A Rose is a Rose is a Rose…..

This is definitely the year of THE BUGS.

First, rose chafer beetles feasted here. Before they left, Japanese Beetles decided to move in and take over their job. Now, there’s a strange white moth fluttering around that is eating the foliage and turning leaves brown. Since I don’t use chemical bug sprays, I have used the more natural bug repellents like DE and Neem oil and bug trap bags. I have done what I can do in the natural, and I had to surrender these devouring bugs to GOD.

I had a talk with Him. “Father, this is YOUR PLACE, not mine. When you look down from Heaven, I want you to see beauty and SMILE. But with these bugs eating everything, You probably look down and say “YUCK”. “Abba, I’ve done what I can do in the “natural”, and I’ve even prayed and surrendered this infestation to You. So I don’t understand WHY these bugs are still here.”  answer: HAVE YOU REBUKED THE DEVOURER?

Hmmmm. I had not done that. God WANTS US TO REALIZE THE AUTHORITY HE HAS GIVEN US THROUGH JESUS. Through the in-dwelling of Holy Spirit, given to ALL BELIEVERS by GOD, He gives us right and authority over the strategies of satan to steal, kill, destroy.

In the OT scripture of Malachi , God says He will rebuke and stop the locusts when His People turn BACK to Him. God is GOD and is more than capable of stopping “a locust infestation” on ANY plot of land! Malachi is a pertinent book for this time of times. To say that this world and the things therein have allowed “locusts infestation” is an understatement …

When the devourer destroys the vine, (the plan of Jesus for YOUR LIFE) there is NO FRUIT. When the Vine is strong and healthy (your relationship with Jesus is strong) you WILL bear MUCH FRUIT and in so doing, glorify God! John 15:1-10. And THIS FRUIT, blessed by GOD, is stored by Him, up in Heaven, where satanic and/or worldly influences CANNOT DESTROY.

So, I went around the yard, REBUKING THE DEVOURER, telling those nasty disgusting vile bugs to LEAVE in JESUS’ Name, and I asked God to BLESS THE PLANTS FLOWERS GARDEN TREES and LAND to yield fruit beautiful enough for Him to look down from Heaven and SMILE.

Now, roses are my favorite. So I have alot of rose bushes. The bugs eat the blossoms before they bloom,, turning them black and disgusting. Yesterday, I noticed I actually had rose FLOWERS that were NOT bug-eaten and gross! Excited, I went from bush to bush, pruning off a beautiful, fragrant, LOVELY, untouched rose off each bush! I would have a beautiful bouquet to put on my table and fragrance my kitchen! I was as excited as a kid in a candy shop! Yay! pretty roses at last! I have 16 rose bushes, and I pruned a rose off almost every bush! They were gorgeous! Bug-free! No brown, black, or yucky petals! PRAISE THE LORD!

I stood at the counter by the sink, arranging the roses in a large vase. Then Jesus spoke to me. “What are you going to do with those?” “Well, Lord, Im going to put them on my table and enjoy them! Thank you!” Then, He said, “Lynda needs some cheering up today…” My heart sank for an instant. The first bug free bouquet, and He wants me to give it away?!!!  Then the spirit-man in me, led of Holy Spirit, knocked down my fleshly thinking, and I excitedly said “YES, LORD!”

I spotted the bottle of wine my kids had left here from the local winery, still sitting on the counter waiting for a partaker. “Hmmm….Mike and Lynda like wine….”. I went to my card-box, found a card of Hope and Healing, and grabbed it all and headed to my neighbors house.

Lynda was surprised and happy to see me! “They are so pretty, and they smell so good!”. She smiled. I know Jesus cheered her up right away, and I have been convicted, once again— that it is MUCH better to give than to receive! I am blessed to be able to BE A BLESSING to someone, through something as simple and inexpensive as home-grown bug-free roses, a bottle of wine, and a card!

And, I know that there will be many more bug-free beautiful fragrant roses for me and others to enjoy, because I have REBUKED THE DEVOURER, and asked GOD to BLESS THIS LAND.

Is the devourer (satan the destroyer) after something in YOUR LIFE? Finances, health, marriage, other relationships, what you do for God and His ministry? Rebuke him in Jesus’ Name! Don’t let him take the blessings God has given you! Thank God for His Blessings, Hold fast in faith and TRUST GOD as you allow Holy Spirit to lead you to bear much fruit and glorify GOD in your every day life!

Luke 10:19-20

have a blessed, bug-free day!