Spring Cleaning

It's about that time...Spring is finally here! 

How nice it is to look outside and see some green replacing all those piles of white that were here just weeks ago. The temps aren't very warm yet, but no complaints here. I'm loving the sunshine, and the birds are back! I love watching everything start to bud and come back to life. It always reminds me of God and how He can make ALL things new.

One thing I can't say that I enjoy much about the season is spring cleaning. Our homes just need a good scrubbing, dusting, cleaning, and clearing out after a long winter. Sometimes it's hard to understand how we accumulate so much, but it feels good to get rid of the clutter and the things we don't need anymore that are just gathering dust or taking up space. Cleaning and clearing out makes things look and feel new again. It feels good to the soul!

All of this reminds me that not only do we need to clean and clear out our physical homes, but our hearts and spirits need a good cleaning and clearing out as well. Just like the dust in the corners and the dried up plants in our yards that require maintenance right now, so do our relationships with God. Just as the clutter we don't need in our homes begins to get in the way and make it hard find the things we do need, clutter in our hearts and lives can get in the way of our walk with God and make it hard to see what's important.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Sometimes we do a great job of seeing what we think needs to be fixed in our neighbor's "house", but we fail to see our own clutter. We must examine our own hearts first and allow God to show us the places that we need to let Him work on. It's hard to admit our own shortcomings, but it is necessary if we desire to grow. Just like the change of seasons and the new hope that comes with Spring, sometimes we may need a new start or to be renewed - forgetting what is behind and pressing forward. This might require repentance, forgiveness, and much prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

He loves you and He truly can make all things new! At times, we fail to see what is right in front of us, or what God is doing around us. We need to just get back to basics. With Spring comes new life...we are going into such an important time this weekend. It's Good Friday, and then Easter Sunday. We give thanks and honor Him for the unspeakable gift He gave the world on the cross! Not one of us is worthy, our righteousness is like filthy rags. I am so thankful that He paid the cost for our sins, we can never thank Him enough. 

I am going to spend some time this week trying to tackle some dust and clutter..in more ways than one. Let's pray for new life, renewed spirits and the willingness to grow and eliminate the things that are getting in the way of growth and new life.

 Thank God it's Spring!