by Laura Buchanan | UMC.org at United Methodist Communications.
Time spent outdoors can strengthen our faith and reveal a deeper meaning in our daily life. God equipped us with five senses to help us discover and better appreciate the natural world – it’s up to us to step outside, engage and explore. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Flowers of the Bible
The Bible often references flowers in scripture to convey spiritual truths, symbolize beauty, and illustrate aspects of God’s creation.
Matthew 6:28-29 : “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.“
As we await the blooms and revitalization of our spirits, consider these Flowers of the Bible:
Easter Lily
According to legend, the lilies grew in the Garden of Gethsemane. The white color of the lily was said to represent the purity and innocence of Jesus, while the trumpet-shaped petals symbolized the trumpet call of the archangel Gabriel announcing the resurrection.


The Rose
In Christianity, the rose symbolizes Mary’s purity, beauty, and divine grace. It is said its fragrance symbolizes the sweetness of Mary’s life, and its thorns her sorrows. The rose is also associated with the concept of divine love, which is seen as unconditional and everlasting.
Passion Flower
The intricate and symbolic design of the passion flower represents the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The flower’s 10 petals and sepals represent the 10 apostles who remained faithful to Jesus after his arrest, trial, and death. The 5 center stamens represent the 5 wounds of Jesus on the cross. The stigma in the center represents the hammer used to nail him to the cross.


Iris
It’s believed that the 3 petals of the iris represent the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The 3 petals are also said to symbolize faith, wisdom, and valor.
Palm Branches
Commonly associated with Palm Sunday, they have been used in various cultures and religions as a symbol of victory and triumph. In Christianity, the palm branch is a symbol of peace, victory, and the arrival of a king.

John 12:12-13 : The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!