Friday Foto Friends: Is It Spring Already?

My apologies to those of you who may be trapped in your houses with cabin fever due to frigid temperatures and mounting snowbanks and icy roads...but THIS is what is happening here where I live:

Yes, the wild plum trees in the woods where we love to walk each day are blooming profusely!

These two little trees are a bit overrun with Spanish moss, but that doesn't keep them from blooming every year...and then hopefully producing many tiny little wild plums to feed the wildlife in the summer:

Wouldn't this be a lovely crown for a little princess?

I know this is picture overload, but this season only is only for a little while, and I want to drink it all in while it lasts:

"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,

And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;"

Isaiah 35:1

I think you can tell that seeing these blossoms truly is a "delight" for me!

Song of Solomon 2:11-13

"11 For lo, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone.

12 The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of singing has come,

And the voice of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs,

And the vines with the tender grapes

Give a good smell.

Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away!"

As I wandered around rejoicing and clapping my hands at such delights, I thought of these verses in the Bible:

Psalm 96:11-13

"11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice

13 before the Lord.

For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.

He shall judge the world with righteousness,

And the peoples with His truth"

And I came to this tree below.

Looks like judgment has already been passed on this old tree and its life is ebbing away.

But even in death, it has a strange kind of beauty and purpose

It appears there is some kind of fuzzy material there in the cavity of the tree, like something has been using this as a nest or a hiding place...a place of safety from predators.  It also looks like a little bear sitting there...if you step back and look at that blackened area...do you see the ears and nose? I sure do...but then, I'm always seeing faces in the woods and trees and sky...all a part of delighting in God's creation!

And it made me think about purpose...even as we get older and age begins to take its toll on our bodies, maybe we can still find a purpose in our lives...perhaps we can be a place of refuge and security for those still finding their way along the paths of life...for those still kind of tripping over the vines and roots and getting tangled in the brambles as they ramble around seeking truth and hope and still trying to see the beauty in life when all seems to be kind of dark and scary...

Maybe we can warn them when danger lies ahead, and to keep their heads up and eyes open before they get tangled in the web of this old world and all its dangers... (yes, I almost ran into this spider and his web again...but thankfully I was watching for it this time and stopped just in time...and took a detour around  him)

You know, we may not always have all the answers to life's questions, but we know WHO does, and where we can find hope and help in time of need...by turning our eyes to Jesus...

1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

Yes, I believe we are here to run our own race with patience and endurance, and to also help lead others along the way who may become tangled in the web and vines of life's difficulties as God leads us.  That is why I am so thankful for you all here in Blogland...others who also come alongside when we need an encouraging word and a prayer for our journey.  Thank you for being those kinds of friends!!

Also, thank you to all who had some kind words for me yesterday as I had a medical test to go through. I did survive the test and the drinking of the horrible barium "milkshake".  Now we wait for the results, but I feel confident all will be well.

And one more thing...I had an update from our friend Martha Jane Orlando's husband Danny yesterday. Martha is still in the hospital, but seems to finally be turning the corner and is building strength and feeling so much better. He is hopeful that she will soon be discharged. Thank you all for your prayers and concern for her.  She is looking forward to getting back to her blog so she can share all the things God has been showing her during her confinement.

Have a blessed and "delightful" day!!!