4 hours ago
So I've been trying to determine if there is anything good to say about Spring. I started my musings yesterday with the post "Spring. Bleh." I feel like it must be a little ungrateful to despise one season so much when the Lord made each season for our enjoyment, so I'm determined to find a good thought in my head about Spring.
I guess it's kind of fun, because it's a time for things to be born. I have a friend who ranches, and the baby lambs are absolutely adorable. So I guess that's one thing.
I suppose Spring is a time of rebirth. Seeds that have been lying dormant since they fell off of dying plants last Autumn are starting to crack open and send out little shoots (even though here we don't actually see those shoots until May or June).
Birds are flying in again after being gone for so long. We did see a bluebird the other day. That was pretty exciting.
The most significant positive that I would give Spring is that it's the time that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
I wonder what it's like during the Spring in Israel. What is it like in the country where it all happened at this time of year?
I know the Lord purposefully planned to be crucified and resurrected during Passover, because He is our perfect Passover Lamb. He is the final sacrifice to cover our sins, for those of us that believe in Him. Since He did sacrifice His life for us, so that our sins would be paid for once and for all and it would never be necessary to sacrifice another lamb, it would seem appropriate for Him to give Himself to atone for our sins during Passover.
But I wonder - I think the Lord must have purposefully planned Passover to occur during the Spring. And if He purposefully planned Passover to occur during the Spring, He purposefully planned for His death and resurrection and to occur during the Spring.
I wonder - do you think He chose Spring because it is a time of rebirth?
But then He created Spring too. He created the whole idea of rebirth.
Maybe He created Spring to be the time when He would rise from the dead.
Maybe He decided that the seasons would happen the way they do - with things dying in the winter and being reborn in the spring - to be a reflection of His death and resurrection.
Even though Spring starts as such an ugly season, it ends with glorious new life. Just as the ugliness and seemingly hopeless situation of His death ended in the glorious event of His Resurrection from the dead.
Maybe I don't mind Spring quite as much as I thought I did. Because the Lord obviously chose this time of year for His supreme act of mercy and grace to save us to take place, so there must be something special about it.
The Lord created everything in this world for His Glory. Absolutely everything. And I think He must be happy when we look a little deeper at everything in His creation, even when certain things may seem ugly or unnecessary at first, to find His glory in the things He has made.
Because His glory and eternal attributes can be seen in all the things that are made. Even in the ugliness and subsequent beauty (yes, I suppose I admit it - there is beauty) of Spring.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Romans 1:20
"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Matthew 28:5-6A
Finally Enjoying Spring, The Season Of Our Lord's Resurrection,
Note: This is a two-part post, so if you are a first time visitor, I'm not usually so pessimistic, and you have to read tomorrow's post to really see where this is going. Thank you.
I have a confession to make. I don't like Spring too much.
I can hear the gasps of astonishment right now. So many people get so excited about the prospect of Spring.
New grass.
Chirping birds.
Flowers.
Maybe I'd be excited too if Spring was actually pretty here. But it's not. I think it's the ugliest season.
In Summer you have green everywhere you look. You have hot dogs, baseball games, barbecues, warm summer nights, fresh scents on the air after the rain. It's a lovely time of year.
In Autumn you have the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. You have that wonderful crisp smell in the air. You have hay being cut, deer being hunted, and football games being played. Pumpkins, squash, cookies, muffins. Cold enough to feel cozy when you're inside, warm enough to enjoy yourself outside. Definitely my favorite season.
Though Winter can sometimes be ugly, much of the season is just gorgeous. White just covering the landscape. Snow-covered mountains in the distance. Being able to see your breath. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and other winter sports. Getting ready for Christmas and everything that comes with it. It's a season that really warms your heart, even while your toes are freezing off.
But there's just not much to say about Spring. The snow starts melting, and where I live it just takes forever for any green to appear. The air is too cold to wear any summer clothes, but too warm to wear the sweaters that were appropriate a short time before.
And there is mud. Lots and lots of mud. It squishes beneath your shoes, and it's almost impossible to wear heels. The dogs get all muddy whenever you let them outside, which means you have to give them a bath at least once a day to prevent your carpet from becoming stained.
Everything is just brown and ugly. By the time there is anything good to say it's more like Summer than Spring.
Maybe the reason I dislike it is because where I live things just tend to go from Winter to Summer, with nothing but a muddy mess in between. It snows, it melts, there's mud, it snows again. And we go through this cycle until about the middle of May.
Exhibit A - This picture was taken last year at "Springtime".
We don't really have "Spring" here. Not like most people think of Spring. It's only "Spring" in the sense that little shoots of grass start popping up here and there, but that's not too exciting when they get covered by snow a week later.
Some people get the Winter blues. I get the Springtime blues.
Maybe you all can help me change my outlook. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what I like about Spring.
This post to be continued tomorrow . . .
Wiping mud off my shoes,
Check back tomorrow for my conclusion to the Springtime issue!
I have a confession to make. I don't like Spring too much.
I can hear the gasps of astonishment right now. So many people get so excited about the prospect of Spring.
New grass.
Chirping birds.
Flowers.
Maybe I'd be excited too if Spring was actually pretty here. But it's not. I think it's the ugliest season.
In Summer you have green everywhere you look. You have hot dogs, baseball games, barbecues, warm summer nights, fresh scents on the air after the rain. It's a lovely time of year.
In Autumn you have the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. You have that wonderful crisp smell in the air. You have hay being cut, deer being hunted, and football games being played. Pumpkins, squash, cookies, muffins. Cold enough to feel cozy when you're inside, warm enough to enjoy yourself outside. Definitely my favorite season.
Though Winter can sometimes be ugly, much of the season is just gorgeous. White just covering the landscape. Snow-covered mountains in the distance. Being able to see your breath. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and other winter sports. Getting ready for Christmas and everything that comes with it. It's a season that really warms your heart, even while your toes are freezing off.
But there's just not much to say about Spring. The snow starts melting, and where I live it just takes forever for any green to appear. The air is too cold to wear any summer clothes, but too warm to wear the sweaters that were appropriate a short time before.
And there is mud. Lots and lots of mud. It squishes beneath your shoes, and it's almost impossible to wear heels. The dogs get all muddy whenever you let them outside, which means you have to give them a bath at least once a day to prevent your carpet from becoming stained.
Everything is just brown and ugly. By the time there is anything good to say it's more like Summer than Spring.
Maybe the reason I dislike it is because where I live things just tend to go from Winter to Summer, with nothing but a muddy mess in between. It snows, it melts, there's mud, it snows again. And we go through this cycle until about the middle of May.
Exhibit A - This picture was taken last year at "Springtime".
We don't really have "Spring" here. Not like most people think of Spring. It's only "Spring" in the sense that little shoots of grass start popping up here and there, but that's not too exciting when they get covered by snow a week later.
Some people get the Winter blues. I get the Springtime blues.
Maybe you all can help me change my outlook. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what I like about Spring.
This post to be continued tomorrow . . .
Wiping mud off my shoes,
Check back tomorrow for my conclusion to the Springtime issue!
I'm doing this Bible study with my mom and sisters. We're going through a Proverbs study book, and it's really good so far. It's reminded me of the importance of wisdom and discernment.
When I was younger one of the qualities that I really desired for myself was wisdom. To be a wise woman was one of my goals in life. Wisdom is one of those virtues that helps you with every other virtue, and if you have wisdom difficult situations won't be so difficult. Difficult situations may not even arise in the first place, because if you show wisdom in different situations it's a good way to avoid complications.
Wisdom makes all the difference in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. When to share a concern and when to overlook an offense. What to say and what not to say. With wisdom life and godliness is just easier.
It's emphasized throughout Scripture that wisdom is better than any material possession. When God gave Solomon an opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom over riches or power or long life, and it pleased God (1 Kings 3:5-14).
Would I have chosen wisdom over anything else I could ask for? On some days I just don't know - but I would hope so. The amazing thing is that when Solomon asked for wisdom over riches or honor, God gave him what he asked for; but He also gave him what he didn't ask for (1 Kings 3:13). The Lord blessed Solomon for seeking wisdom; and I think He will bless any of His children who sincerely desire to please Him through wise actions and words.
Somehow I've lost that desire for wisdom in recent years. I think it's just because things have gotten so crazy and busy for the last, oh, three years, and somehow I just forgot about the importance of seeking wisdom.
That's shameful isn't it? How can one forget to pursue something that's so important - something that has been so important in the past? I don't know, but through this Bible study with my mom (who is a very wise woman) I've remembered that long forgotten desire of my heart: to grow to be a wiser woman.
Anyway, Proverbs says that those who seek wisdom diligently will find it (Proverbs 8:17). What a wonderful promise.
I think think the Bible study we're doing on Proverbs, reading Proverbs daily, and praying for wisdom are a good start, so that's what I plan to do.
You'll probably be reading alot of posts inspired by Proverbs in the near future!
When I was younger one of the qualities that I really desired for myself was wisdom. To be a wise woman was one of my goals in life. Wisdom is one of those virtues that helps you with every other virtue, and if you have wisdom difficult situations won't be so difficult. Difficult situations may not even arise in the first place, because if you show wisdom in different situations it's a good way to avoid complications.
Wisdom makes all the difference in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. When to share a concern and when to overlook an offense. What to say and what not to say. With wisdom life and godliness is just easier.
It's emphasized throughout Scripture that wisdom is better than any material possession. When God gave Solomon an opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom over riches or power or long life, and it pleased God (1 Kings 3:5-14).
Would I have chosen wisdom over anything else I could ask for? On some days I just don't know - but I would hope so. The amazing thing is that when Solomon asked for wisdom over riches or honor, God gave him what he asked for; but He also gave him what he didn't ask for (1 Kings 3:13). The Lord blessed Solomon for seeking wisdom; and I think He will bless any of His children who sincerely desire to please Him through wise actions and words.
Somehow I've lost that desire for wisdom in recent years. I think it's just because things have gotten so crazy and busy for the last, oh, three years, and somehow I just forgot about the importance of seeking wisdom.
That's shameful isn't it? How can one forget to pursue something that's so important - something that has been so important in the past? I don't know, but through this Bible study with my mom (who is a very wise woman) I've remembered that long forgotten desire of my heart: to grow to be a wiser woman.
Anyway, Proverbs says that those who seek wisdom diligently will find it (Proverbs 8:17). What a wonderful promise.
I think think the Bible study we're doing on Proverbs, reading Proverbs daily, and praying for wisdom are a good start, so that's what I plan to do.
You'll probably be reading alot of posts inspired by Proverbs in the near future!
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