Not Like My Rose - The Little Prince

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses in the rose garden.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. You are empty. No one has tamed you..."

And the roses were very much embarrassed.

"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "To be sure, an ordinary passer-by would think that my rose, the rose that belongs to me,  looked just like you...

"But in herself she is no more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing.

 "Because she is my rose."

    -- From The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exuprey

  

God's Word is full of love notes and valentines to us:

• You are my treasured possession (Exodus 19:5)
• It is My desire to lavish My love on you ((I John 3:1)
• I love you with everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)
• When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34:18)
• I will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
• I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My Son, Jesus (John 17:23)   
• I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
• I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32)

 To list just a few.....

The Name above all Names - Sarah Young

Whenever you feel distant from me, whisper My Name in loving trust. This simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence.

My Name is constantly being abused in the world, where people use it is as curse word. This verbal assault reaches all the way to heaven; every word is heard and recorded.

When you trustingly whisper My Name, My aching ears are soothed. The grating rancor of the world's blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child's utterance, "Jesus."

The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your comprehension.

  From Sarah Young's, Jesus Calling



A song we sing today...written by Lela Long about 1925...

Jesus is the sweetest name I know

And He's just the same

As His lovely name

And that's the reason why I love Him so

Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

A hymn from the 12th century AD....

Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills my breast

But sweeter far Thy face to see

And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no voice can frame

Nor can the memory find

A sweeter sound than Jesus' name

O Savior of mankind!

A hymn by John Newton, written about 1776

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast
'Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name -- the rock on which I build
My shield and hiding place
My never-failing treasure
Filled with boundless store of grace!

Jesus, my shepherd, brother, friend
My prophet, priest and King
My Lord, my life, my way, my end
Accept the praise I bring!

Getting Through the Day - Sarah Young

Let Me help you get through this day.

There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night.

Stay alert to the  many choices along the way, being continually aware of My Presence.

You will get through this day one way or the other.

One way is to moan and groan, stumbling along with shuffling feet.

This will get you to the end of the day eventually, but there is a better way.

You can choose to walk with Me along the path of Peace, leaning on Me as much as you need.

There will still be difficulties along the way, but you can face them confidently in My strength.

Thank Me for each problem you encounter, and watch to see how I transform trials into blessings.

                     -- From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

...to guide our feet into the path of peace.

     Luke 1:79

What is impossible? - Sarah Young

It is impossible to praise or thank Me too much.

As it is written: I inhabit the praises of My people.

Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings.

At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured --- an act of your will.

I dwell equally in both types of praise.

Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near Me.

A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.

When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow.

When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a show-piece in invisible realms.

Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving.

This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

I will praise the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146:1-2

Give thanks in all circumstances,

For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Walk in the Light - Sarah Young

Seek Me with your whole being.

I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind.

When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you.

When you encounter rough patches along your life journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you.

My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise.

Seek Me in good times; seek Me in hard times.

You will find Me watching over you all the time.

  -- From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

But if from there you seek the LORD our God,

you will find Him if you look for Him

with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

The LORD watches over all who love Him.

Psalm 145:20

Let us hold on to the hope we profess,

 for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23