Dear Ones,
Hope your day is filled with sunshine! This morning I baked Starch free blueberry cinnamon bread and S.F. cookies and went downstairs for coffee. Got done in time to have brunch at the apt of a new couple here. They also invited friends of ours that we haven’t seen for sometime. So great to catch up and a rich time of fellowship!
Devotions from Judy’s heart,
I wonder if you know the song, “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and around me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—His hand the wonders wrought.” The writer was Pastor Babcock and he use to tell his wife when he was going for a walk, in upstate N.Y, “I’m going to see my Father’s world!” God is so present in His world and He speaks especially through nature. I asked the question when sending out my daily devotional of what we liked best about Spring?” So many responded and one friend asked me what my answer was as well. I would have to say that Spring is about my most favorite season, although summer is very close. When I see new green growth peeking up from the cold earth after the long winter, it seems so miraculous. Since I am a daily walker, it’s in the spring of the year that I notice new life happening all around, and even from one day to the next there is a change. I love the bright yellow of the daffodils that seem to pop up overnight and other flowers of purple and white that almost hug the ground. The trees that were barren over winter start to bud and show a tad of green each day until they are all leafed out. It’s so amazing! It reminds me of rebirth and what our life in the Lord is like as we grow and blossom and burst with joy. When we come to the Lord it is just the beginning and He wants us to leaf out and to radiate the glory of our Creator. We are a new creation in Christ. As it says in II Cor.5:17 (God’s word), “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” One person wrote that spring is a time when birds seem to sing louder in the predawn and we can awaken to their song. We are reminded that just as the Lord cares for the birds of the air, He cares for us. Another wrote of spring as a season of hope for new life as faith wakes up from winter slumber. Someone else recognized the chatter of chipmunks and other creatures and everything coming alive in newness. So many reminders of Easter and celebrating that He is alive! Others noticed the beautiful blue skies and recalling, His loving kindness extends to the heavens and his faithfulness reaches to the skies. (Psalm 36:5) Also, the longer daylight hours and the sun coming closer each day reminding them of walking in the light of His presence. Let us let open our ears to the sounds of nature and listen to what God has to say to us.
Challenge for today: Take a leisurely walk out in nature and give praise to Him who made it all, including you!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy