Daily Encouragement For July 11:

Unfolding The Rosebud

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher
in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for
him to do; he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher 
walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told
him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked
in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what
a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF 
GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for 
the older preacher, he proceeded to Try to unfold the rose, while keeping
every petal in tact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it
was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the 
rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the 
following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only God knows, but
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

As we grow in the Lord He, day by day we flourish.

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;” - Psalm 92:12-14.