Julie Lavender

 GUEST BLOGGER

My guest today is Katherine Pasour, a writer friend I only knew via the cyber world, until we met in person last week at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. And what a delight that was!!! We chatted over mealtimes and at author signings and before worship time...it was such fun to meet, in person, someone I'd come to know and treasure as a friend through emails and social media. Though I love this cyber world of knowing people, there's nothing like face-to-face communication! 

Katherine, an author and wellness-advocate, writes at www.katherinepasour.com. I especially liked her blog below, and I thought it fit perfectly with my theme of glimpses of God from His amazing masterpieces. I hope you'll visit her site - you won't be disappointed! Enjoy! 

The old is gone, the new is here! 

by Katherine Passour

Do you love Spring?

I enjoy almost everything about Spring--the warmer temperatures, beautiful flowers, birds singing in joyful chorus, and the smell of fresh cut grass.

Then there are the new, green leaves...

Leaves in the Spring are so fresh and green. They grow so quickly, dressing the bare trees in a shining garment of verdant color.

It's a season of rebirth and renewal! The trees, although still alive, have been dormant and bare (except for the evergreens), their stark limbs stretched to the sky--waiting for the season of their glory. Now they are covered in majestic beauty, a testament to the miracle of God's Creation.

Where the dead stems and dried leaves of last year's flowers lay brown and rotting, new and glorious blossoms emerge!

Isn't that a lot like us?

Sometimes we're dormant, barely functioning, or drifting through life without purpose.

Sometimes our ugly thoughts and actions are exposed, just as the loss of leaves allows all the misshapen limbs, knot holes, and flaws of the tree to be visible for all to see.

Sometimes we may feel as useless as last year's dead flower stems and fallen leaves.

But, we are part of God's amazing Creation. We are covered in His glory. He created us for a purpose--we're not useless!

Just as Spring brings new life and renewal to God's amazing Creation, we are given new life by the gift of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, through His sacrifice for the redemption of our sins.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

We are made new by the love of Christ!

He understands our limitations, but loves us anyway.

He knows when we feel useless, unworthy, and unloved and he lifts us up to try again.

He takes us out of the darkness of our winters and brings us into the light.

But, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John: 1:7

I pray that each time you see new birth this spring--leaves, flowers, fruits and vegetables--all the miracles of God's Creation--that you will be reminded of the most awesome gift of all--Jesus our Savior.

The gift of love, light, and life.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Katherine Pasour is an author, teacher, and speaker with a passion for our Lord, Jesus and for wellness—her own and for others! Katherine blogs weekly on faith and wellness and enjoys writing and reading Christian fiction short stories and romantic suspense. Her Bible Study, “Honoring God with My body,” focuses on developing a closer relationship with Jesus while working toward making choices that lead to a healthier life-style. Katherine and husband, Bob, parents of four adult children, share farming and gardening duties and have come to the realization that retirement is a myth.

What about you? Which miracle of God's creation are you enjoying most this spring?

Katherine and I would love to hear from you!