WEBVTT - Spring in Bloom

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation

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<v Speaker 2>Hello and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Diane.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks for joining me for our story. Spring in bloom.

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<v Speaker 2>The cold winter months melt into the renewal of spring,

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<v Speaker 2>and with it come seeds of hope. God is doing

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<v Speaker 2>a new thing, and he invites us to be apart.

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<v Speaker 2>Isaiah chapter forty three, verse eighteen and nineteen says, forget

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<v Speaker 2>the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See

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<v Speaker 2>I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you not perceive it? I am making a way

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<v Speaker 2>in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. As you

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<v Speaker 2>rest in your bed, you will hear of the stirrings

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<v Speaker 2>of spring and the renewal that it brings on earth

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<v Speaker 2>and within each of us. You will hear of spring

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<v Speaker 2>rains that cleanse and nourish new growth, and how God

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<v Speaker 2>sends his rain on us for the same purpose, to

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<v Speaker 2>cleanse what is no longer needed, to refresh us after

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<v Speaker 2>winter's rest, and to nourish new growth. Those spring showers

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<v Speaker 2>give us just what we need, seeds of hope that

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<v Speaker 2>stir within a new life, from sprouting seed to tender

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<v Speaker 2>leaf and bud to the full blooms of fruitfulness. The

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<v Speaker 2>cycles of spring mirror the work God wants to do

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<v Speaker 2>in the open hearts of his children, to bring about

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<v Speaker 2>the fullness of who He created us to be. With

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<v Speaker 2>each scripture and blessing, may you be encouraged and reassured

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<v Speaker 2>of the work that God is doing on your behalf.

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<v Speaker 2>He's doing a new thing, not only on the earth

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<v Speaker 2>in springtime, but in and through you and me. There

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<v Speaker 2>is so much promise in a seed hidden beneath the soul,

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<v Speaker 2>waiting for the rains, waiting for its moment to push

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<v Speaker 2>beyond the darkness and bloom toward the light. Genesis Chapter one,

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<v Speaker 2>verse fourteen says and God said, let there be lights

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<v Speaker 2>in the expanse of the heavens, to separate the day

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<v Speaker 2>from the night, and let them be for signs, and

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<v Speaker 2>for seasons, and for days and years. God has graciously

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<v Speaker 2>designed cycles and compartments of time for us. Can you

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<v Speaker 2>imagine a world with no variation of day or month

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<v Speaker 2>or seasons. God generously gives us a sky that is

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<v Speaker 2>always changing right before our eyes. He gives us a

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<v Speaker 2>day with a beginning and an end, and a bright

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<v Speaker 2>of seasons to mark time and to begin anew. Each

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<v Speaker 2>season brings its own gifts and atmosphere, but maybe none

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<v Speaker 2>so exquisite as the fruits and florals of spring. What

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<v Speaker 2>a dramatic change of scene as we go from the

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<v Speaker 2>hiddenness of winter to the budding and blossoming earth in spring.

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<v Speaker 2>Song of Solomon, chapter two, verses eleven through thirteen says,

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<v Speaker 2>for behold, the winter is past, the rain is over

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<v Speaker 2>and gone, The flowers appear on the earth. The time

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<v Speaker 2>of the singing has come, and the voice of the

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<v Speaker 2>turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig tree

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<v Speaker 2>puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines

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<v Speaker 2>are in blossom and give forth their freight. Spring is

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<v Speaker 2>when everything comes alive again. Early spring is for cleansing

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<v Speaker 2>and nourishing rains. Then comes the waking and stirring of grounds, shrubs,

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<v Speaker 2>and trees. The season of blooming rises from the soil

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<v Speaker 2>and the earth is renewed. God is doing a new thing,

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<v Speaker 2>and we get to see it in the unfolding of petals,

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<v Speaker 2>the ripening of blackberries, and the fragrance of honeysuckle. Spring

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<v Speaker 2>is the season of extended light in the lengthening of days,

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<v Speaker 2>the season of hopefulness and soul, the season of allowing

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<v Speaker 2>the old to fade away with the winter chill, the

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<v Speaker 2>time for rebirth begins. Ecclesiastes, chapter three, verses one through

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<v Speaker 2>eight says there is a time for everything, and a

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<v Speaker 2>season for every activity under the heavens. A time to

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<v Speaker 2>be borne and a time to die, a time to

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<v Speaker 2>plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill

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<v Speaker 2>and a time to heal, a time to tear down

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<v Speaker 2>and a time to build. A time to weep and

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<v Speaker 2>a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a

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<v Speaker 2>time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a

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<v Speaker 2>time to gather them, a time to embrace, and a

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<v Speaker 2>time to refrain from embracing. A time to search and

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<v Speaker 2>a time to give up, a time to keep and

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<v Speaker 2>a time to throw away, a time to tear and

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<v Speaker 2>a time to mend. A time to be silent and

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<v Speaker 2>a time to speak, a time to love and a

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<v Speaker 2>time to hate, a time for war and a time

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<v Speaker 2>for peace. Spring is a time for stirring, a time

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<v Speaker 2>for welcome relief. The sun has been shy and the

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<v Speaker 2>air frigid, the earth slept. We have fidgeted in our

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<v Speaker 2>dwellings in the cozy months. But now we want to stretch.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to feel the warm dirt beneath our fingertips

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<v Speaker 2>and toes, the sun on our faces. The stirring has

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<v Speaker 2>begun beneath Earth's surface. It has begun inside our long

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<v Speaker 2>quiet bodies. Dormancy is losing its sleephold, and hibernation recedes

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<v Speaker 2>like a cool wave on a warm beach. The flying

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<v Speaker 2>ones return to the sky and repair their nests. The

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<v Speaker 2>day's lengthen, butting is beginning. It's spring. It's spring. It's spring.

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<v Speaker 2>Tender velvet leaves a soft green unfurling. We unfold as well.

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<v Speaker 2>For a time, we stayed hidden. For a season, we

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<v Speaker 2>drew in. Now the extending light has reached us. It

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<v Speaker 2>asks for more of us to be seen. So we answer,

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<v Speaker 2>We reach, We unfold. We consider what is inside that

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<v Speaker 2>wants to be revealed, What is asking to grow and

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<v Speaker 2>be seen, What hopes stir deep in our soil. Dreams

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<v Speaker 2>have been buried for a time, but can no longer

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<v Speaker 2>remain hidden. So the rains come, refreshing and cleansing. The

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<v Speaker 2>rains can give us pause. They inspire us to boldly

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<v Speaker 2>stand beneath living waters and to be cleansed of that

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<v Speaker 2>which we no longer need. To be refreshed where there

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<v Speaker 2>has been stagnancy, Springs thunderstorms bring the greatest shift as

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<v Speaker 2>the previous season and the new one compete, bringing forth

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<v Speaker 2>God's natural and thorough spring. Clean spring can plant this

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<v Speaker 2>miracle within each of us, as well as we let

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<v Speaker 2>go of the old and embrace what is new, renewed.

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<v Speaker 2>Zachariah chapter ten, verse one says, ask the Lord for

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<v Speaker 2>rain in the springtime. It is the Lord who sends

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<v Speaker 2>the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people

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<v Speaker 2>and plants of the field to everyone. Rains not only cleanse,

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<v Speaker 2>but also nourish the soil so that it can yield

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<v Speaker 2>new life. Deuteronomy chapter eleven, verse fourteen says, then I

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<v Speaker 2>will send rain on your land in its season, both

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<v Speaker 2>autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in

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<v Speaker 2>your grain new wine and olive oil. The season of

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<v Speaker 2>spring is not only for the earth's renewal. That same

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<v Speaker 2>stirring is inside of us as well. With spring comes

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<v Speaker 2>the desire for our own nourishment and growth, as natural

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<v Speaker 2>as the fronds of a fern flourishing beneath the sky's showers.

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<v Speaker 2>Deuteronomy chapter thirty two, verse two says, Let my teaching

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<v Speaker 2>fall like rain, and my words descend like dew, like

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<v Speaker 2>showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants,

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<v Speaker 2>a blessing for rain. The ground thirsts for showers to

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<v Speaker 2>drench and loosen its soil, so that what is beneath

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<v Speaker 2>can move and stress be sung to life. May the

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<v Speaker 2>hidden seeds buried deep within you be nourished with Heaven's rain.

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<v Speaker 2>May they stir and transform and press through the unknown,

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<v Speaker 2>sprouting toward the light. And when the raindrops fall on

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<v Speaker 2>tender growing leaves, may it nourish the newness of budding

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<v Speaker 2>that gathers the waters below to sustain its growth in

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<v Speaker 2>all conditions that pushes its roots deep in the womb

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<v Speaker 2>of the earth, while growing toward the illumination that is

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<v Speaker 2>truth and revelation, the only place one can authentically grow.

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<v Speaker 2>And when you are grace to see your hidden hearts

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<v Speaker 2>dreaming blossom and bloom beyond its gestation, may your truth

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<v Speaker 2>and beauty open fully as an offering to the one

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<v Speaker 2>who covered you, watered your becoming, and drew you to

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<v Speaker 2>your expansion with his warm, welcoming light. Listen now to

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<v Speaker 2>Isaiah chapter fifty five, verses ten through thirteen. As the

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<v Speaker 2>rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do

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<v Speaker 2>not return to it without watering the earth and making

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<v Speaker 2>it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for

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<v Speaker 2>the sower and bread for the eater. So is my

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<v Speaker 2>word that goes out from my mouth. It will not

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<v Speaker 2>return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire

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<v Speaker 2>and achieve the purpose for which I scent it. You

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<v Speaker 2>will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.

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<v Speaker 2>The mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

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<v Speaker 2>and all the trees of the field will clap their

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<v Speaker 2>hands instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,

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<v Speaker 2>and instead of briars, the myrtle will grow. This will

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<v Speaker 2>be for the Lord's renowned, for an everlasting sign that

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<v Speaker 2>will endure forever. Let me pray for you one last time,

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<v Speaker 2>God of all creation, of all that is beautiful and renewed.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for the seasons you give and the joy

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<v Speaker 2>you display through all you have made. Thank you for

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<v Speaker 2>journeying with us through our own seasons as well, whether

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<v Speaker 2>it is the hiddenness of wintering or the brightness of spring.

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<v Speaker 2>Give us the grace to walk where you lead. When

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<v Speaker 2>you lead, help us to embrace the newness of what

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<v Speaker 2>you have for each of us. We know we can

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<v Speaker 2>trust your goodness and your heart for us. In Jesus' name, Amen,

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<v Speaker 2>thank you for joining me for spring and bloom, a

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<v Speaker 2>celebration of God's cleansing and renewal of the hope he

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<v Speaker 2>gives and his displays of beauty in springtime. As you

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<v Speaker 2>rest and dream, may the stirrings of springtime begin within,

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<v Speaker 2>and may dreams and hopes that have laid dormant reach

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<v Speaker 2>toward the light. May you have grace for the process

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<v Speaker 2>of rebirth, and may your blossomy be an offering to

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<v Speaker 2>the one who adores you. May your fruitfulness be bound

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<v Speaker 2>to full like a tree planted by waters. The song

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<v Speaker 2>of the turtle dove calls for the blessings of spring

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<v Speaker 2>to arrive on your behalf. Rest well