Every year at this time I say the same thing, “What in the world am I doing living here.” It is now the middle of January and we’ve already topped last year’s snowfall and this morning the temperature dipped below zero. Today’s high was 5 degrees with more snow to come. Next week the forecast calls for a major ice storm. So far this has been a horrible, horrible winter. When people ask why we live here we respond, “Because we enjoy the four seasons.” Really? Not today!
Listen as the “Teacher” begins his litany,
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
I am looking forward to springtime to hear mother robins sing before their young, to watch lawns as they become lush and green, to open windows and doors to let in the aroma of fresh air and to hear the sounds of children playing from the school playground nearby. It will also be nice to again hear the cooing of doves who call my rooftop, “Home” and to see my neighbors laugh and smile again.
Just as the spring rains bring newness to the soil and freshness to the flowers our souls need a steady downpour of constant renewal and a daily soaking of spiritual rejuvenation. We do this by continuing to petition the Father for forgiveness and by asking for His merciful pardon of grace from sin.
Read these words from the book of 1 John,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
Last week as I continued to pen this writing I received my baptism by submersion. I had gone through the motions at my former church and was sprinkled during a ceremony with little meaning and even less emotion. This time tears of joy flowed as I was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. What a moment!
My certificate of Baptism reads,
“All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore, we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4.
Need I say more?
Manna and Coffee 
Gos is truly amazing, as i begin to read what you were saying about the weather where you are living, your today’s high was 5 degrees, our high here in Greenville SC is in the 50’s, California High is in the 60’s, New York high is in the 30’s. I looking forward to springtime too, i love warm wheather, i think it’s because i was born in the summer, then again it could be that i just don’t like to be cold.
God and his wonderful ways of creating everything that we need, has allows us to experience all seasons. I love that each seasons we feel new, i love the thought of new. i was listening to the rain the other day and i begin to think of the water that was coming down and how water cleanse everthing that it touch, God cleanses the earth with natural water and he cleanses his children with spiritual water. It is Similar to the way you feel after a shower, you feel so clean and renewed and when the spirit of God falls, you feel so clean and renewed, It makes you feel like all that you have done wrong just goes away,as the water disappear and goes down the drain so do your sins …He is so amazing …Be Bless