I watched as the Creator took the man and placed him within such a beautiful garden, Eden. As He set him there, God spoke to this man, charging him with the responsibility to tend and keep it (Genesis 2: 15). But what did that mean? To tend to it? To keep it? What was God's plan with this garden? What was to become of this place? 

 

To me, this place was more than just a garden, this was my home. Across the way, the green field, beside me, the over arching trees, beneath me, the damp soil, this garden is the place I was designed to be. I am a flower. He is a man. I am a flower. But both placed within this garden with a purpose. As I watched this man work, his purpose there-in became more evident to me. I watched as he called all the animals to himself and named them. His presence influenced his surroundings. Now, each received a name. I began to wonder what my purpose was within a garden. I began to wonder if I was influencing my surroundings. 

 

One day, no different than the rest, as I was personally tending for and caring for my own environment, by opening up to the sun rays, intaking the moisture from the soil, and on, this man walked beside me in conversation with the Creator. I heard the Lord speak of purpose and plan...He than pointed to me as He said, "Radiance. Do you not know dear Adam that you were created to bring glory to the Radiant One? Do you not yet understand creation of mine, that I have designed you in My image that you may radiate who I am to the world? This flower here, is titled what? You should know." 

 

Adam responded, "It is a rancunculus flower." 

 

"Very good" the Creator's gentle but powerful voice. "You well know the name, but do you know the meaning? These flowers mean "radiant charm". When I created them, this truth was not far from My mind, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. " (Psalm 34:4-5). This idea of being captured by fears may seem distant to you newly created being, but I see further. I see the day these words will be penned, but the point of this being shared, is that, men will look to me and find radiance. When mankind looks to me, He is looking to the One he has been created to reflect. Why, do you wonder, do I take the time to be with you? That you may know me, be familiar with me, that you may radiate my character to others." 

At such a word, Adam pulled me from my root, and quickly took me in hand, to Eve, his wife. 

 

"I understand now, the purpose of our being here Eve! We have been created to reflect His radiance. To reflect the radiance of GOD! Created in His image with purpose. Created exactly how we are with purpose. Created with eyes to look to Him, then to reflect Him to others with purpose." Adam's voice, nearly popping with zeal and excitement.

 

As Adam handed me over to Eve, he said, "This flower, means radiant. This is what we are called to do. Radiate the Creator through creation. We are His creation, and through these bodily frames, we are to radiate Him."

 

Do you think this flower had any idea as to why certain features of his creation were so? Or why his location was so ordained? No! But by this flower being faithful to bloom where it was planted, by embracing and tending it's surrounding, it has blossomed into a beautiful demonstration, used by God to declare God's purpose for man, to RADIATE HIMSELF. Eve, let us be as this flower."

A moment later, after the man and his wife had left, I was being held in the arms of the Creator. His gentleness, the air I breathed in. His love, felt before any touch. He looked at me with pleasure and said, "I know the plans I have for you. I knew why I had you to be planted where you were, I knew you would be plucked from your home this day, and I knew that because of the plucking you will not live forever in this garden. The plucking is what enabled you to be used as a visual messenger to Adam and Eve of their purpose in this life, but it has also begun the count down on your living. You are now dying. Dying each moment. But your death is working life in others. You did well, dear flower, you were faithful to your call, and you have been used faithfully. Life comes from dying." 

 

With such a line, I watched His eyes drift forward, as if He was picturing something in the distant future. He continued, "One day, yes, One day, mankind will too learn that lesson, and by My Spirit, those who desire to be used in that time, must live it out, that dying to self brings life in the Spirit. But those are lessons for a different day. Today, you were used, and tomorrow you will cease, but in eternities eyes, you have radiated God's purpose for mankind. Well done good and faithful flower. Enter into the true radiance of eternity."

From the other side of death, I penned this story, to encourage the saint who today feels dim. You are radiant. Within you dwells the Spirit of God. You have been commissioned with a call to blossom where you were planted, to look to Him, and then to radiate His love to others. Are you being faithful with the area of influence you have been given? Are you appreciating the body that enables you to be His radiance? Are you looking to Your God with your own eyes, so others may see His reflection when they look at you? Silence what you doubt, or what you fear, He has delivered you from those things, you were created in His image for His purpose, look to Him and allow His radiance to shine through you in all you set your hands to do.

Michelle McCulloch 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11 KJV

I love to see woolly sheep grazing in a lush green pasture. It is a calming sight to behold. But did you know that if a sheep falls over on its back it cannot get back up? Someone, usually the shepherd has to assist the sheep or it will eventually die.

Have you ever felt like a sheep? That you were down and could not get back up? Maybe you were physical ill, had been beaten down by the world, hurt by a loved one or maybe you were burden by the loss of someone close to you. In today's world there are many situations that can render a person helpless and feeling like a sheep laying on its back and unable to get back up.

But thanks to a loving God, we have a Shepherd, who reaches down and gently turns us over in order for us to stand. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for us, His sheep. Thus, we have the reassurance that the next time we are on our back like a sheep all we have to do is look up to heaven and say with confidence, roll me over Jesus!

Lord thank you for all the times that you have rolled me over and lifted me up. In Jesus' name, Amen.