"Rejoice Forever In What I Create"

Sir Winston Churchill Daffodil

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;

And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;

For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,

And her people a joy...

They shall build houses and inhabit them; 

They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;


They shall not plant and another eat;


For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,


And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."

                                  -From Isaiah 65

Ruffled purple Iris

"But be ye glad and rejoice FOR EVER in that which I create."….  I think it is very beautiful where John Bunyan represents Christiana and Mercy as admiring each other. They had both enjoyed a wash in that wonderful beauty-giving bath, and Mercy said to Christiana, "How beautiful you are! I never saw anyone look so lovely as you are." But Christiania said that she was not beautiful at all; she could not see anything about herself to admire, while in Mercy she saw everything to esteem and love. Oh, to have an eye for the work of God in other people, and to rejoice in it! Such an eye sees not itself, and yet it is itself one of God's loveliest works. "Be ye glad and rejoice," says God, "in that which I create." Can we decline the sacred invitation? Nay, rather let us thankfully enter into the joy of our Lord. Be thankful for what God has done for yourself; be thankful for what God is doing in other people; and recollect that, if you once begin this joy, you need never renounce it, for the text says, "Be ye glad and rejoice for ever." Every day, and all the day, this light of joy is shining, for the Creator stays not his hand. As long as ever you live, there will be something in the new creation that shall be to you a wolf-spring of fresh joy and delight. Heaven will only enlarge this self-same joy. Be glad for ever, because God will ever be creating something fresh in which you may be glad."

C H Spurgeon, Sermon 2211

Columbine

Wow!  What a March!  The Lord has certainly created many things for us to rejoice in this month.  First of all, He created an extra early spring with plenty of rain and sunshine, which caused some things that usually come out reluctantly to burst into bloom overnight!  The bare, naked, grey oak forest has (SURPRISE!) almost completely unfurled every soft, green baby leaf.  It seems like every spring we marvel at this and never tire of it.  The garden is springing up so rapidly that if we are not vigilant the roses, vines, and not to mention the weeds will cover our house!  Praise the Lord for vigorous plants. And praise Him for creating in us the desire to tame the wilderness, though the work is hard.

As lovely as the garden is right now, it is nothing compared to the beauty of the Church of Jesus Christ.  Glorious things are spoken of God's people!  We have been so blessed by our church family this month, as well as the new friends He has given us, near and far.  May you all "long enjoy the work of [your] hands."       

PS- Stay tuned for an update on spring produce and farm babies!