If  there were no spiritual winter there would be no spiritual spring. That would be sad because I love spring! 

Winter/ Spring

Winter seemed so long.

Now I hear springs first song.

Reign in me, rain in my heart.

Pour into me the water of  life let the growing start.

Feed me Your word.

I cry for more as a baby bird.

I give thanks for my time of rest.

In it I heard You and I am blest.

Thank You Lord for refreshing me.

Thank You for helping me to see.

I need this season to draw me close to thee.

Come Alive

My back yard has been cold, and barren looking most of the winter. I know it's not really barren, the plants were just taking a long winters nap. Recently when I looked out my back door I noticed that my plants are starting to get leaves again, and some bulbs have sprouted. Things in the garden are getting green and starting to come alive again. I think about the rainy season we are having. The rain not only waters the plants but, it softens the ground, and enables the plants to take in nutrients better. The plants have rested, eaten, and been refreshed, and are now ready to take off. I am kind of  like my plants. I go through long times of  work, routines, life in general physically and spiritually. These long periods seem like long hot summers. Then I go through times when I physically and  spiritually slow down and take what seems like a long winters nap. It is as if  I sleep, I don't seem to grow, I don't get much of anything done. Then thanks be to God He sends someone or something along to water me. (Thank you friends who have watered me with words of  encouragement, inspiration, and new insight) Thank you God for sending them and for times You have watered me just by being there and showing me things. As I get watered I become hungry spiritually and I am thankful for all the spiritual food God has provided for me to eat! I thank God also for refreshing me through hymns, brothers and sisters in Jesus, time He spends with me and the time of rest. I mention time of rest last because, sometimes during those times of rest (the long winter nap) I worry about my walk with God. I worry why don't I hear Him, why am I not growing, what is wrong, what's going on? I see now sometimes I need a time of rest so I don't get burnt out, and sometimes I need it so he can get my full attention. Sometimes just slowing down isn't enough to get my full attention sometimes He has to get me to stop so I will ask all those questions, then when I seek Him for the answer He gets my full attention again. Like a child I hate naps, but they are good for me.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God gives the increase. Now  he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8, For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9, In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15, He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3

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