Spring Forward!!

Spring is approaching quickly!  It has been unseasonably warm in our part of the country.  I have seen Buttercup flowers sprouting up all over the place.  Last night we even experienced spring-like storms move across our area. Before we know it, we will be mowing the lawn, planting flowers, and turning our clocks forward.  The season is in the process of changing.

My favorite part of spring is watching as everything comes to life.  New buds begin to form and flowers sprout their beautiful colors! The things that seemed dead were only dormant.

Unfortunately, there are times in our life when we feel like we are dead spiritually.  We allow sickness and stress, among many other things, to distract us from feeding ourselves spiritually.  Our prayer life dwindles.  Our Bible reading dries up.  Before we know it, we find it hard to find the initiative to do much of anything.  We are not bearing fruit.  In fact, we appear on the outside, just as dead as we feel on the inside.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost.  We see it every year as a tree will lose its leaves and become bare.  There is not any fruit.  There are not any beautiful green leaves that catch the breeze.  It appears dead.  Then as soon as the conditions are right, the life that was hidden deep within its trunk begins to push out to the branches. It has been revived!

We see the same thing in Christians today.  Although we may feel dead, there is still something deep within us that will not dry up.  The very moment that we place ourselves in the proper conditions that produce growth, we begin to feel something bubble up within us.  You begin to feel alive!  Your attitude changes.  There is joy inside of you again.  Before you know it, there is visible fruit being produced!! 

Whatever you are going through and whatever season you find yourself in today, just remember there is always that life inside of you.  It is waiting to come out.  Put yourself in conditions favorable for growth.  Your priorities will change and you will not rest until you see fruit being produced for the Kingdom of God!

John 15:5-8 (The Message)

 ^5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.


Stay connected and spring forward!!!