The old is gone, the new is here!
Do you love Spring?
I enjoy almost everything about Spring–the warmer temperatures, beautiful flowers, birds singing in joyful chorus, and the smell of fresh cut grass.
Then there are the new, green leaves…
Leaves in the Spring are so fresh and green. They grow so quickly, dressing the bare trees in a shining garment of verdant color.
It’s a season of rebirth and renewal! The trees, although still alive, have been dormant and bare (except for the evergreens), their stark limbs stretched to the sky–waiting for the season of their glory. Now they are covered in majestic beauty, a testament to the miracle of God’s Creation.
Where the dead stems and dried leaves of last year’s flowers lay brown and rotting, new and glorious blossoms emerge!
Isn’t that a lot like us?
Sometimes we’re dormant, barely functioning, or drifting through life without purpose.
Sometimes our ugly thoughts and actions are exposed, just as the loss of leaves allows all the misshapen limbs, knot holes, and flaws of the tree to be visible for all to see.
Sometimes we may feel as useless as last year’s dead flower stems and fallen leaves.
But, we are part of God’s amazing Creation. We are covered in His glory. He created us for a purpose–we’re not useless!
Just as Spring brings new life and renewal to God’s amazing Creation, we are given new life by the gift of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, through His sacrifice for the redemption of our sins.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
We are made new by the love of Christ!
He understands our limitations, but loves us anyway.
He knows when we feel useless, unworthy, and unloved and he lifts us up to try again.
He takes us out of the darkness of our winters and brings us into the light.
But, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John: 1:7
I pray that each time you see new birth this spring–leaves, flowers, fruits and vegetables–all the miracles of God’s Creation–that you will be reminded of the most awesome gift of all–Jesus our Savior.
The gift of love, light, and life.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Such encouraging truths! Thanks for putting them back in the forefront of my thoughts!
Thank you, Michelle! Sometimes I need those reminders, too. I’m glad that, as Christians, we can encourage each other.
As I sit on my deck with my coffee and devotion in the morning I will rejoice that the old is gone and the new has come!
That’s a beautiful picture! The weather has been so lovely recently that having a morning devotional outside sounds wonderful. A perfect spot to commune with God!
I love spring green and all the new leaves!! When I lived in Knoxville, I felt it all the more because so many of the leaves would fall in autumn, so that many new leaves would need to grow in the spring. It always made me think about new spiritual growth, too. I’m so glad God gives us those seasons of growth in our lives.
I agree, Heather. We are blessed to have so many seasons of growth. I don’t know how we could make it if God didn’t continue to nurture us through all those times when we needed “watering” with His “living water” and “fertilized with His Word.”
Hi Katherine,
I read this post after my morning walk. I love how you compare the bareness of winter to the time when our weaknesses are exposed. It is reassuring to watch the seasons and see how God is faithful to bring those new green leaves every year–no matter how harsh the winter.
Thanks for writing this to inspire and encourage us.
Blessings to you,
Connie
Thank you, Connie! Isn’t it amazing and wonderful how a walk in nature helps us feel so close to God? Thank you for reminding us that God loves us–no matter what! We can be assured of that just as the seasons change as ordered by His master hand. Blessings to you, my friend.