Marion Gaskins

The trees and shrubs in our area are singing new life and beginning to flourish. What a mess though, in the meantime.   Pollen is off the charts! Yet this season for many trees is a time for pruning. Why? To instigate growth. Pruning includes even the insignificant, unsightly smaller branches. Yes, even these small branches steal valuable nutrients from the main branches. Pruning resembles "life" for all of us. Often it is the "little things" that can steal our joy, sap us of our energy and keep us from growing.....whether in our health, personal growth or our spiritual growth. So we need to be pruned! We must cut off or cut back that which needs attention and care or is keeping us from the most important aspects of our lives.   It is vital that we use the correct tools.  God's Word is the perfect tool. Often times the process of new growth gets messy.  It is al...

PAUSE and PREPARE Early Christians felt the importance of Easter called for special preparations . The first mention of a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for Easter is found in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325). Eventually, the season evolved into a period of  spiritual devotion   for the everyone.                                                            Lent – a 40 day journey to Easter Sunday. The word Lent is an old Saxon word meaning “spring,”  and no, it is not in the Bible.   In fact, the word Easter is not in the original scriptures either.   ( However, one English translation of the Bible does use the word. The King James Version.) The  practices and commitments of Lent such as prayer, fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial,  ( giving up something—a habi...