Morning Song

Maybe you too have noticed that this Spring, it is seems the birds have been singing more than usual.  It could be that after the long winter silence, it makes us think they are doing more this year.  At any rate they start their melodious chatter very early in the morning, around 5 a.m..  How do they do that without the aid of a least two cups of coffee? They are singing their early morning songs because the creator has put a song in their hearts.  Maybe it's a song of joy for a new day.  Maybe it's a song of hope because of the possibilities that a new day brings.  Maybe it's a song of praise to the creator for God's provision. What song has God put in your heart?  You don't have to be a morning person for God to put a song in your heart.  However, the scriptures remind us that God's mercies, God's grace to us is new every morning.  Now that's something to sing about!

Spring Is In The Air

We often hear it said that Spring is in the air.  Now those like my wife who have allergies can attest to the validity that Spring indeed is in the air.  With the coming of Spring the pollen count is crazy high which has its blessings, like beautiful flowers and eventually fruit.  My wife tells me that it also has its curses, itchy watery eyes and a running nose.  Kind of like life, huh? But here's the good part, God has promised that in all of life God will work everything in a pattern for our good.  As I look back on my life I can truly say that God has even used those things that were hard or hurtful at the time, to pollinate within me something good and enduring.  I think the best work God is doing in us is bringing us to an unshakable confidence in God's love for us.....indeed God's love for all.       

Through It All

A couple of years ago I captured this image of a crocus peeking through the snow in late March.  Along with the daily news, it reminds me that life is filled with challenges and struggles.  Sometimes it rains on our parade or snows on our crocus that is trying to tell us that spring is here and another season of our journey is beginning.  I'm thinking that the crocus made it through, not so much because of its dogged determination, but because God wired it to do so in the early days of spring even if there's still snow on the ground.  And me thinks that God wired us humans to trust in a power greater than ourselves.  We function best when we trust in God for today, and for all of our tomorrows, no matter what the struggle we are currently facing.       

Be Still And Know That I Am God

Usually by this time of the year most of us are tired of winter and ready for it to be over with already. We're tired of the cold short days and long nights. Tired of reading books, eating soup and being couped up. We're ready to be outside more, we're longing for spring to set us free of the winter blues. However, there's nothing like a trip to the snow covered mountains in the dead of winter. The air is fresh and clean and the vistas are breathtaking. The solitude and the majesty of the mountains, for me has a calming and refreshing affect on my soul. No wonder the psalmist says that God is our rock, our high mountain. When we go to God, our high mountain we can gain a better, a higher perspective. When we go to God our rock, we can find a refuge for our soul. For in the presence of the holy, we are made whole as the gentle breeze of the Spirit speaks peace and comfort to our soul. Be still and know that I am God....that's sometimes hard to do in our busy life filled with so many voices screaming out to get our attention, so many things that need to be done. And yet, that's God's daily invitation to us! The majestic mountain of God's goodness and grace whispers to us, ever inviting us to view life from a higher plain and to know God's peace in the midst of life's busyness and heartaches.

Nesting

A couple of years ago, Lorraine and I went on a trip to Greece. This is a picture of the ruins of the temple to the Goddess Dianna. Dianna was a fertility Goddess worshipped as the mother of all living things. Ironically, on the top of the lone remaining pillar is a stork's nest. When I see this picture I'm reminded of the true God of all creation. It was Jesus who encouraged us to give to God all of our heavy burdens and to learn to nest and rest in God's great love and care. After all if God cares for the sparrows, how much more does God care for us!