Spring Has Sprung

Day 80 of Photo Inspirations -- Spring Has Sprung!
Winter is passed at my house!  These photos are of some of my Springtime decor'!    I love the bright colors -- similar to what's outside.  And, to make this Spring fling even more exciting, it came with a burst of energy so much so that I transferred out all my Winter clothes and shoes for my Spring & Summer ones.   And, I'm already feeling the desire to do some Spring cleaning, and clean-out.

During the Winter months, it's easy to be somewhat lethargic -- just wanting to settle for "make-do".   But, Winter is over -- and I'm starting my cleaning up, and out, list -- closets, garage, pantry, refrigerator -- making room for more space and organization, and even some new!

Yes, Spring has sprung and it's in the air....everywhere!   The grass is starting to have some green shoots coming through.  I'm sitting at my desk looking out my front window, and I see my crabapple tree budding and sprouting.   I heard the birds singing their anthems  this morning.  I'm wearing a Spring outfit to church today.  I'm done with the dark colored Winter ones -- that season is over.

And with all the sweet, fresh, bright and beautiful sights and sounds.....along came some creepy spiders, too.  How do they know it's time to make their presence known?  And, they're probably already alerting their "fly and ant" friends that it's time to come out and play!

Yes, we'd like to think that EVERYTHING will be "picture perfect" now that Winter is over, but spiders, mowing lawns, and hot temperatures......and LIFE will soon be here.  But God Almighty, in His infinite wisdom -- built within us a coping mechanism to handle the Winters, the Springs, the Summers and the Falls of our lives.  It's a spiritual barometer that tells us our heart status.  

You've probably seen the bumper sticker that says "No Jesus; No peace.  Know Jesus; Know peace!"   From firsthand experience, in Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall -- no matter what the season brings to my world.....I still KNOW His peace that prevails through the storms, the rains, the spiders and the pains.

It's time for us to do some internal Spring cleaning!  It's time to get our spiritual house cleaned out and freshened up, so that the Prince of Peace can settle in and bring us SPRINGtime in our hearts and souls everyday!  Come on -- let's roll away the stone from our hearts today, and let Him in......to STAY!
#SpringHasSprung #PrinceOfPeace

Tough Times Don't Last, But Tough People AND Trees Do!

I set out to buy two trees for my yard. My main criteria? Hardy. A very knowledgeable tree specialist guided me to this Maple Tree (left). It would be on the west side of my home and would eventually have a great canopy from the sun, and yes, it's a hardy tree. I chose the hardy Crabapple Tree for the front yard for the maroon leaves that would match my house – I know that’s a girlie consideration, but, like my clothes, I want ME, and my house and yard, to be color-coordinated. When it was time for the nursery to plant the trees, I asked about supports and stabilizers against these Oklahoma winds. The tree specialist said, “We’ll provide stakes if you want, but we don’t recommend it. Movement of the trunk helps strengthen it by thickening it. And, trunk movement also stimulates root growth.” Well, that was good enough for me. But, in the last couple of weeks, I almost doubted my decision as these Oklahoma winds were bending them beyond what I thought they were capable of. But, they are withstanding the winds, and they are standing tall.

Robert Schuller wrote a book called “Tough Times Don’t Last, But Tough People Do”. And, in almost all cases, tough times don’t last, but people with faith and trust in their Creator, Almighty God, do! With God as our stabilizer and support, the storms of life and the prevailing winds may come, but we will withstand every pressure, every adversarial push and shove, and every brute force that could uproot us from our faith. In all those times….sure we’ll bend, but we sure won’t break!

Psalm 1:2-3 “But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”