saltandlight

It’s almost Easter. Some people think of Easter as a pagan holiday. I’m not sure I quite understand why. I mean yes, we are not exactly sure of the date that Jesus rose from the grave, but we can still celebrate it. Some people do not celebrate Easter for the resurrection of Christ, but they just like to have fun with the bunny, baskets and egg hunting. I guess that is where the confusion comes in. However you celebrate Easter, just remember that the holiday was created for the purpose of remembering Jesus’ resurrection.

Something that absolutely amazes me every year close to Easter – the pine trees are praising God! Have you ever noticed? The pine trees have little shoots at the ends of their branches. When it gets close to Easter, those shoots form crosses. It never fails and I look for it now every year. If you’ve never noticed, please start looking for it! Hopefully you will be amazed like I am.

This reminds of of the verse in Luke 19:39 – And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. I always think about that verse when I see the crosses. These aren’t stones. But, it just makes me think about nature praising God. Another good verse and probably even more fitting – Psalm 96:11-12 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

What I think about is this. Am I praising God enough? I pray that I never withhold or hold back my praise and that nature would praise God more than me! He has given me a mouth to sing his praises. He has given me holy hands to lift towards him. He’s given me eyes to ready His word. He has given me ears to hear beautiful music and preaching! We have all of the tools to be able to praise Him the most. But sometimes we let nature out-do us.

Isaiah 55:12 For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Even the living things in nature know to praise the one that created them! You were created. And if you are still breathing (I’m assuming if you are reading this you are!) then He has kept you here! You have a purpose.

Let us spend these next few days out-praising the pine trees and the stones! Seek God. If you look around you, you will see His hand in everything from the smallest grain of sand, to the majestic beauty of the mountains. From the glorious sunsets to refreshing rain. From your child’s smile to your grandparents worn and wrinkled hands.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11