In the Wintertime by the Tree

“I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one. The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended… the season of hiding is over and gone.” (Song of Songs 2:10-11 TPT)

Look closely at these pictures. Do you see the difference?

They each look the same, yet one group of blossoms is from a previous season and the others from today. Because things seems familiar, maybe they are not. One season has passed and another is bursting forth. What is gone is gone, but life emerges season after season.

As I was out taking these photos, I had an illumination I would like to share. I was encouraged and hope you will be too. I felt a sudden life giving jolt in my spirit as I heard in my heart, “because it looks familiar it isn’t!”

These blooms and blossoms have never been here before. They look the same as previous seasons but they are not. Oh… what excitement as I stood close enough to see the details. If I had stayed at a distance I would have missed the delicate intricate details springing forth from the hard trunk of this tree. And worse I would have missed a God encounter and His word to me. I came in the house saying out loud, “I have a word! I have a word!” Do not stay at a distance. Jesus calls us to come near and to follow Him.

I perceived what The Lord was saying. In the wake of many setbacks, false starts, or hope deferred we become discouraged, unable or unwilling, afraid to hope again. We have a sense of familiarity believing it will be the same so why bother. We may think I know that, or I’ve seen that, or maybe the saying, “new season same ‘blooms’.” This simply isn’t true. This is new life. These blossoms and blooms have never seen His sunlight until now. The life is in this tree is bringing forth newness. Season after season; are any two exactly the same? No. Hope does not disappoint.

“What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!” “And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy.”(Roman 5:2-5 TPT)

I’ve never lived this day before. I haven’t seen or experienced spring 2020 before. I find I am more excited about the blossoms today. The realization that winter has passed, and new life is emerging is captivating and invigorating, inviting me outside, up close and personal.

My prayer is that we may pause and look intently into the heart of our Savior. May we not miss one intricate detail. May we have new hope to offer when we speak to those our Lord is drawing to Him. At each encounter we can speak life.

Excerpt from poem-In the Wintertime by the Tree

Can we meet again
Another time
You’ll understand then
maybe you won’t be so blind

Just one more thing
If you can spare
Tell me about
This tree we share

You’ve seen it before
And you’ll see it again
It’s a lesson in hope
And there is no end

To all that The Lord
Will do and say,
If you’ll be patient
And walk in His ways

For just at the right time
When you least expect it
You will see new blooms
This tree is expectant

See you in March
And bring your pen
We have so much to learn
My sweet, sweet friend

Glad you’re back
What do you see

The hope and the promise;
there is life in this tree!

The blooms, the fragrance
bursting with life
I do think you’re right
About my plight

I’m beginning to see
And I do have hope
I won’t give up
Not only no, but nope

I’ll speak the promises
And believe His word
And know He’ll answer
Because He heard

Thanks for the lesson
And thanks for caring
This tree taught me a lot
These truths I’ll be sharing

With any who’ll listen
and come sit with me
“In the wintertime
by the tree.”

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 Jan

 

“Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”  (Psalm 27: 13-14 NLT)

 

 

 

Yes these blossoms are new, they are bursting forth, this is a new decade, this is new life, and where there is life there is hope! My prayer is that we stop today and realize no matter the circumstances new life is coming forth, if we can believe.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette