Daily Encouragement (3/1/22) "Spring!"
Published: Tue, 03/01/22
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2022
 I had the fun of holding these two baby goats late yesterday afternoon on the Old Windmill Farm. This was possible because Brooksyne wasn't with me. She always gets the goats first and treats them like puppies. "Spring!"
Message summary: Today with so much uncertainty in world affairs let us indeed, "acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him."
"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:11,12). "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth" (Hosea
6:3).
Today is the first day of Spring! O, you are mistaken, you might be thinking; the first day of Spring is still nearly three weeks away on Sunday, March 20, at precisely 11:33 A.M. EDT. (Well, most people don't actually pay attention to the precise time.) Indeed March 20 is the first day of astronomical spring which correlates with the vernal equinox, when the sun is directly over the equator. And for most of my life this
is the day I have considered the first day of Spring.
But today, March 1, is the first day of meteorological spring which runs from March 1 through May 31. Meteorological spring is based on the annual temperature cycle and astronomical spring is based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun.
Think about it; spring-like weather begins in early March, summer-like weather begins in early June, autumn-like in early September and winter-like weather appears in early December.
 Today we sure have spring-like weather. Spring bulbs are popping up all around us. The snowdrop bulbs are already blooming and most likely others we've not yet seen. It's projected to be 53° today and sunny so that's fine with us. It's getting more and more suitable for outdoor activities like bike riding, especially for Brooksyne who "shuns" the cold whenever possible.
I don't recall hearing the concept of meteorological spring until the last several years but it makes sense to me and I like it! I enjoy living in a four season climate but winter is the one I prefer to end quickest.
Let's consider a couple of verses that refer to spring:
Today's first verse is from the Song of Solomon, a rather frank love letter. This verse shares the seasonal change, "For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone". This is written from the perspective of an area that has seasonal rainy and dry seasons unlike where we live when we get rain throughout the year.
"The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." Now that sure describes this spring season! A few flowers have already started budding this spring season. It's not unusual for us to break into song, although singing is appropriate all year, including the winter season. And we begin to hear the "voices" of more and more birds early
in the day.
The second verse is our main focus today. It begins "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him". Hosea, one of the minor prophets wrote this some 2700 years ago calling the people to join him (let us) in acknowledging the LORD. I wonder if Hosea had memorized a verse many of us know from Proverbs which was likely written several hundred years earlier, "Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6).
What does "acknowledge" mean? It means to accept or admit God's existence and His truth, to know Him. It means that we recognize He is God, and accept His authority in our life.
"Let us press on to acknowledge Him". Yesterday a radio announcer on our local Christian radio station closed off her program by saying, "signing off but pressing on". "Let us press on to acknowledge Him" seems to refer to steadfastness in a quest to acknowledge the Lord.
"As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." This verse uses the certainties of nature, including the rising sun and the winter and spring rains to illustrate the certainty that He will appear and come to those who acknowledge Him.
Today with so much uncertainty in world affairs let us indeed, "acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him."
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, as we are nearing the end of the winter season we are delighted to feel and see the signs of
spring; the warming air, the songbirds making their spring debut, the bulbs popping up out of the cold ground bursting into color, people spending more time outdoors. Even as the earth is being renewed with new life we want to renew our hearts and follow hard after You. We acknowledge You as the very reason we exist and we want to press on in our commitment to follow hard after You. And as we follow hard after You we continue to be burden bearers praying for those in need like the people
of Ukraine who are in dire need of Your help as they face a David/Goliath battle. So many major needs arise such as protection against their enemies and arsenal, food provisions, transportation, sanitation, lodging provisions for those seeking refuge and so much more. We pray for family members desperate to hear of their loved one's safety. May this also be a time that those in dangerous settings recognize their greatest need is to follow after You as we also pray for peace in Ukraine and
that region of the world. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Bring Back The Springtime" Video George Beverly Shea
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