New Life

This morning I realized that there were a few areas in which I hadn't been obedient to God when I knew the direction He was asking me to go. I grieved a lot. I told myself all kinds of negative things. I dwelt in a pit for the morning hours wondering if I was going to be able to get a hold of stopping and just moving forward. I had to drive and run a few errands. I remembered a conversation last night at a home group I go to. One of my friends talked about being in silence before the Lord. I turned off my car radio. This is something she was talking about. And I drove in silence. I asked God to forgive me. I asked the Lord to help me and meet me where I was at. I mourned my silly decisions that led me to where I was.

And God reminded me of Lamentations 3:22-23 "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Does that mean I have to wait until tomorrow morning for His mercy to begin for me? Nooooooo....thank you Jesus! God met me right there in my car...and began to renew my heart and mind. I am still struggling with what is on my heart, but I also know that God will walk me through it. I trust God to show me a new way. I trust God to protect my heart and bring mercy to me right now as I seek restoration in the area.

As I looked out my window of my kitchen when I got home, I saw the images below. God showed me this new life. He showed me how these trees and bushes could not carry their leaves and flowers through the cold weather and storms of fall and winter. God gave the trees the ability to protect these leaves and flowers until it was time for them to start to bloom and emerge again. He didn't remove them. He hid them for their own protection. He let them rest and then He emerged them in to new life only when they were ready. "For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory." Psalm 32:7

Now these leaves and flowers get to come back out new and fresh. God will give them new life in this season. He takes our mistakes and when we recognize them and ask for forgiveness He gives new life to our better choices. "You show me the way of life..." Psalm 16:11 God will show us the way...today we get to stop and let God show us the way...a new way...a fresh beginning.

God is our protection from the storms and the obstacles. He knows what is best for us. He is choosing to remove something not good for me and renew it with something new as long as I am willing to accept this newness...this new way of doing something.

God calls us to seek His wisdom, to accept his direction to show us the way, and let Him protect us from the elements that can hurt us. "I trust the Lord for protection." Psalm 11:1

God isn't asking me to do something that I can't do. He is asking me so that I will be protected and safe and new. If I am willing to do as He asks I can be like these beautiful trees....new life emerging.

Sometimes it is hard to let go and start new. Sometimes it is hard to hold back and wait for the right time for God to renew a situation in to the fresh new life He has for us. Sometimes He takes things away in order to protect them for a while and then slowing open up a new thing...new leaves....new buds of life and experiences.

When I was looking at these trees and bushes, I was so amazed by the way God cares for them. He literally takes away the leaves and flowers and protects the plant until it is ready to grow again. God doesn't all of the sudden put a big new leaf on the branch. He slowly allows the leaf to grow from a bud and get use to the elements around it.

Now that it is the afternoon, I get to know that new life, new mercies, and new beginnings are around me. I can remember the mistake I made, but allow God to emerge a new choice in me. He can take remove the old leaves, show me a period of mourning and bareness, and then begin a new growth in my heart so that this area can bloom new life for Him.

This bush is just getting some new leaves on it. In a few months the whole bush will be filled with green leaves. Right now it is just shooting out what it can handle in this weather and season of life. God does that for us too in areas....new life at just the right intervals...This is my pussy willow tree. This tree first grows these soft puffy blooms and then they flower and then it is a tree of just leaves. I love how it has these stages. God can do that for us as well. He prepares us for the path He has for us in stages....from bare to the first basic bloom, to a flower and then a strong sustainable leaf.

Beautiful pink buds ready to be leaves on the trees lining the housing development I live in. Soon these bare trees will bring shade and protection to the kids and animals in the neighborhood.

Be reminded that God loves us, protects us, and renews us...

Love, Teresa