A time of Renewal

Spring has finally arrived after a long cold winter and it is wonderful to see sun shining and hear birds singing. Many of the trees in my yard have beautiful green leaves and there are little purple and yellow flowers peeking out of the ground . From my front porch I can see neighbors riding their mowers and trimming the grass with their weed eaters while others are working in their flowerbeds. The smell of freshly cut grass fills the air and the atmosphere is happy and full of joy!
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, this is seen in nature that has been laying dormant for several month and is now coming to life before our very eyes. when I think of the changing of the seasons I'm truly amazed and it re-enforces my belief in God. Only He could create something so wonderful, mysterious and magnificent. Spring is the season of new beginnings and fresh starts, it is a time for cleansing and refreshing. Every where you look people are starting "spring projects and/or spring cleaning." Most folks spend this time of year to clean the garage or basements. They sort through things and purge everything they can possibly get rid of. Many people take this time to paint and clean in the nooks and cranny's - the places not so easily seen . Those little hidden areas that are hard to reach. It is a time to clean carpets and re-finish old wood work or just spruce up the house. A friend of mine says that it is the perfect time to give every thing a "good once over."
During this time of spring cleaning -it is the perfect time for us to take a personal inventory. By taking a personal inventory we can identify any and all things in our life that is polluting and/or destroying our spiritual life with Jesus Christ. First , Ask your self this question, "What comes out of my mouth?" For example, Are my words uplifting and positive do I encourage and bring peace? Do I speak words of love and joy? Or are the words that come out of your mouth full of anger or hatred? Do they inflict pain and cause dissension? Are the words you speak deceitful and lies . These are questions we need to ask ourselves. We are suppose to keep a tight rein on our tongue and the words we speak into the atmosphere. Words have power to kill and murder, they also have the power to uplift and encourage.
When Jesus was questioned abut being clean and unclean, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law came to Jesus ask Him why His disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. The Pharisees and teachers of the law believed that failure to wash your hands before you ate made you' unclean'. "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand., What goes into a man's mouth does not make him' unclean', but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean'."Matthew 15:10 he explained further by saying, ""Don't you see that what ever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what makes a man unclean, but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean'. Mt.15:17-20
We must keep a constant watch over what we say. We shouldn't go around saying what ever comes into our minds. we are to take every thought captive and be aware of what we speak. What we speak is a direct picture into our heart and mind.
We all need to go into our prayer closets and take a personal inventory of what is coming out of our mouths. We all say and do things that is wrong. Even David, who was a man after God's own heart sinned, he said and did things that were wrong and against what God's law commanded. Psalm 51 is a humble prayer that he prayed and ask God for forgiveness and cleansing.
Psalm 51: 1-12 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop , and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
This prayer is a perfect example of repentance and one seeking forgiveness. I want to encourage you to keep on trying. When we fall- we have to get back up. Always keep running toward God. He loves us and He will be standing waiting with open arms to catch you.