Renewal

Song of Solomon 2: 12,13: “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.”

We, here in the foot hills of the Ozarks, are experiencing a beautiful spring. The trees are putting on new foliage and the daffodils and the irises are blooming. The redbud trees and the fruit trees are all putting on new color. The dogwood trees are in full bloom. The whole land is coming back to life after a long winter.

We awake with the singing of the birds. Late in the evenings the whippoorwills are singing for the closing of the day.

I remember last fall how the trees and things began to lose their foliage. God gave us beautiful colors to look at. Then, before long, the leaves began to fall, and the trees became ugly. Isn’t it amazing how God gives nature the ability to renew itself? The old passes away and now, in the spring, the new comes out.

When I look out my bedroom window I am reminded of the faithfulness of God. He always sends us just what we need when He thinks we need it most. He is faithful in doing things for us.
At Ozark View Chapel we have just closed Revival time. God come in each service and spoke to each of us. The Lord led our evangelist to bring good solid simple messages to us each night. As I was bidding the people good night after the closing of each service some were telling me how much they received from the services.

“God spoke to me tonight.”

“Wasn’t that a good message?”

“Just what I needed.”

“God is helping us.”

Isn’t God great to be faithful to renew our hearts when we obey Him? ...like the coming of the seasons ...like the sunshine after the rain ...like daytime following the night.

Psalm 119:89,90: “Forever, O Lord,Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.”

Eugene H. Peterson paraphrased it in The Message like this:

“What you say goes, God, and stays, as permananent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fasion; It’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up, Your word and truth are dependable as ever.”

No wonder the Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 92:1-2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And your faithfullness every night.”

God will never fail!

Thomas Chisholm wrote the song that we all know so well.

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Summer amd winter and spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold withness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!”