The Lily

"I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon." Hosea 14:15

I have always wondered about the Easter Lily and why it is the Easter Lily. So... here is what I have found... Enjoy.

Christianity, like all other faiths, has stories or traditions that can neither be proven or disproved. The stories surrounding the Easter Lily are examples of such.

According to some scholars the Lily was found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus had prayed. Tradition says that the flower miraculously grew out of the ground that drank in the sweat and tears from Jesus' travail in prayer. There are even stories that say the Lily grew around the tomb of Mary and many historical paintings will show Gabriel delivering heaven's message to her with Lilies in his hand- giving her a silent message as to what was to come.

The beauty of the Lily is also something of story. It is nicknamed the "White Robed Apostles of Hope.' The flower's white color speaks to the purity of the Resurrection and its shape to the joy of sounding trumpets proclaiming Christ's Resurrection.

The flower itself is remarkable. It has the ability to grow in almost any condition. It can grow in the murkiest and sometimes scummiest places. Without too much attention, its first green shoots might look similar to weeds; however, at some point it will burst forth with a beautiful crown of white.

Have a Joyful Easter! My God IS ALIVE! HE LIVES!

Have a Bright and Joyful Easter!

I was reading this evening in Ephesians and noticed something that just 'jumped' right out. (You know what mean- when you feel like you have just read something for the very first time- as if every word in the book isn't 2000 years old!)

"...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Chapter 1:13ish-14)

I am so thankful that the Holy Ghost is IN me- my GUARANTEE of salvation. It is my personal guarantee that one day I WILL see Jesus. Nothing can take the Holy Ghost from me. No one can pull it out. I have a 100% guarantee that as long as I keep the Holy Ghost, I WILL be part of that purchased possession that will one day be redeemed for God's glory! WOW- Thank God for the third day when He rose from the dead to infill us with His guarantee!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter. Ours will be cool (with snow- how ridiculous is that?)and blessed!