Roses

'I am a Rose of Sharon, a Lily of the Valleys.'

'Like a Lilly among thorns is my Darling among the maidens.'

'Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade and his fruit is sweet to my taste.' Song of Songs 2:1-3

Jesus is our refuge. And not just our place to hide from the storm and make us feel good. But if you're married, you know your spouse is literally an oasis from the weight of the week. Jesus is the same. He is our beautiful rose and apple tree among the week, among the people, among the songs and work and school and everything and everyone else. No one can love us as passionately as he can. He desires us so badly and wants us to sit in his shade all day enjoying him. God never said it would be easy living in this world. Most of his closes friends and companions that were his while he was on earth either died horribly or were exiled. Following our beautiful sweet Jesus leads us to the cross. But we are also led to a marriage with our Beloved Jesus forever and ever. How wonderful to have a Beloved who will and has died for us. Poured out everything he has in order to save us and keep us and woo us to be his own.

He is our God and our Everything. Forever and ever. God be near to you this week and this Monday. It's always hard starting up another week, but when we have a wonderful Jesus who is like a pool of cool water on a hot day or a lovely bed of roses to lie on when tired, he wants us in every moment of this week to be intimate with him and lie in his embrace.