Spring Time Flowers

I live in Western New York, and Spring is one of my favorite seasons...because to me, it represents LIFE! After a dead, gloomy winter the spring time flowers, grass, and even buds on the trees shows the cycle of life coming alive again!

This reminds me of the rebuilding process the Holy Spirit guides and directs us through. Lets face it, too many times we mess up and say the quick "forgiveness" prayer without really asking for forgiveness. I don't think it is until we do something "really big" that we truly seek after forgiveness. For me, these past few months have been about reconnecting with my Heavenly Father. College took me much farther away from Him then I even like to think about. Even once I came home, and got reconnected with my church on a regular basis, my walk certainly wasn't what it was supposed to be.

Back in January my sunday school class started a new devotional book, "Lord, I need Grace to make it Today" By Kay Arthur. I didn't realize at the time just what this book was going to force me to examine, but only the Lord could have known just what my broken heart needed. This book brought healing at a level I never expected possible. I still struggle admitting to others my mistakes, but I think at this time they aren't necessary. This book took me through the necessary steps for healing to really begin.

I had to come face to face with my wrong doings, yet see how much my precious Savior gave up for me that day on the Cross. It should have been me on that cross. I should suffer eternal separation from my Lord and Savior. Yet with the salvation offered to me, and the "wipe the slate clean" Lord I worship, I will see Him face to face someday.

So as I finish this sunday school book, I feel like the spring time flowers, blossoming in new, vibrant colors, ready to show the world that the "long winter nights" can bring me down, but they won't kill me off! My guilt is still there, but I no longer fear for my salvation. I know that the Lord will use my past mistakes into something positive in my future!