Welcome Spring!

"...for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
the flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come."
Song of Solomon 2:11-12

It's the day I've been longing for...it's finally spring! I love spring for so many reasons...the spring rains, faint breezes, budding trees, and tulips pushing their way through the soil.

I remember when I was in third grade and we made construction paper kites in the spring. I vividly remember that my friend, Johnny, decorated his orange kite in honor of "The Dukes of Hazzard." I remember discussions in class about March coming in as a lion and going out as a lamb...and cheering ourselves with the knowledge that April showers bring May flowers.

Call me crazy, but as a teenager, I loved listening to Sandi Patty on my walkman while hanging laundry on the clothesline in the spring. And perhaps best of all, spring always brings back fond memories of a blossoming love. My husband and I began dating in April, and spring causes me to recall all those special firsts...first hug, first kiss, first "I love you." All these things point to newness...refreshment...hope.

Yet with all this "newness," God has reminded me of the renewal that He desires to do in my heart and mind. Just as I need to do spring cleaning in my home, He desires to clean out the filth and sin from my heart. He knows the real me. There's no use hoping that he won't open that despised junk drawer, notice the spider webs in the corner, or see that big wad of dog hair on the floor. He sees my attitudes...my selfishness...my laziness...my sin. And I marvel that He would take this sinful heart, cleanse it, and make it new.

So on this first day of spring, I join David in praying,

"Create in me a clean heart,
O God, and renew a right spirit
within me.
Cast me not away from your
presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit
from me.
Restore to me the joy of your
salvation,
and uphold me with a willing
spirit."
Psalm 51:10-12