This was truly Weird Weather week in Yakima. Sunday and Monday we had 90 degree temperatures – in April! On Wednesday we had genuine should-I-build-an-ark rainstorms – in Yakima (basically a desert climate). Don’t you just love Spring with all of it’s surprises?
Actually – I do. There’s something about spring that speaks to my heart about freshness and promise, hope and new life.
The trees have been standing barren and bleak for months but all of sudden in spring they perk up, life starts coursing through their branches and tiny buds appear impatient to unfold in lush leaves.
The hills have been snow covered and sleepy but at the first hint of spring sunshine they drink up the snow melt and start growing a green crew cut.
And the tulips – oh the tulips. They are inspirational. They hide inside those dried up bulbs underground until God whispers “It’s time.” At the sound of His voice they are so excited they fight their way to the surface through earth still partially frozen. They strain and push to break through and they don’t stop there. It’s like they can’t get close enough to God soon enough. Those sturdy stalks will grow inches in a day, stretching straight up until their little heads burst into glorious bloom, wide open faces smiling right at their Creator.
Can anyone look at a bed of tulips and not feel joy?
Tulips remind me of that first love spoken about in Revelations chapter 2. Do you remember it? The early stages of your relationship with Jesus when you were so enraptured by Him you couldn’t stop talking about it, singing about it, rejoicing in it? You were like the tulip shaking with impatience to get closer to Him. You soaked up His living water until you were so filled you had to start growing. You pushed through every bit of what was trying to hold you back, keep you underground, and you just kept stretching upward to get closer and closer to God.
Have you lost that newness? Have you become complacent? Because I can tell you this – what God has done, what God’s Word says, what God has planned – is as new and fresh today as it was on the day of creation. God in all of His glory, the God who has existed since before time began, the God who watches over us every minute of every day – has not one time become complacent in His duties.
The Bible tells us His mercies are new every morning, His compassions never fail, His love is never ending,. I invite you today to stretch as tall as you can, lift your face to God and be like a tulip – eager and anxious for more Him.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam 3:22-23
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