"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15.9-11)

Healthy, growing, and branching out. That is what roses are supposed to be doing, but mine, the ones that Mr. Ted Jones [1] planted for me as a gift, were not doing that. Ted asked me a series of diagnostic questions about my rose bed. My answers led him to conclude that the plants were diseased, suffered from lack of care, lack of knowledge, lack of obedience, and thus a lack of life! And they all were replaced. I am happy to say that Ted planted some new roses that require less care, and th…