"See, everything has become new..."

Yesterday, as I was carrying water for the greenhouse, I caught a glimpse of purple near the edge of our garden. There can only be one purple flower blooming so early! Violets and Bloodroot are the first flowers to bloom on our farm and herald the appearance of all things green and growing. I went exploring through the woods and gardens and photographed the treasures I found! Spring (especially in northern climes with deciduous trees! :o) ) is such a close picture of God's work of sanctification in the hearts of those He has redeemed. His mercies are new every morning; He molds our heart to more and more love what He loves and hate what He hates; He draws us to repentance and death to our natural self. Last year's growth becomes nourishment for this year's fruit. He calls us to life in His blessed law through the sanctifying work of His Word and the cleansing rain of His Holy Spirit working in us conviction of sin and the fruit of righteousness. All of creation is witness, vociferously praising His marvelous grace; day after day is filled with another reminder of His holiness and goodness and perfection. As our pastor said on Sunday, "The birds get the am. shift!" How true! They sing for they cannot be silent!

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.” Is 35:1

 

Ranks of hosta

  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”  Romans 1:20

Clematis all ready to bloom... a bit early for Minnesota!

 “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.” Psalm 111:2

"I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows..."

Shakespeare

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” Job 12:7-10

Columbine or Honey Suckle

“You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth...."

Unfurling Fern Fronds

"...You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side.  The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy, they also sing.” Psalm 65:9-13

Otherwise known as a "fiddlehead"... looks just like it too!

 “And God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.’ And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11-12

Tulips considering the pros and cons of early blooming...

“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’” Genesis 1:29

Bloodroot, also called Tetterwort... the only species in genus Sanguinaria.

"Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the Lord has done marvelous things!..."

It would have come up through the snow if there had been any snow to come up through!

  "...Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength...."

A violet by a mossy stone
     Half-hidden from the eye!-
Fair as a star, when only one
     Is shining in the sky.

Wordsworth

"...Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before."  Joel 2:21-24