Be pure, be true, be sincere, be earnest in these girlhood days so sweet;
and life can bring a peace and joy that none can fathom.

adapted from - Beautiful Girlhood.

Reflecting on Revelation (9 of 9)

In chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, we see the approach of the New Heaven and the New Earth. The old had passed away. The Holy city, which will be the New Jerusalem, will be the bride and the wife of the Lamb. And, she will shine with the glory of God in all of His brilliance.

A loud voice was lifted from the throne announcing that God would now dwell amongst His people and they would dwell with Him. There would be no cost to drink from the spring of life. All those who are victorious and have overcome will inherit this gift. He will make all things new.

And, the city would be surrounded by twelve gates of pearl on which had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Each gate will host one of twelve angels. The foundations of the city will consist of twelve layers of the most precious stones and each were the names of the twelve apostles who were sent to seek out His bride and to build up His dwelling place.

This city will be a perfect square. It is interpreted to be 1,400 miles in length and width. There will be no temple building because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb will be the temple. There will be no tears, death, or pain. Nothing impure will ever enter for only those who were written in the Lambs Book of Life will be able to enter and live amongst one another.

Eden will be restored. The water from the river of life will flow from the throne and down the middle of the great street. There will be a tree of life which will bear 12 crops of fruit. Fruit will grow each month. Its leaves will heal the nations. We will see His face and His name will be written on our foreheads. He will be our light. We will serve Him and we will reign with Him forever.

In light of all these things, we must be ready. For He says, “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words written on this scroll.” This is the sixth of the seven blessings.

He is coming soon and His rewards will be with Him. Salvation comes only as a gift. It cannot be earned. It must be accepted as a gift. But there will be rewards in Heaven. And, He will give to each according to what we have done. With that we read the seventh blessing. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates of the city.”

Once more He extends His invitation for the adventure into eternal life. “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come and take the free gift of the water of life.

Finally, this is a warning- to any who takes away or changes any words of this prophecy from Revelation for they will not take part in the tree of life or the holy city.

With John, let us too, cry; “Amen and Come Lord Jesus!”

Reflecting on Revelation (8 of 9)

In chapter twenty, a thousand year reign is ushered into history. During this time, Satan will be bound in the great abyss. Thrones will be established and those who will be given authority to judge will take their seat. The martyred will be resurrected first. The fifth of the seven blessings states, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death will have no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for one thousand years.”

When the one thousand year reign is over, Satan will be released for a short time for one final battle. He will be allowed to gather, the last of those who will reject Christ. And, once they march and surround the city that God loves, fire will come down and devour them. Satan, the great deceiver, will be cast into the lake of burning sulfur along with the beast and the false prophet. There, they will reside forever.

Finally, a great white throne and He, who was seated on it, appeared. At that moment earth and sky fled for there was not enough room. Books were opened, along with the Book of Life. All of the dead were judged according to their deeds that had been recorded in the books. Any whose name did not appear in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Only those who had surrendered to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God would find their names in the Book of Life.