Sat Dec 5th

These are the flowers which I bought a week ago.  The whole lot cost me £3.70 because they were. allegedly, ' past their best by date'.    Do they look past their best to you?   No, they don't to me either.  And this is a week later.  They will still look like this next week.  There are iris buds in there which still havent unfolded yet.   I always love getting a bargain - especially a beautiful one which cheers me up every time I look at it.

This morning I looked at my flowers and I felt the nudge of God highlighting that phrase ' Past the best by date'.   I think so many of us feel that the label belongs to us.   Or maybe its just me as I approach 50 !    Or perhaps we feel ' past our use by date' - as though we have nothing left to give any more.    RUBBISH!!   Today I want to tell you that, just like my flowers, you are beautiful, you have plenty of life left in you yet, there are things in your life which are still only just budding and which have yet to fully flower.   Your life has much pleasure to bring to those who observe it.   Have you ever stopped to think about that before??   When people look at you they smile!   Seriously.  They really do.   Your presence cheers people up.  Your fragrance - the fragrance of Jesus which accompanies you wherever you go - is life to those who are seeking God.

I'm some one who only ever buys food which is past it's date.  It saves me a fortune.  I just dont believe that those dates bear any relation to anything at all.  In the same way I should happily ignore the labels the world tries to put on me about my own usefulness and value and purpose as I get older.   My best friend Gladys is 91.  She is still being used by God.  She is still a beautiful fragrance despite the fact that she cant remember what she had for lunch or the date of her birthday!  There is much more life and beauty in you than you could ever imagine.  So today - go for it!!  Shine.  Be real. Be brave.  You are a beautiful flower in God's garden and with Him you can do anything!