Blackbirds in the Front Yard
Blackbirds just passing through, heading back north. It was still freezing last night but only a few hours. We’ve hit 70’s and a few 80’s already.
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Genesis 8:22
Windspinner Whirling
Windmill Spinning
With the brisk winds lately, it’s been pleasant to look in the backyard and see the Holy Spirit working. Actually, not exactly that. But, it has been pleasant to pass a window, look toward the garden and see the windmill and wind spinner whirling away. Sometimes they are spinning so fast I wonder if they won’t go flying off into the air.
I usually smile and feel thankful for the blessing of these contraptions, and God’s creation silhouetting and surrounding them, and working with them.
Then, as I’ve mentioned before, I think of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said in John 3:8 (ESV) “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
In addition to hearing, we can also see the effects of the wind like that on these spinning gadgets.
And in many ways, we can see and hear the effects of the Holy Spirit working in this world. When we see or hear about people whose hearts and lives have been totally changed; when we see mercy given and received; When we hear someone praise God and know they really mean it.
But, often the most significant times we notice His presence are when it is personal. When we know our heart has been changed and we understand that Jesus is our Savior; When we give mercy and realize that wasn’t what our selfishness would have done; When we praise God and know we really mean it.
Those are the special times I think of when I look out my window and see the wind causing something to move.
Peach Tree Pruning and Cat on Composter
I had to prune the peach tree a week ago. We had a few days of cold weather but several warm days had it ready to bloom. I realize that may do it for this next season but it was too out of hand to let it keep growing. We had no peaches last year when the tree bloomed way early and got zapped by later cold snaps. But the pruning was necessary, both for the health of the tree and the fruit production. Much like the pruning God does with us.
The cat on the composter was just an extra – interesting place to decide to sit in the warm sun.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 ESV
Windmill Full View
The windmill was my choice for my 40th wedding anniversary present. Thanks to Sharon for agreeing it would be appropriate. In case you’re wondering, even though she will enjoy this too, she got something different for her present.
The windmill is 12 feet tall, and as you see, I had a bed already there like it was made for it. It spins wonderfully and the vane turns it into the wind just as it should. Our only regret is that when it’s spinning so wonderfully, it isn’t generating electricity or pumping water. That may be another project someday, but for now we will enjoy watching the wind’s effect upon it.
The windspinners we’ve installed, and the windmill’s actions often bring to mind Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit. Just as we can’t see the wind but can see it’s effect on the world around us, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can see His effect on the hearts of the people around us. He is always moving and working, and we get to marvel when He turns hearts of stone into soft hearts of flesh. It’s especially marvelous when it’s our own heart that is changed!
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 ESV
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 