Issue 1,009 – Spring – March 21, 2023
I woke this morning thinking that today marked the first day of Spring. I had forgotten that back in 2007, the dates for the vernal equinox were changed to be variable, and yesterday was the first day of the Spring season (this year). To further complicate things, meteorologists have divided the year into quarters, and for them, the first day of Spring was March 1.
So let me wish you all a belated Happy First Day of Spring 2023.
As Kathy and I walked around Willband Creek Park yesterday, we were treated to the usual views of large numbers of waterfowl. We also saw a beaver dam that was not there the last time we walked the trail some months ago. We saw a bald eagle and a couple of great blue herons. One had been successful in its hunt and flew past us carrying what seemed to be a good-sized fish.
The trees were beginning to bud out nicely. The pussy willows were coming on strong.
As we walked, we spoke about the pros and cons of the various seasons. Spring is our favourite as it brings the gradual greening of everything and longer days. When we live in northern Alberta, the arrival of Spring seemed to be more of an assault. Winter fought to the end, bursting belatedly and abruptly transitioning into summer.
We tend to accept the seasonal transitions without giving them much thought (unless you are a farmer) because they don’t impact our daily lives a great deal.
We forget that God created them
God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. Genesis 1:14
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. Psalm 74:17
Each season has a reason appointed by God.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The seasons are like the rainbow, a sign of God’s covenantal promise to Noah.
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Genesis 8:20-22
As we enjoy the onset of the Spring season, take some time to reflect on the goodness and holiness of the God who gave it to us.
May the praise of His Name be ever on our lips.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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