Albania
Winter 2000
February
22
Spring is made of the right stuff and our God in Heaven thinks so too!
This is the time of year He breathes deeply in and out a tonic that prepares nature for smaller amounts of cold and larger amounts of warmth.
It's the best medicine the earth can have!
There is no similarity in being alive and living. The difference is
certainly played out in the springtime. In the winter, flowers bow their delicate heads and go to sleep
and trees put their arrogance on the shelf and look even more humbler than any other season. But in the spring the
trees and flowers stand refreshed in the still, clean air. Animals jump at their chance to
 nibble at the new growth. The new rain with its great
drops of water, lightening with its flaming fierce fire and thunder with God snapping His fingers awakens us to His new season. Like a hundred new
kisses, north winds switch to south winds and the earth is now living.
At this moment, you might be at a place in the world with winter's cold
and dark and where winter's plants are still asleep. Here in Albania, spring is just stepping in the door and winter is being asked to leave.
Because we work in villages, we notice nature and these changes.
Yesterday Orjeta, Jenny, Janice and I walked by a small pasture and saw
some lambs with their mother. There was no shepherd present, which was unusual. This spring's crop of lambs and sheep wandered from tree to
fence to gully, idling about.
We're reminded in John 21:15-17 of Peter's commissioning of Christ's lambs
and sheep. Since Jesus asked Peter to feed His lambs, I think this was a springtime request. Peter was to change from the old season (the winter of
his denials) and be commissioned into a new season (spring and a new life).
We are to be like Peter to tend, feed, lead, defend and pasture the lambs
and sheep that God has given in our care. This is a quotation of John 21:15 from the New Living Translation.
After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord." replied Peter. "You know I love You."
"Then feed My lambs." Jesus told him.
 Winter
2000 Index
 |
