Why My Favorite Flower is an Iris
Years ago my ministry almost
destroyed me. I fell in love
with it more than the Lord. Our ministry, if we are not careful, can be our number one enemy! It happens so innocently,
for we love what God has called us to do. The Lord began
to hinder my ministry by closing doors and locking the windows. Invitations had stopped and I found myself alone with my family and God. For about three
months I was shut
in with God. I discovered if you slow down and spend time with Him you won't lose your ministry unless it was yours.
If it's God's ministry it will continue without you.
After three months alone with God I saw my ministry take
off like never before. All I did was spend time
with Him. One
day as I felt His loving arms around me, I sensed the Lord was so delighted to just have me be with Him without doing anything for Him. He was actually thrilled with my presence, and I discovered that we were created to be with Him on earth, not just in Heaven. As He embraced me for those
three months, there was a moment that I heard Him say to the angels, "Take this son's ministry and
take it to the four corners of the earth, for he is thrilling Me!" I believe there
are times that we should stop what we are doing long
enough to find out if God is still calling us in the same direction that He did years ago.
Below is one of the revelations I received during the time spent with Him. He is
calling me once again to slow down and have a season of rest in Him. This time He said, "Son,
as you rest in Me, you will reap where you have not sown." Maybe He is calling you also to take a break so you don't
fall apart.
My Favorite Flower is An
Iris
One morning during a three month sabbatical I was walking to my prayer room passing by our bay window that was filled with beautiful flowers called Irises. They were in full bloom, shouting a grand finale of colors and majesty. As I walked past them, I heard the Lord whisper. "Bill, I want you to sit down and behold the flowers." As I did, I found myself mesmerized by their beauty and I began to repeat their
name out loud..."Iris, Iris, Iris and then out came, "I Rest!"
It's the first time a flower ever preached to me. I kept gazing upon their glory and studied them. I couldn't find one flower that looked like it was struggling. I couldn't find one flower that looked like it was worried. Have you ever seen a flower that looked worried? ( unless you don't water it ) These flowers were just
being and growing into what God had
called them to be with no struggle, no sweat and no worry. They looked like they were rejoicing.
The Lord spoke through those Irises saying. "Bill, I am
calling you to rest in Me. As you rest in Me you will naturally grow into all that I've called you to be. There is a rest to them that believe. You not only
must believe in Me but believe Me to bring to pass what I have spoken to you. I am the faithful
One who has called you Who will also do it. Only believe."
