A Season of Singing

 Song of Solomon 2:11-12

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 doves
    is heard in our land.

Raindrops glistened on tulips.

There is something about a flower garden just after the rain that brings joy to my soul. Whether the fresh smell of earth, or the magnification of the colors against the muted sky, the beauty of God's creation fills me with gratitude. I love the way the tulip blossoms cup above the stem. Each petal appears satiny soft. Beyond the simplicity of the outside, God created an incredible system inside the plant that assists in growth so the flowers return year after year.

Some of my friends are still experiencing snow where they live, and I'm sure they look forward to the rains and flowers. Even in southwest Ohio in mid-April, cold air lingers and weather folks speak of the threat of snowflakes. Yet, as the weather changes the flowers remain. They huddle to fight off the cold and stand against the storm until the time of singing returns. Much like believers. We need to stand together and show the world the love of our Lord and King.

I rejoice and glorify Him as color returns and fragrance bursts from flowers. In my tiny garden the daffodils nod their heads and the tulips stand tall. When I see the beauty of the spring flowers, I'm reminded of what is to come. Solomon calls the time after winter a season of singing. Birds chirp and tweet; just today I heard a robin's song.

As lovely as the spring blooms are, imagine the glorious beauty that awaits us in heaven. There will surely be a season of singing when the heavens open and time on this old earth is finished.

Take time to enjoy spring and sing praises to the King!

A Quiet Moment

My flower garden is tiny compared to ones I've had in the past,

yet this little plot brings me an abundance of joy.

Hyacinth, daffodils, and tulips raise their heads and 

nod to me to have a good day. 

The vibrant colors flood me with joy and remind me

Who created them.

A quiet moment in the garden blesses my soul.

 

Praise Him With Every Breath

The tulip leaves are pushing their way through the dirt 

and preparing to burst into bloom.

After a difficult winter, I'm ready for vibrant blooms to adorn the earth. 

One of the things my mom and I talked about was gardening.

I have wonderful memories of her tending the flowers 

she grew behind our home.

I know I can honor her now by continuing to grow flowers 

and praise God while I work.

 

Praise and Pray

Psalm 145:3-5

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Perhaps winter is a time of meditation, spring a time of praise.

I find the change of seasons remarkable. Snow, rain, sunshine, chill all contribute to the nature God has created. For the past few weeks I’ve enjoyed the daffodils, tulips and hyacinth in my tiny garden. One morning, I observed the yellow and white daffodils bowing their heads. In the same plot of soil, the tulips raised their leaves to the sky. It struck me—both stood in a posture of praise and prayer.

In the winter, I tend to bow down and meditate on God’s word. The quiet, sometimes snow-kissed earth allows me to snuggle into my favorite chair and focus on Jesus. But in the spring, I want to shout with the sunshine that Jesus is Lord. Maybe because we celebrate Easter, I raise my hands to God and praise out loud. For whatever reason, spring is a time to celebrate our Lord and Savior.

In observing the flowers, no matter whether I raise my hands like the tulip or bow my head like the daffodil, I am in a posture of praise and prayer. It doesn’t matter how I praise and pray as much as when. And when is every day. I thank God for the beauty of the earth and the people in my life. I don’t need much, yet God has provided abundantly.

As the psalmist says, God is so great and worthy of praise, I can’t even fathom his greatness.

Praise and pray thanksgiving to God the Father, when you bow down and when you rise up.

Praise and Prayer

One morning while the raindrops dotted the flowers, I snapped this photo.

I noticed the daffodil bowed it's head, and the tulip raised toward heaven.

Both were in a posture to praise God. 

The flowers reminded me to check my stance.

Am I prepared to pray in every situation? 

Am I praising God for his mercy and grace?

Praise and prayer go hand in hand.

Raised up or bent down-

Praise God!

 

John 3:16

As I watch my little garden sprout, I'm reminded of new life.

Trees bud, flowers bloom, and herbs green up.

Imagine for a moment what eternal life with Jesus must be like.

A continual spring filled with beauty and joy!

 

Look for Wonder in Spring

March offers the first warm days that lead into spring.

Green sprouts from the ground.

The daffodils, hyacinth, and tulips awaken.

Crocus open in colors of joy.

Embrace the Wonder!

 

Spring!

Spring Haiku

The Spirit Gives Us Power

Hello Spring!

Tulips welcoming spring

Crab apple tree enjoying the sunshine

Willow tree branching out