spring around the cornerMarch 9th, 2016

I saw my first Robins yesterday. It got up to 66 degrees F. Spring is in the air. The only snow left is in shaded areas or piles from plowing. New life is around the corner and I am wearing a jacket instead of a winter coat. These are all wonderful transitions from winter to spring.

Sometimes, our Christian walk can get stuck in the deadness of winter. We go through the motions, but our hearts have become cold. Our relationship with the Lord is hid by a cloud like the winter sun hid by a low pressure system. Spiritual warmth and vitality is diminished and our fruit-bearing sap has gone into hibernation. Like the church at Ephesus, we have lost our first love. We may be doing everything for Christ we have done before but it has become a duty rather than a delight.

Lord Jesus, you are the Son. May you break forth upon us as the spring sun warms the earth after a long winter. May we bask in the warmth of your presence and experience new vitality and the filling of your Holy Spirit. Lord, forgive us when we focus on the clouds of circumstance rather than praying to you with supplications and thanksgiving waiting upon you to turn obstacles in to opportunities for your glory. Help us to count it all joy when we fall into different temptations rather than be like the children of Israel who murmured during the Exodus.

Lord, help us to wait upon you and weather the weather of life upon the wings of eagles rather than be bogged down in the slough of despond, or locked in the tower guarded by the Giant of Despair. Lord, fill our hearts with your warm fresh breath and teach our hearts to sing thy praise. And may the ice be thawed and the river of thy life overflow our puny banks so living waters flow forth from us into a flood of ministry in worship to you and edification to our fellows.

In Jesus Name,

Pastor John Schofield

Isaiah 40:28-31   “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”