The Beauty of the Seasons

By Bethany Lashbrook

This week’s verse: Galatians 4:10, “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! (NIV)

I’ve heard that in warm climates, where the seasons change less than in the Midwest, you might often find the people more drained and exhausted. I couldn’t imagine that. Wouldn’t it be great to have warm temperatures all year long? But, the reason why they are found to be exhausted is because with warm weather comes demanding schedules. Instead of getting necessary “down” time during cold winter temperatures, they tend to be on the move all year long. Any time that I am dissatisfied with the cold weather, I try to remember that the Lord has placed the winter season on us for a reason. It is a pause from it all. It is a time to catch up, to accomplish small things, to recuperate.

And then comes Spring. People out. Lawns being mowed. Kids on bicycles. Kites in the air. Soccer being played. Baseball fields packed. Birds chirping. Shorts on. Kids anxious for summer vacation. Gardens being planted. Windows open. Leaves on trees. Easter flowers blooming. Snakes poking their heads out (eek). Women walking for exercise. Bees buzzing. Need I say more? Busy. Busy. Busy.

Although I find the summer months exhilarating and exciting, I often find myself “too busy” for some much needed time with God. I need to remember that the reason I am so lucky to enjoy the summer activities is because the Lord has given me that privilege. I am rich with blessings the Lord has bestowed upon my family, my friends and myself. I am guilty of having such pleasures as freedom to do as I please, amenities that allows me to buy what I need when I need it, and the luxury of enjoying all the above in a free country.

So, this season, although busy running here to there, and there to here, I am going to remember to take time to thank the Lord for the weather. To thank him for the peace I have. To thank him for my children and their sometimes never-ending sports practices. To thank him for my “hectic” lifestyle that I have brought upon myself. To thank him for the country I live in where I am free to roam. To thank him for the winter where I have rested plenty and for the Spring where I can wake up, rejuvenate from the sun and spend many waking hours delighting in His Creation of beauty, expertise, and peace.

Dear Father, thank you for your beauty and the magnificence you have shown in your creation. Please help me to slow down this Spring, to take it all in, to breathe deep, to bask in your creation, to remember to spend time with you, and most of all to appreciate all that you have done for me. Thank you for your Son. Thank you for His willingness to suffer, so that I may live – and live life to its fullest knowing you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application: Make a list of things you can do while your kids are at practice. Can you walk and pray at the same time? Can you keep a bible in your car to have on-hand? While walking, can you listen to your favorite preacher’s podcasts? Or catch up on the latest Christian books? Since the kids will be out of school, enhance your and his day by starting out with a child’s daily devotional. And, as always, find quality time to spend with your family - - and enjoy it!

Power Verses:

Exodus 20:11, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.” (NIV)

Psalm 104:19, “You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.” (NLT)

Ephesians 1:3, (Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (NIV)

It's all about Spring

By Bethany Lashbrook

This week's verse: Isaiah 58:11, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water will never fail." (NIV)

Devotion:
As I sat to write this devotion, I thought "spring" (even though this monstrous weather we are having is anything but). As I typed "spring" at biblegateway.com to find some verses to go with my devotion, I was amazed with more what I saw spring as.

Spring - a sense of renewal; a season of growth
Spring - a natural flow of ground water
to Spring - moving forward by leaps and bounds
Sprang - produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectadly

Then I thought of the cross.

We celebrate Easter during Spring because Spring gives everyone a sense of renewal. Everything is fresh and new - the world becomes alive again.

The waters begin to move - and the springs are flowing over with water.

To Spring forward with leaps and bounds - to move past winter's blaws and bounce towards something fresh, something new, something warm.

Jesus Sprang the news on his disciples that He was the Chosen One. He would be crucified by those who once cheered for him to come to Jerusalem. Then, he would shock the world for generations to come by rising from the ground. The temple's curtain was torn from top to bottom, yet the Temple (Jesus himself) would rise just as Jesus had promised.

Little did the disciples know that Jesus' references to spring water meant eternal life. John 4:14 states, "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (NIV)

Jesus is Spring. Spring is Jesus.

I love this time of year!

Dear Lord, thank you for the different seasons you give us here on Earth, as well as the different seasons in our lives. You amaze us in all of your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: Make a list of your five most favorite things of Spring - and then promise yourself to enjoy them each day from now until Easter.

Power Verses:
Revelation 7:17, "For the lamb on the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (NLT)

Isaiah 61:11, "As surely as seeds sprout and grow, the Sovereign Lord will save his people, And all the nations will praise him." (Good News Translation)

Romans 15:12, "And in another place Isaiah said, 'The heir to David's throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope in him."' (NLT)