Spring. Here in the state of Vermont, I awoke yesterday to the sounds of robins and blackbirds. A sure sign that the earth is in its annual birthing mode. Where those seedlings that have lain asleep under the ground, have heard the call. We come to that place here in Vermont, where it can still snow, still freeze and yet we know its spring time. A pregnant woman knows that life is within and imminent. We know that the leaves will burst forth and the landscape will be painted with heavenly hues of the Artist's pallette.

I know spring is near because my body rises with the first dawning light. What used to be a chore to get up at 6, finds me well ensconced in my work with an hour to spare. (And I even thought Tyler was reacting to it at 5am, as I walked by the door and saw the light on, only to realize he was waiting to find out if school was closed another day (3 already!) as the result of a mercury spill!!! Should have known better! But it encourages me to know that they can get when they need to and ruins their defense for not getting up!!!) I love spring. I get excited about it! I went and looked at a new bike (pedal bike-though I am believing I will replace the 1100cc bike in the garage with one my wife will ride-she's just not into rocketships!) and am seeking the Lord to supply. For me being outside is the greatest. My walks by the river, and through meadows, with an eye towards some whitewater and hiking this year.

Life. Those things that God has planted in our lives and we have not seen them come to pass. Have you reviewed the prophecies over your life? The words that have been given to you, the scriptures that jump out at you. Just like a gardner you must take the seed, checking it carefully, preparing it for this time. Some of you have been discouraged by situations and circumstances. But may I impart this to you? Like we know spring is coming so shall those things that GOD has planted? Were you called to ministry and your spouse passed away or left? God HAS not changed His mind about you! Have you watched children leave the nest and wondered if God had anything for you? "That which God has established, so shall He see to completion!" You are not done! If there is breath in you-God can do something with you! You have a purpose!

Do not eye the circumstances. Just like I know that spring is here by the signs of the day, you can know that this time is but for a moment. You can allow the seed to not be used, circumventing God's purpose. You can allow roots of bitternesss to overtake your seeds that God has planted in you...OR you can begin to prepare the garden for the coming harvest. Begin to deal with roots of bitterness, the chemicals you ingest (remember yesterday and drinking poison!). The littlest looking weed can destroy your growth and cause you difficulty. The time to weed is NOW!

Get into the spring of God. Begin to cultivate and relish the new growth that God desires to hang upon you. The circumstances are just

that-circumstances-temporary. If they go on you have allowed them to become LIFESTYLE!!! Its your job to till up the soils of your heart and give the seed an opportunity. Your job to water with the Word. Your job to make sure you eat a balanced diet of the Word, cultivate with prayer, cover with meditation and prune with fellowship and teaching.

God CAN NOT do this for you!!! He says to Timothy; "(you) stir up those gifts within." No one can do that for you. If you have gifts and they are not operative it is NOT God's fault. It is not your church's fault.

And men; I am convicted to say this to you. I have seen more than my fair share of marriages go sour in my short time here. In each one the spiritual head of the household(the man!) has made a decision (note the word decision=choice of their will!) to not participate in the spiritual things of their household and the reality of it is I have seen marriages (Christian ones!) come dangerously close to divorce. Why? Because the seed that was in their life, they chose not to cultivate. This does NOT mean women do not do this. I have seen a fair share of those too, but they do not seem to affect the marriage so precariously! Nor am I saying a wife can not walk out her Christianity in a marriage where the husband has chosen la la land. Most of these men gave up on church; one of the places to learn and certainly God's choice for Christianity to be. And I do not make a distinguishing between house or church building church. I am talking about being the church as one body.

Today the sky is blue and sunny. The kind of day that causes snow to melt and hearts to rise. What you do with today can be great or it can be failure. The Lord desires to order your steps. Will you let Him?