April Showers Give Us More Than May Flowers

 Where I live in southern California, spring seems to be arriving a little earlier than usual, and I am beyond excited. I took an early morning stroll through the garden and found my heart fluttering with joyous childlike giddiness while discovering the gifted treasure of fresh buds and new growth stretching up through the heavy blanket of winter’s slumber.

Like the garden, I, too, welcome in the April showers as they wash away any old growth, broken branches and doubts and make way for a new season of healing, love and strength.

“He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.” Psalms 1:3 TPT

To me, spring is a season of refreshing one’s soul with hopes and dreams.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean, not on your own understanding.“ Proverb 3:5 NIV

This is the season to clear out the old and open the windows to our hearts. It’s time to breathe deeply and welcome in the sensory orchestra of bird calls and sweet fragrances as they announce the new season to our souls. It is time to AWAKEN. Yes, AWAKEN to the freedom of the new season. Rejoice in the love from our Heavenly Father. Embrace his fruitful miracles and blessings directed to fill our hearts with joy.

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”  Acts 14:17

I found in a recent bible study that rain is referred to as a “blessing after a drought, a symbol of God's love and teachings to spread over the world”.   As I finished my study, I found myself revisiting a journal of writings, sketches and photos from our travels to parts of Africa.  I found myself floating down the majestic Nile, remembering how its dry shoreline is refreshed every year from the rains that fill the mouth of the river. My mind was filled with memories of our safari in the Serengeti as we travelled with Rowland, creating newly formed friendships along the way. The gifts of nature are a true treasure from our Heavenly Father. 

Rowland taught us so much about seeing the expanse of God’s glorious creations: from the soft yellow and amber sunrises and the soft purple and pink sunsets to the vast green and gold pastures of land filled with the most amazing display of wildlife.

We learned that there are only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.  We were shown how to appreciate rain as a gift from our Heavenly Father for it is His love that “pours out” in the form of healing rain, providing food and resources after a period of drought. The rains create a source of life that guides the natural migration of all living things.

“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”  Joel 2:23

If we truly choose to receive the love from our Heavenly Father, He will guide us through the dry seasons. His abundant love will pour over us during the rainy season, filling our hearts with enough joy to last through all seasons.

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12

Let’s put down the roadmap of chores and let in the amazing plan our Heavenly Father has for us. As we all have learned from the “nature” of life, nothing is perfect, yet when we trust enough to open our hearts to the love of our Heavenly Father, we discover that we are all invited to  live a life of joy through all seasons.  

Let the healing rain of love and blessings pour over your garden of life and awaken your soul.  

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,”  Isaiah 55:10

Enjoy the feast of this “fresh start season” filled with Endless Love, Hope and Joy….