Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
—Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
The Iris Symbolism… “Having been around for centuries and with nearly 300 species available in a rainbow of colours, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that Iris has a lot of meanings behind it in different cultures. The most common meanings include hope, wisdom, trust and valour, making it a great flower to have around the house.”
Tammy, wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, friend and full of faith has often been referred to as an Iris! She truly is a great flower to have around the house!
Philippians 4:8 a recipe in my way of thinking to help ignite mental health when put in practice.
“The three upright petals on an iris flower stand for faith, wisdom, and valor. An extract from the iris, called Orris Root, is used as an additive to perfumes and is the most widely used fixative for potpourri.”
The writer, Paul, of Philippians 4:8 goes on to say now, “put it into practice.”
Our thinking—our attitude—affects the way we live out our faith in our daily space.
Have you a favorite flower? If so, what makes it so special to you? To others?
thedailylily.com 
Thanks for stopping to take the Iris photo and share it, Tammy! I have not seen these in my area yet, but the ‘hope’ is (and Sara wrote, “The most common meanings include hope, wisdom, trust and valour,” that soon they will appear here, announcing that a spring is fully here… a new beginning.
And I sure agree with Sara’s words about Tammy, “She truly is a great flower to have around the house!”
With mental health being such an important topic today, it is encouraging to read and consider doing what Sara suggested, “Philippians 4:8 a recipe in my way of thinking to help ignite mental health when put in practice.”
Sara asks, “Have you a favorite flower? If so, what makes it so special to you? To others?”
When I learned about many different types of flowers and their meanings and importance from one of Sara’s retreats/books, “Dressing for His Glory – On Pursuing Excellence”, I was most impacted by Lesson 8, A Flower of “THE SUN – The Work of the Lord – I Cor. 15:58 AMP”, that being the sunflower. The “Objective” for the lesson was “To Find My Place by”… (that caught my attention! I yearned to and knew I better find my place)…”by 1. Cooperating with Others 2. Yielding to Others
3. Loving Others 4. Helping Others”.
Sara’s prophetic quote from that lesson, follows me around as a reminder almost every day of my life and has proven to be so true and wonderfully valuable. “I’m a great believer in work. I find the more work I do, the more work I’m given to do.”
And I Cor. 15:58 , has become increasingly meaningful as the years go by in seeing how vital those 4 ‘Objectives’ are as they relate to “OTHERS”:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].”
Small things/work matters. And I think we can all be encouraged by this scripture Sara cited… that our part in the work of the Lord, no matter how small it seems to us, is vital. Every petal and grain of pollen in that sunflower is important to summon and nourish a bee. Every seed of that sunflower is important to some bird, or to fall to the ground and produce another sunflower. And every leaf manufactures food to help support the whole plant and oxygen to help us humans survive.
Thanks for sharing again from Sara’s retreat book Debi. I love this….” Small things/work matters. And I think we can all be encouraged by this scripture Sara cited… that our part in the work of the Lord, no matter how small it seems to us, is vital.”🙏
I want to repeat the above Scripture….“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
—Philippians 4:8 (NIV) ” Aren’t we thankful for a God that has left us His Word, His beauty on the earth, and people in our lives, that help us grow, in our walk with the Lord.🥰🙏🌸📖 Interesting information above about the iris.
Thanks Debi and Tammy for the encouraging words to ‘keep keeping on’ in word and deed regardless of how small it may seem to us. I have been following and found a small deed that custom fits me @Lavender farm in the state of Michigan.
I have loved admired, planted and displayed in various ways my favorite the, Magnificent Magnolia, in my home and travelled to Southern states to feast my eyes on ivory and green while savoring the fragrance of this grand ole’ tree and its flower. My family started referred to me as their ‘magnolia’ from early on. My heart and love remains with my first love, the Magnolia Tree and bloom!
Yet, thru the love of loving my magical magnolia I have added favorites along my way. The Lavender flowering plant is at the top of my list. I would like to introduce you to a favorite story of mine about lavender and a small deed. It’s not an ad to buy by me. It’s a story of a deed of love and its results when God is in it. Hope you enjoy the story of the bunny!
https://fb.watch/qWt8lPM1dj/?
https://lavender-life.com/collections/xander-bunny
Thank you, Sara, for “introducing” us to “a story of a deed of love and its results when God is in it”.
I loved the story and how their one deed has multiplied over and over in and through so many lives!
The videos were very touching and the pictures of the farm so beautiful. As I read about and looked at all the products, I found it inspiring that so much had its beginnings in little plants they planted.
Did you see the Zander Bunny named after their foster child. And, for every Bunny sold they donate one to Foster Care. They have now donated over 80,000 Bunnies to children in foster care. Love shared helps to heal. Touches lives. Each Bunny has a tag with heart that says Jesus loves you. 🩷
Yes, Sara, thanks! I saw the “Zander Bunny named after their foster child.” They sure have shared their love with so many.
I love sharing with friends about flowers, birds, and bread among ocean breezes and other beautiful things near and dear to us. They truly connect us closer to the heart of Jesus because He to cares and shares with us. It’s like making a friend when they say, “you like that too”!? And, then with glee they continue, “Me too”!
Author Barbara Brown Taylor gave us this thought, “When we want to know more about God, the son of God, Jesus, tells us to pay attention to the, Llilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers showing up for their pay.”
WOW God, you like flowers, the Iris, the Sunflower, Magnolia and Lavender, too! Me too!
These words by Barbara Brown Taylor made me think of something Sara wrote in one of her retreat workbooks, “The Dance of Healing – The Ultra-Healing Spirit comes from within”. It was in the lesson, “Step 1, Cultivating the Mind”. I think it relates to Brown’s words and also what Sara wrote above, “Philippians 4:8 a recipe in my way of thinking to help ignite mental health when put in practice.”
Sara wrote, “Psalm 46…Be still and know that I am God…I will be exalted in the earth. I plant flowers and trees all over the earth…Come and behold my works! I am a safe place to hide and ready to help when you need me!”
She goes on to tell us more about this…” God tells us to Behold -call attention to the flowers and trees through perceiving through sight. To gaze upon! Behold! How many times in The Word did God say Behold! I found Behold in 52 Books of The Word…”
Debi, Shame on me. I can’t recall 52 “Behold” in the Word of God. So how can I put them into practice? And, are there more than once in the 52 books where we are asked to Behold? That would mean Im not doing much gazing?
I think I mentioned to you yesterday that I was practicing prayer gazing recently. Seems as I sit and gaze upon nature and other things (example the grass needs cutting instead of an Angel might be hovering near saying good job grass for growing) (or bird droppings on my chair causing me not to hear the sweet melodies they are singing just for me) that may seem dull at first my negative thoughts turn to beautiful thoughts. This helps me to practice Philippians 4:8.
I’m in the stage of training my mind to allow gaze, behold, to change my way of thinking. I’m finding my prayers for others sound so melodious that it’s rain to increase faith because the giver of all good has been exalted. He is happy and rejoices and sings along as a tenor. Why do I think tenor? Because tenor sings over all other singers. Dosent the Word of God say he sings over us! Isn’t God, his Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit wonderful when we team with them.
It’s Palm Sunday a time of triumph into the minds and hearts of those that believe Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. John 12:12-15…Behold your King is Coming! Are we focused on the Smell of the donkey or the glory of the King?
Sara, you said, “ I can’t recall 52 “Behold” in the Word of God. So how can I put them into practice? And, are there more than once in the 52 books where we are asked to Behold? “
I went back to your book because I can’t recall either!
Here is what I found that you wrote that may help with ‘beholding’:
“Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree.” (Gen 1:29)
“Behold, man has become as one of us, to know good and evil.” (Gen 3:22)
“Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)”
You also went on to write: “How many Books are in the Word? Try 66! WOW! Does this equal about 78%? Behold must be important to us…”
I dug out an old Strong’s Concordance to look into your question, “are there more than once in the 52 books where we are asked to Behold?“ and found the answer to be a resounding yes. It was repeated more than once in all the books (and many, many times in some) except for the following where it appeared only one time: Ezra, Obadiah, Zephaniah, I John and Jude.
I also love what you wrote above: “I’m finding my prayers for others sound so melodious that it’s rain to increase faith because the giver of all good has been exalted. He is happy and rejoices and sings along as a tenor. Why do I think tenor? Because tenor sings over all other singers. Dosent the Word of God say he sings over us! “
I think the scripture you asked about is Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
I never knew that about a tenor singer! and I sure never thought about God singing over us like that. Thank you for the revelation. I would sure agree about you…“I’m in the stage of training my mind to allow gaze, behold, to change my way of thinking.”