Promises

The Witch Hazel is starting to bloom and the chives are poking up their tender heads.

Buds are starting to swell on my lilac bushes and my roses are starting to form tiny promises of leaves.

Even the rhododendrons have turned down their sturdy leaves and their buds are pointed expectantly upwards so as not to miss one bit of sunshine that might slip through a cloud.

Its like the very beginning of a beautiful symphony, the orchestra is arriving and a few musicians have started their opening warm-ups! Nature's renewal, its a joy that never gets old and never ceases to fill me with awe and surprise. No matter how cold the winter, there will always be spring. No matter how wet the spring, there will always be summer. God's promises, right there for everyone to see.

This last weekend I attended a Christian workshop called, "Being a Wise Women in Tough Times", presented by the Northwest Christian Speakers Bureau.  Four women spoke of different "hiccups" and "tsunami" events in their lives. From mice eating their car's electrical wires, to the deaths of an adulterous spouse and their child. Our suffering economy had affected each one of our speakers, some were in danger of losing their homes. 

 And yet, and yet...each were able to claim the promises of God, that He was real and would never leave us, that He loved us and wanted us to grow, mature and thrive. Each trusted, sometimes with both hands lifted to God, and sometimes with only one while the other clutched a package of fear.

Proverbs 14:1 says, "A wise woman builds while a foolish one tears down with her own efforts." The speakers talked of bitter fruit that they themselves demonstrated at various times of their trials. Fruits of: anger, complaining, self-pity, blame, denial, negativity, sarcasm and people pleasing. One told of how her friends were so tired of her complaints and negativity they would bolt when she came near. One loving friend finally asked her for coffee (no meal was offered because that would mean they would have to listen to even more complaining) and told her pretty much that she was a pain in the butt to be around and that her relationship with Christ was suffering. It was a wake-up call and the suffering sister slowly started to build a stronger and more pleasing foundation with the bricks of her trial.

I was blessed so much by these courageous women this weekend. They were real and their trials were deep and ugly.  Yet, the fruits of their spirits were beautiful, focused and mature.  A wise women cultivates a contented heart. Cultivation is an active process, one that chooses hope, not fear. Every day. 

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". I find such comfort in knowing this and the opening notes of spring are a wonderful illustration that this is indeed a promise that can be claimed.

Protective Ice Covering

Job 37:10: The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.

The other day, I saw white clouds scattered across the clear blue sky as if an artist, who couldn’t decide which kind to draw, painted them on. Some of the clouds stretched out in one big piece with long rows folding into themselves like a freshly tilled garden. Other clouds seemed painted with a small quick strokes resulting in little puffs of curls strewn about. The remaining were classic clouds with billows of circles escaping in all directions. What a delight to look up without rain falling into my eyes!

The last week or so has been dry and cold. My lawn has its crunchy white arctic look and the remaining leaves on my plants are sagging under the weight of a crust of ice. The only birds I see are the family of quail on my fence, and the gulls going to and from the Puget Sound a mile away. Everything seems just a bit quiet and restful.

Last week I did some gardening with my hedge trimmer and warmly gloved hands. I hadn’t cut back a few of my herbaceous plants in the fall, so I chose this time to cut them down while they were crisp and easy to cut. I knew their leaves would be black mush once the weather warmed. My silvery white dusty miller plants were also starting to look ragged so I lopped them back as well. I actually filled my large wheelbarrow before I was done. It felt good to be outside working again. I wrapped my beautiful bonsai in burlap, gave it a drink, and set it against the house on chunks of bark near my dryer vent. I hope this will keep it safe. Last year I poured soil all around it and it did beautifully.

As the sun moves around my yard, tiny shimmers of light twinkle all around bouncing off frozen twigs and leaves and I find myself not wanting to make a sound, as if any noise I make will disturb the scene. As these sparkles of ice reflect the sun’s rays, so this new year causes me to look to my heavenly father and quietly reflect back on how I’ve been doing this last year and how I can serve Him more fully. It seems I have some changing to do. I know this because I feel God is showing me, in his loving way, the areas in my heart and mind that need His touch.

A few years back, I watched this silly movie of a controlling mother who tells her adult son that he should eat the ice cream she has in the freezer for his dessert. He complained that the ice cream had ice crystals on the top, and his mother barked back something like, “That is the protective ice covering keeping it fresh!” I like to think that God is my protective ice covering, and if I am going to grow and mature at all I need to keep Him over me so I can be most effective when its time to push out into the world.