Memories of Summertime

So my plans to paint this summer have fallen by the wayside. Blame it on the creek and the swim hole.
The kids and i have been enjoying the water almost every day, whenever the weather and schedules have permitted. While most people work in a garden i work on the creek, trimming branches and cutting weeds. My efforts have been rewarded with a beautiful place to spend many hours and make many precious memories with family and friends. I cannot complain.
My watercolors are in the same exact spot i left them earlier in the spring. They will be there when the time is right and i can start painting. Maybe then i can paint from memory butterflies, dragonflies and lazy days on the creek enjoying God's creation and the company of loved ones.
Those will be the best paintings because they will remind me of what awaits me next year and fill me with hope during winter's cold.

Spring Blessing

Today was the first day of spring and while the day itself was rather cool the weather was beautiful! The sun was shining, the skies were blue and the birds were chirping. For awhile i was able to sit and watch the honeybees; even take a few pictures. After a few minutes the breeze became just a little too much to bear so i came back inside but what brief time i did spend outside was enough to fill me with hope and excitement about the season ahead.

Today i was given a glimpse of spring while still feeling a bit of winter's chill. What i saw and what i heard was enough to assure me that warmer days are definitely ahead. This assurance helps me to face whatever cool, gray days remain until spring prevails.

Isn't it just like God to do things like this for us ? We go through long, cold seasons in life and just when we think we cannot handle anymore God gives us signs to demonstrate His love and presence in our struggles. Sometimes He removes the situation from our lives but sometimes He allows us to remain in the hardship not to punish us, not because He doesn't care but because He sees what lies ahead, He knows what is best and He is preparing us for a future far beyond our wildest imaginations. That future is eternity with Him.

So while this life may be difficult and sometimes painful we can rest assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us(Deuteronomy 31:6). And though we won't always see our hope or feel our hope when we go through the trials in life we can have faith because our hope is in our Heavenly Father(Psalm 42:5). We can face whatever this life brings because this hope does not disappoint(Romans 5:5). Also remember that this life is fleeting where our life with God is glorious and eternal(2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Now i may not hear the birds chirping at this late hour as i write this but i do know my heart is singing! My prayer tonight is that i will remember this hope in the morning and let it fill me with joy all the days of the rest of my life, whatever the Father blesses me with. I pray too that whoever reads this will be filled with this hope that can only come from God.