Final Frost Fling

Well, we HOPE it's the last one! Right?...all you waiting-to-plant-my-garden people? It gave us a little beauty and a little damage but, of course, several photos to post, too...

The morning was cold, down to at least 32, and the schoolkids had to bundle up...

...I had to bring our tomato seedlings inside the night before...

...and many new leaves of the outdoor trees and plants got frost-bitten.

But the frosty scenes were beautiful, it looked like a dusting of snow.

Aren't the ice crystals lovely? Looks like white fur growing on the deck railing!

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

(Job 38:29)
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? (Psalm 147:17)

As Gold

A Thousand Shades Of Green

I have been impressed with SO many shades of green (maybe because it's my favorite color!) as the trees and other plants have burst forth with their clothing of greenery. Although, of course, the camera failed to capture some of the most spectacular scenes that I wanted to preserve, here are several photos to give you an idea of what I have seen. From our back yard in North Carolina to the mountains of Tennessee to the rolling hills of Virginia, from light green to dark green and every shade in between...these are His creations!

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)

Transformations

I'm enjoying watching many transformations happen before my eyes these weeks. These pairs of photos show some of them, from bare trees with no buds to those of blooming beauty.

From buds (and Mrs.Cardinal)...

...to blossoms...

                                                  

...to baby cherries!

From bare branches...

...to flowered ones.



From lovely blossoms...

...to promising pears!



From dreary winter...

...to cheery Spring!

God's power to change and transform are a wonder to behold, not only in plants but also in people. We are thankful for that power, we have seen it SO many times, in so many places during our lives!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)

Because He Lives!

I was driving along by myself a couple days ago, just listening to the car radio (BBN) when all of a sudden an instrumental version of "Because He Lives" came on. The overwhelmingly beautiful and powerful swells of music brought me to tears. As my mind thought of the power of God to raise His Son Jesus from the dead and to save all those who believe on Him as their Savior, to change their hearts and lives, my heart said "If Since God has the power to do that, He has the power to care for and resolve our problems. He can comfort the grieving heart, soften the bitter heart, turn around the wayward heart and forgive the repentent heart. Why should I worry over the problems in the world and in our family? He has it all in His hands and knows what to do." 

Because of the power of the ressurrection, I have His

Person

Peace

Promises

Presence

Power

Why should I worry or fear?!

This is a different version of the well-known song "Because He Lives" but I found it this morning and would like to share it with you. Click on the following link:

http://youtu.be/OWj2vKD4LGM

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25,26)

The Legend Of The Dogwood

What a perfect time of year (Easter) for the lovely dogwood tree to bloom! Not surprisingly, it is North Carolina's state flower. Although it is only a legend, there's nothing wrong with letting this beauty symbolize the most beautiful story ever given to mankind...

The Legend of the Dogwood

At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus' cross.

To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said. "Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals.

"In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (I Peter 2:24)

The Freedom Of Forgiveness

"The freeing power of forgiveness is a beauty to behold!"

Thank You, Lord, for Your forgiveness. Help me to offer this freedom to others

and to accept it when it is offered to me.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32)