Spring Forward Sunday!

"The winter is over; the rains have stopped; in the countryside the flowers are in bloom. This is the time for singing; the song of doves is heard in the fields. Figs are beginning to ripen; the air is fragrant with blossoming vines..."  ~Song of Solomon 2:11-13

"Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."  ~Hosea 6:3

"The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and singing... They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God."  ~Isaiah 35:1-2

"My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains to make their valuable crops grow."  ~James 5:7

"He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that STILLNESS as He brought them safely into harbor! Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for all His wonderful deeds to them."  ~Psalm 107:29-31

For several years, I considered Winter my favorite season. The introvert in me will always love the cozy, wrapped-up-in-a-blanket-by-the-fire image of winter... along with the magic of snowy days and Christmastime and Christmas lights glittering everywhere. ★

I used to say that Spring was my least favorite season, mostly thanks to the arrival of wasps and bees and other unfriendly insects. My attitude toward Spring has changed so much. Perhaps I love the metaphor of it more than the reality, but the new life and color springing up everywhere is a breath of fresh air for my soul now! lol  It really is awesome and amazing and refreshing.  I'm excited and happy about this Spring Forward Sunday and the extended sunshine and warmth that follow it! ❤  I may have to go for a Crescent Park walk tonight to celebrate! =)

I really can't pin down a favorite anymore - there's so much beauty and a wealth of symbolic meaning to be found in every season. So much of God's heart can be seen through His creation, and the image of Winter turning to Spring is a powerful picture of the renewal God can bring in our hearts and in our lives!!

"Everywhere you look, you can see

The world as it is and the world as it could be.

Winter and Spring.

Old and New.

Despair and Hope.

Death and Life.

Neither submitting to the other.

The struggle for dominance lingers on.

Winter looms large. It puts up one serious fight.

But then all at once, out of nowhere,

Spring comes bursting forth in all its glorious splendor to take its rightful place.

What once lay dormant has now become vibrant. 

The symphony of life is in full roar... 

Spring wins. It always has. It always will.

 And that, my friends, is the very best of news." 

~Ben Nockels