When God Unfolds the Rose

This song was written by Frank O'Brien after hearing a sermon titled "Just Let It Unfold" by Rev Vaughn Morton while at the Pentecostals of Alexandria Church in Louisiana. The copyright is dated 2003. This sermon link is listed below that you may hear it for yourself.  Rev. Morton states in his sermon that he read this story in a booklet that went like this: 

A little girl eager and curious picked several rose buds from her mother's garden and tore them open to make them bloom, but her eagerness turned to disappointment when the flower failed to respond to her efforts.  Her mother explained that God has a time for the roses to bloom and they would have bloomed perfectly had she left them alone.  He stopped with this part to explain that we should wait on God that in God's time he will add what we have need of.  God will take care of it.  We need to learn to Just Let It Unfold.  The essence of his sermon was that problems are a part of our daily life.  It's just life this life is just a tiny rosebud.  A poem was quoted near the end of Rev. Vaughn Morton's sermon which he said softly, " 

It is only a tiny rosebud, 

This flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold its petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

This flower God opens so sweetly, 

Would in my hands fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

How can I think I have wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for his leading

Each moment of every day.

I will look to Him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me, 

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose.

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

There been times when I thought my prayers

Didn’t even reach the ceiling of the room

Where I knelt to pray

And a voice inside kept asking me

Did I think God was really listening

To anything that I had to say

But I just kept on a praying

And holding on by faith

Knowing God is always in control

And I waited like a rose bud in the garden

For only God can unfold the rose

Chorus:

When God unfolds the rose

He always gets it right

When the petals are in place

Oh, it’s such a beautiful sight

God knows when to hold on

And the perfect time to let go

So let God have his way

And watch God unfold the rose

Verse 2:

There are trials and tribulations

We must all go through

When it comes to heartaches

We’ve all had our share

Oh, but when times are the hardest

We need to hold God to the promise

He said He’d never give us more than we could bear

So, I’ll just keep on a praying

And holding on by faith

Knowing God is working all things for my good

And I’ll wait just like that rose bud in the garden

For only God can unfold the rose

God knows when to hold on

And the perfect time to let go

So let God have his way

And watch God unfold the rose

Other songs written by Frank O'Brien:

Nothing Like Being Able to Touch the Lord

Music Chords:

http://www.yourchords.com/347602/Misc-Unsigned-Bands/Frank-Obrien---When-God-Unfolds-A-Rose-Chords/transpose11/

Timothy Spell Soundtrack: http://www.shop.timothyspell.com/When-God-Unfolds-The-Rose-Sound-Tracks-CD-WGUTRST.htm

Sources:

Just Let It Unfold - Bro Vaughn Morton: http://apostolicclassics.sermon.net/main/main/6811325 listen to the sermon that inspired this beautiful song.

August 24, 1964 The Progress-Index from Petersburg, Virginia.Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/49149471/
Highest Praise Publishing http://us.search.ccli.com/songs/4230957/when-god-unfolds-the-rose

Any information that could add to this post would be appreciated and even a photo if possible. Thanks and God Bless.