Roses

I’ve been sitting in this topic for an extra couple of days to really try to seek out what the Lord is speaking to me…I decided to take a break and just worship and this song came on and it all just fell into place for me. This song is called “Roses” and it’s sung by Andrew Ripp. The first part of the song says, “Ever wonder what was on the mind of the Maker

When He turned all of our sorrow into fields of grace

Right here in the middle of earth and Heaven

Caught between the romance and the pain

Can't you see that

He must've known about the heartbreak long before us

He must've known about the mistakes, still He chose us

Planted the tree where He would die

Put thorns down the vine, and then He wore them

And love is the blood red stain, the beauty that the pain exposes

Maybe that's why God made roses” Roses. Something that symbolizes this time of year when many men give their wives and girlfriends and moms and sisters roses. Red Roses specifically. But to me- it’s something that truly symbolizes the beauty and love of Jesus.

Isn’t it incredible how something as beautiful as a rose can hold both beauty and pain within it? Think about it: the thorns on a rose can prick us, yet we can’t help but be drawn to its vibrant petals. It’s a little like how love works in our lives—it can be filled with moments of struggle and sacrifice, but it also holds the most breathtaking beauty and grace. The line, “Put thorns down the vine, and then He wore them,” reminds us of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross. It was painful, yes, but it was also the greatest act of love the world has ever known. Jesus, in His immense love for us, endured that suffering so we could experience the beauty of salvation and eternal life.

And when we think about “love as the blood red stain,” it’s a powerful image of how Christ’s love for us is marked by His sacrifice. His blood, shed for us, is not just a symbol of pain—it’s a symbol of redemption, of grace, and of hope. In a way, that blood-red stain reveals the most beautiful thing we can ever know: the depth of God’s love for His children. Love, as shown by Christ’s sacrifice, is often entwined with hardship, but it’s through that hardship that we find the most meaningful beauty.

And maybe that’s why God made roses—to remind us of this beautiful paradox. The rose, with its thorns and its blooms, is like life itself. We all face tough moments, but through those challenges, we grow, we learn, and we discover deeper beauty, purpose, and love. Just like Jesus’ suffering brought us salvation, the beauty of the rose reminds us that even in the hard times, something beautiful is always growing beneath the surface. It’s a powerful picture of hope, transformation, and love that never lets us go. 🌹 A verse that has been on my heart this week has been Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” The word "contrite" comes from the Latin contritus, meaning "crushed" or "broken." In a biblical context, it refers to a heart that is deeply sorrowful for sin, marked by a genuine sense of repentance and humility. It is not just feeling sorry for wrongdoing, but a brokenness before God—a recognition of one’s sinfulness and a longing for forgiveness. A contrite heart is one that desires to be reconciled with God and is open to His healing.

A contrite heart is deeply aware of its shortcomings and sins, but it is also open to the healing touch of God’s love. It desires to turn away from sin and humbly seeks God's mercy and grace.

This verse is from David’s prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba. It emphasizes that God values a humble, contrite heart over ritualistic sacrifices. True repentance comes from a broken spirit that desires restoration and forgiveness.

Jesus will certainly not despise us and our broken hearts. I’m speaking to the person who’s been hurt by love and has a bad taste in their mouth about it. I’m speaking to the person who hates February 14th because it’s so hard to see others happy and in love and receiving red roses and they don’t. I’m speaking to the person who has lost their lover or even multiple people they have loved, like family and or friends. Your broken heart + spirit is something the Lord has the power to redeem. And I’m also speaking to the person who’s been so broken over their own sin… Lord, break our hearts for what breaks Yours!!!

The thought of breaking the Father's heart is something that weighs so deeply on me, and I know it can stir something inside all of us. The Father, God, is the very essence of love—a love so pure, so gentle, so kind. It is this love that has poured out endlessly on us, even when we didn't deserve it. He is our protector, our provider, the One who created us and calls us His children. The idea of breaking His heart isn’t just about doing something wrong; it's about hurting the One who has given us everything, who has loved us unconditionally from the very beginning.

In Ephesians 4:30, Paul writes:

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

When we think of God the Father’s heart, we can feel the weight of this verse. To grieve the Holy Spirit is to bring sorrow to God, to act in ways that are contrary to His love and His will for us. The Father desires for us to live in the fullness of His love, to be in right relationship with Him, and to walk in the purpose He created us for. When we stray from that, it’s like we’re choosing to distance ourselves from the very heart of God, and that breaks His heart.

In Isaiah 1:2, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: 'I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.'"

This verse paints a heartbreaking picture of a father who has raised His children with love and care, only to have them turn away. It’s a portrayal of betrayal, but more importantly, it’s a picture of God’s pain when His people choose to walk away from Him. The Father has given us everything, yet we sometimes choose things that hurt us and cause separation from Him. That grieves His heart, because He wants to see us flourish in His love, not suffer from the choices we make that lead us away from Him.

Matthew 23:37 offers another glimpse into the heart of God when Jesus, speaking to Jerusalem, says: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."

This is the heart of God longing for His children. He desires to gather us close, to protect us, to hold us near to Him. It’s not just about avoiding sin or wrongdoing, but about coming into the safe embrace of His love. Rejection of that love, or turning away from it, is what breaks His heart. He longs for us to know the depth of His care and affection, to experience the safety of His embrace.

Why don’t we want to break the Father’s heart? Because His love for us is immeasurable, and when we live in alignment with His will, we are stepping into the fullness of that love. When we choose to walk in His ways, we honor the One who created us. The heart of the Father is always for us, always calling us to Himself with open arms, even when we’ve wandered away.

In John 14:23, Jesus says:

"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

Obedience, born from love, is the way we show our love to God. It’s not about perfection, but about choosing Him again and again. The more we surrender to Him, the more we walk in the deep joy of His presence. To break the Father’s heart is to reject His perfect love, but to live in His love is to experience the fullness of life He created for us.

The Father’s love is unwavering, never-ending, and unchanging. His heart is always for us, and that’s why we never want to cause Him sorrow. We want to honor Him by living out of His love, sharing it with others, and walking in the paths He’s set before us. When we walk in love, we don’t just avoid breaking the Father’s heart—we bring Him joy. His heart is full when we choose to love Him and one another, for that is the greatest desire He has for us: to love and be loved.

Let’s remember that the Father’s heart is always open to us, always calling us back when we’ve strayed. He’s not distant or angry, but longing for us to turn to Him, because He knows that’s where we will find the deepest peace and joy. And that is why, with everything in us, we never want to break His heart.

Lord Jesus,

Every Sin and broken heart, we lay them at Your feet.

Because that is where You will take our pain and turn it into beautiful red roses.

Blood - red stained. Cover us, Lord!

I lay every rose I have at Your feet! For every beautiful thing I have is made from Your marvelous hands! And I give it all back to You- for Your glory!

For your head was pierced with a crown of thorns before You sacrificed Your life for us… yet You ROSE three days later!

Hallelujah, we praise you!!!