Sacred Blooms: Roses

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the sun’s kiss of warmth as I watch roses wake from their winter hibernation;
let it remind me that I am cherished for who I am.

Fun Fact: Roses are one of the most ancient flowers, dating back millions of years. The oldest living rose bush in Germany is over 1,000 years old. (facts.com)

Roses.
Colorful.
Red for love.
White for purity.
Yellow for friendship.
Pink for admiration.

Each popping out of their dark brown stems, lifting toward the light as if to say, I love you more each day.

Roses are late risers of spring. Their colors are vivid and bright. Yet some are pale and soft, like a whisper of a sweet nothing.

And then there are the thorns. Prickles, exactly — barbs that rise from the skin of each branch. These small, sharp growths stand guard over the fragile rose, protecting what is tender from what might harm it. Just as the rose is shielded by its thorns, we are watched over by God — held, guarded, and kept in ways we often never see.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

—Jeremiah 31:3

The rose mirrors our souls like a romance novel. As we rise each morning, we can be like a rose— resilient, adaptable, and open to love. The love God shows us and the love we share with one another.

May your heart be filled with passion.
May you be open to love when you least expect it.
May you bloom each day in the color of your choosing.

*Image Credit: “Rose” by DBduo Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

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Digging Deeper with Tiger Lilies

A Series from the Psalms

I embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence as it nudges me to grow in grace. Let the bloom of the tiger lily remind me to be bold —
to shine light where people need it most.

Tiger lilies respond to light. They stand tall, even in the wildest places. Their unexpected beauty is part of what makes them bold. There is something sacred going on. Each is stunning in color. Oranges, pinks, and yellows.

Joshua 1:9 reminds us, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Morning greets these courageous flowers as they fill with water and unfurl their petals. “Glory to God in the highest,” they seem to say. Afternoon warms them and keeps them safe. Evening whispers to their petals, “It’s time to tuck your petals in, like tucking yourself into bed.” And when night falls, the cool air sweeps through the fields as if the angels themselves are kissing each bloom goodnight.

Like tiger lilies, we wait for angels to tuck us in each night, too. We fill ourselves with rest so we can greet each day anew. Maybe that’s why this bloom speaks so deeply to the soul.

God is shaping us. He is providing rest. He is preparing us.

There’s no pressure.
No expectation.
Just an invitation.

Tiger lilies teach us that courage grows in hidden places. It forms in the moments no one sees. Prayers in the dark. Decisions made behind closed doors. These quiet steps strengthen us little by little. Each moment is an opportunity to be brave and to grow in grace.

May you be bold like the tiger lily.
May you go where no one else dares to go.
May your faith draw you closer to God.

*Image Credit: “Orange Tiger Lily” by audreyjm529 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Sacred Blooms: Tiger Lilies

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the confidence unfolding within me
as I watch tiger lilies bloom tall and proud.

Fun fact: Tiger lilies have bold orange petals with dark speckles to deter predators. They’re resilient and often grow in places other flowers avoid.

Tiger lilies.
Wild and bold.
Blooms swaying back and forth,
as the summer breeze refreshes the soul.
Slender and tall, they lift toward the light,
as if to sprinkle love where other plants won’t grow.

Tiger lilies are early spring risers. They grow wide, and they are stubborn fellas. Their growth begins in late fall, when they store energy in dormant bulbs.

As the bulbs wake from a long winter’s nap, they get busy growing, bending toward the sun in every which way, gracing us with their vibrant presence.

Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

A tiger lily mirrors our souls. We rise each day, tall and wild, and we firmly plant our feet on the floor. They remind us to be ready to face whatever comes.

Their speckles tell a story, too. Life is full of surprises. Good and bad. And we carry each of these experiences in our hearts. They are the marks we carry. The marks make us proud. They reveal where we’ve been, what we’ve survived, and how God has shaped us along the way.

May courage rise in you each day.
May you trust the strength God is forming in you.
May you bloom boldly, bravely, and beautifully —
just like the tiger lily.

*Image Credit: “Tiger Lily” by HandsLive is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Digging Deeper with Daisies

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the quietness of the morning,
which gives me space for sacred reflection.
I choose the simplicity of trusting and resting in faith.

Daisies respond to light.
They open as the sun rises and close as the sun sets.
There is something sacred going on.
A kind of rhythm. What do you think?

Psalm 131:2 says, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul.”

Morning is not just a time of day.
It is a time when we wake.
We listen.
We quiet our souls.
We think. We reflect.
And we turn to faith. A faith that is not loud. Nor dramatic. But one that draws us closer to God.

Like a daisy waiting for the right moment to shower us with its white, elegant petals, we wait for God to shower his blessings upon us.

God is calming us. Shaping us. Preparing us.

In a world that pulls us in a thousand directions, the daisy invites us back to center—to the steady, gentle presence of God.

The daisy teaches us that beauty is not rushed. Growth is not hurried. And simplicity arrives in its own time, carried by the beauty of a calm and quiet spirit. A spirit given to us by a loving, steadfast God.

May you find comfort in the simplicity of faith.
May you rest in the silence of your soul
as you dig deeper to find inner peace.

Image Credit: “Pushing Daisies” by Shermeee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Sacred Blooms: Daisies

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the idea of resilience.
I welcome the unfolding within me as I watch daisies wake
from their cold winter’s nap.

Fun Fact: The word “daisy” comes from the Old English day’s eye, because the flower opens with the sun and closes when the light fades.

Daisies.
Simple and white.
Petals dancing in the wind,
push through thawed ground,
lifting toward the light,
as if to kiss us with the sun.

Daisies are early risers, like the tulips. They grow, thin and slender, swaying in the breeze. Their petals are delicate yet elegant. Their “eyes” glow as if they are smiling at the saddest heart. So bright and cheery they are.

Daisies follow a rhythm. They open with the morning light and close again at night. The white petals and golden centers invite us to breathe, soften, and find rest for renewal.

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul.

— Psalm 131:2

The daisy mirrors our souls. As we rise each morning, we are like daisies. Simply fragile. Simply human. We choose to stand in the light to move forward. As we are drawn to the steady stream of light that shines on us through the day.

Daisies remind us that faith is simple. It’s quiet. It’s choosing to stand in the light and trust God to provide rest.

May your soul find rest in the simplicity of God’s love.
May you breathe deeply and trust the gentle rhythms of grace.
May you stand in the light you have today.

*Image Credit: “daisy” by Jon Bunting is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Digging Deeper with Calla Lilies

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome and embrace the presence of God.
Let the calla lily’s funnel remind me to stay open —
to God, to myself, and to others.

Spring is not just a season.
It’s a reawakening.
A time to see.
A time to feel.
A time to experience.
Nature waking after a cold winter’s slumber.

We turn inward.
Toward hope.
Toward grace.
Toward holiness.

Psalm 96:9 reminds us, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”

Like a calla lily waiting for the right moment to rise through its tangled tubes, we wait for God’s breath to bring color back into every part of our lives.

And like those lilies, we weave our way through the messes of each day, figuring things out as we go.

Not all at once.
Not in a rush.
But slowly — deliberately —
trusting that clarity will come.

God is untangling us. Refreshing us. Renewing us.

There is no pressure.
No expectation.
Only an invitation.

The calla lily teaches us that reverence begins with a willingness to let God do the untangling, so we can grow in the way we were meant to. Its color reminds us that holiness doesn’t look the same on everyone.
Some of us are quiet.
Some of us are bold.
Some of us are simply ourselves.
And all of it is beautiful.
All of it is welcome.

May you be who you are.
May you grow in grace.
May you feel abundantly loved each and every day.

Image Credit: *“29March2008344” by LukeGordon1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Sacred Blooms: Calla Lily

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the calla lilies that whisper prayers
as they unfurl in the early spring.
Let them remind me to open my heart
and breathe in gratitude each day.

Fun Fact: Calla lilies originated from Africa. Lovely as they are, they’re not even lilies. And don’t let their beauty fool you. Their flowers are toxic.

Calla lilies.
Graceful and pure.
Slender and elegant.
Rising from deep green leaves,
they lift themselves toward the light
and push through the soil to offer prayers to heaven above.

Calla lilies are summer-blooming bulbs. They grow in confidence as they inch toward their full thirty inches. They are often white, yet they do bloom in various colors. Truly gorgeous.

Their grace is often present in chapels, churches, and other spaces for worship. Their funnel shape reminds us to stay open to what’s coming our way.
To receive what we need from God,
let go of what weighs us down,
and to be present to each moment as a gift.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 96:9

The calla lily invites us to slow down,
to breathe deeply,
to remember that reverence is about presence —
showing up before God with honesty and awe.

May your spirit be open to the sacred.
May you feel God’s grace shine upon you.
May you pause and be present a little more with each passing day.

Image Credit: *“Calla Lillies” by Ani Carrington is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Digging Deeper with Tulips

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome the light of the morning,
which gives me the strength to rise and answer God’s call.

Tulips respond to light.
Even after they are cut, they continue to stretch, reach, and open.
There is something sacred going on.
A kind of persistence. Do you think?

Psalm 30:5 reminds us that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Morning is not just a time of day.
It is a time when we wake.
We listen.
We hear our heartbeat.
And we turn toward hope. A hope that God is going to do something incredible. Even if we can’t see it yet.

Like a tulip waiting for the right moment to burst through the ground, we wait for God’s hand to guide us through the seasons of life.

Like tulips, we move through seasons of darkness and cold. We have nights that feel long and moments that lack clarity. But God is always working behind the scenes, like in the ground where tulips prepare to bloom.

God is shaping us. Polishing us. Preparing us.

There’s no pressure.
No expectation.
Just an invitation.

The tulip teaches us that beauty is not rushed. Growth is not hurried. And joy—true joy—arrives in its own time, carried by the faithfulness of God. A God that loves us with an everlasting love.

May you feel the warmth of God’s light.
May you grow in the ways you need to grow.
May joy rise in you like morning light and
be full of promise and hope.

*Image Credit: “Assisted Growth” by FeatheredTar*
*is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Sacred Blooms: Tulips

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome new beginnings. I welcome the unfolding within me as I watch tulips wake from their cold winter’s nap.

Fun Fact: Tulips close at night and reopen in the morning, responding to light. They are also one of the few flowers that continue to grow even after their stems are cut.

Tulips.
Soft pastels.
Bold ones, too.
Push through cold ground,
Lifting toward the light
As if to smile and welcome love.

Tulips are the early risers of spring. They grow with confidence and like the cool air that still lingers all around. Their colors vary from soft to bold. So elegant they are.

Tulips have a mind of their own. Some unfold slowly, others open up quickly. They reveal their beauty one petal at a time.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

— Psalm 30:5

The tulip mirrors our souls. As we rise each morning, we are like tulips. Long, slender, and rising up to the light. We long for that steady stream of light to pull us through the day. God’s steadfast hand guides us all the way.

May your heart open gently to the new things
God is growing in you.
May joy meet you in the morning.
May you bloom on your schedule and not someone else’s.

*Image Credit & Source: “TULIPS!” by The Glass Beehive* is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

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Sacred Blooms: Introduction

A Series from the Psalms

I welcome new beginnings.
I welcome the unfolding within me as I watch flowers wake and gently bloom from their cold winter’s nap.

Flowers are tender, poetic, and intimate.
They bring a sense of beauty that seeps quietly into the sacred space within each of us. And as winter fades, blooms begin to unfold, right before our very eyes. A gentle reminder to us that new life is always on its way.

The Psalms are one of the poetry books of the bible. It is found in the Wisdom writings as the 19th book in the Old Testament.
Some say they are poems.
Others say they are songs. But they are far more than that.
They are a language that speaks to the soul–raw, honest, and being human before God.

In this series, we will look at how flowers differ from one another.
Some are small.
Some are bold.
Some open slowly.
Some open all at once.
Some bloom for a day.
Some bloom for a season.
Each one reveals something about how we grow, how we hope, and how we respond to God and to one another.

Posts will begin with an affirmation and a fun fact about a flower, followed by a Psalm, a short reflection, and a blessing. Together, these will form a beautiful bouquet — simple, tender, and rooted in God’s love for us.

And so, we begin —
a month of blooms.
A month of unfolding.
A month of letting the Psalms guide us gently into spring

*“Tulip bud” by x70tjw is licensed under*
*CC BY-SA 2.0.*

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