Can You Spare a Little Change?

Play on words. Not really the spare change found in our pockets or purse -- but the changing of seasons that we may be going through in our personal and family's lives. In Texas, we get four distinctive seasons. Sometimes, more or less distinctive but I enjoy the change in creation and the cooler weather Fall brings. We may not have white Christmases, but we can enjoy lighted snowmen in our yards. I’ll admit, I do miss a little of that ton of snow in Canada's Winter Wonderland.

Once upon a time, I changed the decor of my home at the turn of every season. I’d get rid of the old so we could embrace the new. In my quest to declutter, my seasonal décor is now driven by a "less is more" mentality. The Bible says there is a season for everything in life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). If only we could embrace the seasons of our lives as willingly as we embrace the seasons of the year. But we tend to resist change that goes outside our comfort zones.

God planned the seasons of our lives with infinite wisdom. He ordained each one, knowing exactly what fruit is to be harvested during each time frame. I believe that since His desire is to do us only good, He plans each season for us. So why are we prone to resist the season we’re in? When it’s summer, we want fall. When it’s winter, we want summer. When we are single, we want to be married. When we are married, we want children. When we have children, we want them to be grown and out of the house. When the nest is finally empty, we miss them and want them back -- at least occasionally! 😁

We are so like the children of Israel. They murmured and complained and kept demanding more. God brought them out of 400 years of slavery, gave them rest from their enemies, and provided daily food, water and protection. But no matter what He did, it wasn’t enough. They refused to place their total dependence on God whose plans were for their good (Jeremiah 29:11). So, an entire generation perished before seeing their promised inheritance. The wilderness journey was not a picnic. It was an adventure into the unknown, and it was a change of season for an entire nation. But the Lord knew the way through the wilderness, just as He knows the way through ours.

God ushers in the seasons in our lives and walks us through them. He desires that we embrace what He is doing in our lives with faith and gratitude. During the season of planting, when there is no harvest, God is watering, nurturing, and fertilizing us so that in due season we can bring forth the fruit He desires. Then, after harvest, it's a time of pruning. Ouch! As painful as it may be, God knows how good it is for us so we'll produce more fruit. We can trust God to do whatever He needs to do in our lives today because of His proven faithfulness yesterday

Tomorrow begins Thanksgiving week, the time to count our blessings and enjoy, as God does, this season right now. Every day is a gift so let's savor all the sights, sounds, smells, family, friendships, fellowship, food and fun of the season. God, in His infinite wisdom, planned our lives and leads us through many fruitful seasons. Instead of wishing we were in a different one, may we be grateful and embrace THIS ONE!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

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

The March Equinox and Donna's Inspirations

Day 79 of Photo Inspirations -- The March Equinox and Donna's Inspirations
This photo inspiration adventure, that God has me on this year, continues to awe and astound me.  Yesterday, as I was driving home from the Southern Hills area of town, I was so taken by these gorgeous bushes of forsythias that I just had to do a u-turn to take the photo.   I immediately thought that Spring must certainly be upon us.  So much so, that it inspired me to get home and go up in my attic and bring down my Spring floral arrangements.  Time to change out the winter decor' for my spring decor'.    I guess I'm a chip off the ole' block, because isn't that what our Father and Creator does?  He changes our winter to springtime.

Last night I sat down at my computer, downloaded this photo and decided to check to find out, "When DOES Spring come this year?" To my amazement, I found out that it was yesterday, March 20th, the day I was inspired about Spring and taking this photo.  Furthermore, I  found out about the equinox which occurs only twice a year, around March 20th and September 22nd.  It is the day when daytime and night are of approximately equal duration.  The March equinox happens at the same moment across the world but is converted to local time. In 2015, it falls on March 20 at 6:45 P.M. EDT, 5:45 P.M. CDT, 4:45 P.M. MDT, and 3:45 P.M. PDT.   Shazam!!!!

Now that knowledge may not impress you, but it sure did me. Because, when I checked the details of that photo, it says I took it at 4:49 CDT.  That meant I was already within the hour and minute of the equinox, and I didn't even realize it. Honestly, I truly sense God's holy presence at times like this. I have never felt closer to God than I have since the first of this year when I have been purposely seeking Him and asking Him for an awareness of Him in my day.   And He continues to SURPRISE me each day with inspirations of awe-inspiring proportions.

I continue to be amazed at the intricate details of how God masterfully put this world into place and planned the seasons to the nth degree of design.  Seriously?  March 20th -- the equinox when day and night are equal in time.  With that precision, think about His infinite wisdom when it comes to what He is doing in the seasons of our lives.  He has ordained each day.  He knows exactly when we are experiencing the cold, dark, hybernating winters of our lives.  Those times when it seems nothing productive is happening.  Oh, but hold on my child.   JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!   He has a SPRINGTIME for you and me -- the time when we can shed those winter clothes of sadness, weariness and heaviness, and replace them with garments of praise because it's a NEW DAY!  Let's be so grateful that God, in His infinite wisdom planned every season of our lives and He will lead us through every season to effect His perfect plan in us.  Instead of wishing we were in a different one, let's embrace and enjoy the season we're in right now!  Can't you hear the birds singing and seeing Spring all around?  Yes, it's SPRING!  Time for celebration!