Spring Insights

Through the eyes of a little boy first discovering the wonder of flowers, I enjoyed my tulips one petal at a time this year. I have a renewed appreciation for many little things now because I see them in a new light, slowing down and examining them with a child seeing them for the first time.

Studying God's Word is often like that. The verses we've heard so many times and have come to take for granted can suddenly have new meaning when we go back and examine them as though we were seeing them for the first time. God has a way of revealing new insights to us as we are ready for them and need them in our lives. The Bible is timeless in its instruction and inspiration, and reading it once from cover to cover does not even begin to touch on the wealth found within its pages. We must return again and again to each verse and watch it unfold as we grow in faith and spiritual maturity.

Hebrews 5:11-14 speaks of spiritual maturity and the process of advancing from the milk to the solid food of the truth in God's Word. As new Christians we are able to comprehend only the basic truths, but through the experience and application of strengthened faith, we progress in our understanding.

Are our daily Bible studies more RITUAL than SPIRITUAL? Let's take a fresh look at each verse, and ask God to show us the beauty there. Let's not take those familiar words at face value, but from the milk to the meat.

From April 8, 1986

Bible Health

Once when I was choosing a quilted Bible cover as a gift, a salesman told me that leather bound Bibles should not be covered. He said the oil from our hands keeps the leather "healthy" and without the oil, the leather becomes dry, parched, and stiff. I immediately thought of the Bible from my childhood that I used to keep in my car for "emergencies" and do not use very often. Indeed, its cover is stiff and cracking, and I had thought it was only old!

I wonder how much of our spiritual "health" is reflected by the health of our Bibles. If using our Bibles keeps them in good shape, how much more does it do for US? Just as a Bible that is not used becomes stiff and parched, so does a Christian who does not use his or her Bible! If the oil of our hands is applied to our Bibles every day, and the oil of God's Word is applied to our lives, both receive the benefit. For me, it gives a whole new meaning to the anointing in Psalm 23 if I think of it as a result of God's hand on me.

"Thou annointeth my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." -Psalm 23:5b-6a

From December 30, 1985

Awakening

I had my first whiff of freshly mowed grass today;
I almost licked the air.
The scent of hyacinths served upon a dollop of candy tuft,
and I am full like a cat on a sunny rock,
contented and happily fat with spring.

Prayers

below Ramsey Cascades

I ran into a situation that required a little coping;
I determined my approach and proceeded with it, hoping.
Hoping that I was right in what I attempted to do,
Hoping that I would have the patience needed to see it through.
Well, the situation was testy, and I experienced a little frustration,
but I started the very next day with even more determination.
Again, I felt defeated but couldn't see where I had gone wrong,
so the next morning my prayers included a request for God to make me strong.
I felt better for having asked the Lord to strengthen my endurance,
and I started that day with confidence and more calm assurance.
But once more as the day wore on, I felt my efforts were failing--
It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, aggravation was prevailing.
I sat back and looked things over and wondered why I'd had no success;
it seemed that all my efforts had just made a bigger mess.
So I asked the Lord what had happened and just what He expected me to do,
and then He answered my question and suddenly I knew!
I realized that I should have asked for His direction in the beginning,
instead of taking it upon myself and ending up chagrining.
I had never asked the Lord whether my approach was right--
I had simply asked for strength while I struggled with all my might.
Well, I prayed about the situation and put my worries on the shelf,
and soon I saw that the problem was taking care of itself!

Our Lord is always with us and sees the problems we encounter, and He is anxious for us to let Him guide us through each situation. Whether the problem is a situation at work or a personal decision that needs to be made, God has all the answers. Nothing is too small for God to handle! Often, the small decisions in life make a big difference, and our Lord wants us to make the right ones!

"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat by bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." Isaiah 58:11

From November 8, 1983

A Mother's Spring

My kitchen windowsill radiates
with the first evidence of spring--
short-stemmed tufts of dandelions
my resident explorer brings.
Tell-tale footprints across the floor,
fingerprints 'round the sink
left by an adventurer
who stopped to get a drink.
Sticks and burrs and pine cones
stashed like jewels in a box,
a treasure bag of dried grass,
buds, blooms, and rocks--
I find them in the dirty clothes,
under the bed, or in a drawer,
forgotten spoils of yesterday's
skirmish of Discovery War.
Time spent peering from a tree
or sprinting across the lawn,
chasing the dog, escaping the dog
(friendships are not easily won).
I thank God for the traces of springtime
scattered throughout our home.
I thank God for the world to conquer,
the freedom in which to roam.
I thank God for bits of nature captured--
the dirt, the bugs, the splinters.
I thank God for discovery of new life
as spring emerges from winter.

"For behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land." -Song of Solomon 2:11 & 12a

From March 13, 1990

Springing up

Wake Robin Trillium, pastel 2004

March is here and spring is just around the corner. If we pay close attention to the world around us, we can already see evidence of spring's approach. The tulips and daffodils are well above the ground. The robins are talking about their new homes, and the air itself bears the scent of fresh life growing.

I'm always amazed when I see the first green tips of tulips poke up out of the earth, for often they do so when snow still blankets the yard. The birds usually surprise me each year also, because those who are returning from their winter vacations seem to do so when I'm still shivering from the cold. I usually am concerned about the dogwoods and other budding trees and bushes, because they sometimes seem to jump the gun on spring. I always wonder how they can be so brave when snow is still falling and the temperature is below freezing. They obviously are relying on a greater source of information.

That's faith. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) It's pushing our heads up through the frozen ground in preparation for a warmer day that we know is coming. It's searching for a nesting place when the wind is still bitter cold. Faith is putting forth the bud while the snow is still falling. Nature is an example for us in springtime.

"See! The winter is past. The rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come. The cooing of the doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance...." Song of Solomon 2:11-13

From March 4, 1986

Snow

Bud Ogle Cabin (Junglebrook)

Underneath God's frozen blanket

of snowflakes white and pure,
lies my world of imperfection,
striving to endure.
A snowfall covers the earth's harsh angles
and softens each rough-cut line,
creating a new and perfect vision
from this imperfect world of mine.
The snow is cleansing and unifying,
encompassing everything;
it enhances all assets, erases all blemishes
as to each object it clings.
I love the snow in all its grandeur,
for what it reminds me of--
it is like the cleansing, covering qualities
of God's forgiving love.
For God takes our faults and failings
and blankets them in grace,
softens our sharp edges
and erases every trace.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow"
and from whom each snowflake falls!
His love, like snow's white blanket,
recreates and covers all!

From February 5, 1985