Most of us have heard the saying — “April showers bring May flowers.” I didn’t realize until last week that the saying can be traced all the way back to the Canterbury Tales. Even then, people were able to tell that the weather began to shift from a wet, cold pattern to a warm, sunny one in May causing new life to spring forth from the earth.
Have you ever felt like your life was a constant April shower? All downpours, gray skies, gloom and doom. It’s hard to know when the flowers in your life are going to bloom. It’s easy to turn your focus to only the bad that seems to be happening in your life. When you only see the gray skies, you can’t see the beautiful life developing inside of you.
God uses the gray skies of life to not only help develop newness in our lives, but also to help lead others around us by our examples. We are given the tasks as Christians to develop our faith. God takes the valleys, the downpours of life, and uses them to help the most beautiful flowers bloom. Without the rain, you aren’t able to nourish and grow flowers. Without the trials in your life, you will not be able to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful parts of your life. So enjoy the rain, let it pour down, and praise God for it. The rain will bring forth beauty in your life.
This week’s recipes is a salad that eats like a full meal! It is packed with edamame and loaded with protein. If you like, feel free to add shredded chicken or shrimp to this delicious salad.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:6-8
April 19, 2024
