The Easter Lily

My mind was drawn to the Easter lily this morning. I am not sure why except I plan to put some artificial ones in my new brick planter in the front of my house this morning. It's a beautiful flower. I looked up it's significance for the Easter holiday as I am not fully aware of it (and if I was, I had forgotten). So, I will share with you what has been laid on my heart in this.

The Easter Lily is the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flower which symbolizes purity, virtue, innocence, hope, strength, and life—the spiritual essence of Easter. History, mythology, literature, poetry and the world of art are full of stories and images that speak of the beauty and majesty of this elegant white flower. Easter lilies have been called the “white-robed apostles of hope,” as they were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s agony. Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. This is why churches continue to bank their altars and surround their crosses with masses of Easter Lilies during the Easter season.

It is a commemoration to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting. Is He not all the things that the Easter lily represents and more-love, purity, virtue, innocence, hope, strength, life, grace, forgiveness? It is the reflection of the cross which symbolizes God's abundance in our life.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you,

so that in all things at all times,

having all that you need,

you will abound in every good work.

~2 Corinthians 9:8

When you seek to serve God in whatever area He has called you, you will find God's grace there to support you, to lift you up, to carry you and to strengthen you-abundance. Is that not what we want, what we seek each morning when we open our Bibles and pray-abundance of God in our life?

Donna Partow in her book "Becoming the Women I Want To Be" stated the following:

"If we want love, then we must be loving

If we want to find our life purpose, then we must lose our lives

If we want power, the we must pray

If we want peace, then we must trust

If we want wisdom, then we must study God's Word

If we want spiritual growth, then we must cultivate spiritual discipline

If we want emotional healing, then we must forgive others and repent of our sins

If we want joy, then we must be grateful

If we want health, then we must care for our body

If we want financial security, then we must tithe, save, and stay out of debt

If we want victory over sin, then we must establish accountability and actively fight temptation

If we want abundant life, then we must walk in obedience"

You can't get your "wants" without the "doing", they go hand-in-hand. We were created by the the same maker of the Easter Lily and we are called to be just as radiant. As you glaze on these beautiful flowers this Easter season, humbly reflect on the sacrifice of Christ and the abundance God has provided for you in your life. Reflect on on your spiritual journey and the beautiful relationship you now have with Him. Be thankful for Christ blood, His resurrection and this gift of redemptive grace.

As I have surfed through these sweet blogs over this spring break, I have been blessed by so many women who are spiritually alive, seeking to serve God, and ministering to others. Your hearts remind me of the beauty of the Easter Lily. Each one of you encourage me with your heart of love, purity, virtue, innocence, hope, strength, life, grace, and forgiveness. In this season may you "Give to the LORD the glory due His name..." and may you "...Bring an offering, and come before Him... and ladies, we are called to "...Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! (1 Chronicles 16:29).

Have a blessed Easter celebration in Christ!

In His Graces~Pamela