“In his loneliness and despair, the Frenchman Charnay, imprisoned for provoking the wrath of Napoleon, took a rock and scratched on the stone cell wall ‘Nobody cares’. One day, through the stones of the dungeon floor, a green shoot appeared and began reaching up to the light through the tiny window of his prison cell. Charnay was so touched by this, he kept part of his daily ration of water for the plant. It grew until it became a flower a beautiful blue flower. The day the flower fully blossomed, Charney crossed out the words ‘Nobody cares’ and replaced them with ‘God cares’. On hearing of this, Empress Josephine was so impressed with his devotion to the flower that she persuaded Napoleon to set him free. If a prisoner in a dark dungeon could find the love of God, how much more can you in the circumstances of your life? When situations look hopeless, look for the tender shoot coming through the cracks. Nourish and water the tender shoot of God’s love, hope, and joy, and you’ll see something beautiful blossom. You will likewise be able to declare, ‘God cares’. TODAY’S MISSION – Take a scripture and ‘carve it’ into your heart and to every situation of your day. Refocus your thoughts today and meditate on the love of the Lord in your life.” —-An excerpt from Jonathan Cahn’s Sapphires