Simple + Southern Sunday No. 544 – A Blessed Easter

“And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come”
~Bill & Gloria Gaither, Chris Christian

I decided to take a walk along the trail through the wildlife and bird sanctuary to see what new life had emerged recently with the arrival of warm spring temperatures. This grandiflora rose seemed to greet me with a reminder of the message of hope found only in the empty tomb that established Easter. Most of these wild roses are white, but the pink colors on this one simply made it come alive!

The black locust is not one that I have shown much in the past. The black locust has a small native range which includes a portion of northeast Alabama. We also have bristly locust and honey locust, which I sometimes show in the winter covered with those long wicked looking thorns. I didn’t know these locust trees were at this location. What a wonderful discovery to find such a beautiful transition…from pairs of prickly thorns at the base of each leaf, to new growth and magnificent blooms! Wearing a crown of thorns, Jesus died on a cross…but on the third day He was alive, a newness of life like no other in the history of the world!
   

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

It seemed like the perfect day to bring back the “Resurrection Fern”. I learned a lot about this amazing plant and shared a bit of that info in a post. So many of you were fascinated as evidenced by your comments. The plant, when exposed to drought, can go dormant for long periods, curling up and appearing totally dead. It is one of only a few living things that can lose 75% of it’s moisture content and still survive. Upon the first rain, the dead uncurls, turns green, and shows life once again, giving rise to the name “Resurrection Fern”. There are reports of plants going years without moisture, yet springing to life after one watering. While the name is a natural and I like the story, the plant does not truly resurrect. One has to be truly dead, not dormant, to resurrect and live again…like Jesus did!

The Indigo Bunting is a rare visitor to our yard, but April is typically the month for one to make a brief appearance. Maybe it is simply offering a spring greeting before heading on northward.  Often migrating by night using the stars to navigate, this member of the cardinal family is a seed-eater…but I moved the feeders in March,  so I detect disappointment!

Jesus and the disciples were here in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of Judas’ betrayal. Jesus was praying, but they were mostly sleeping! We were able to gather here in the garden with friends and sing songs which was a very moving experience.

These olive trees are believed to be 2,000+ years old and could have been around in Jesus’ time. Such a possibility was an awesome thought when we touched the gnarled trunks of the oldest of the trees!

Closer to home, this was a corn field in October but a wheat field today. I love to drive this old dirt road with its view of the Appalachian foothills and experience what’s new, springing forth in the many nearby fields!

Just down the road, a nice cover crop with a variety of colorful plants where cotton grew last summer. Sheep sorrel, crimson clover, and lyre-leaf sage are taking care of the soil during the off season. I’m interested in what might be next, soybeans maybe?

The pasture west of the creek is arrayed this weekend with dozens of these clumps of poet’s narcissus. This “daffodil” blooms 4-6 weeks after our common yellow daffodils. Interestingly, this little plant has some use in the field of perfumery, making it a choice for perfume bases. Essential oils are also being extracted and finding use in aromatherapy. 

The poet’s narcissus has two, or three blooms per stem (like this one). As I roamed about this past week, I made effort to allow the things I encountered to be reminders of all that took place in the final days of Jesus’ time here on earth leading up to the cross and then the resurrection on the first day of the week. When I ran across this fragrant sea of flowers that can be used in perfumery, my thoughts turned to a place near Jerusalem called Bethany. It was in that city, where a village woman used a very expensive fragrance to honor Jesus and worship Him a few days prior to His crucifixion!
 

The bridal wreath spirea provided a perfect foreground for the larger snowball viburnum behind it. White represents purity and this photo reminded me of a verse from the prophet Isaiah in verse 18 of the first chapter…“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
The prophet summed up the results of God’s redemption plan for all who would believe, that plan carried out through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ!

One of our favorites from a number of years ago, shared with us by Appalachian Media.

Have a glorious and blessed Easter!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Linking with:
 Pieced Pastimes,  Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
 Life and Linda