UNITING
WALKING around the garden it is not hard to notice the many shrubs and plants in bud or about to flower.
Spring is the time of new growth, new life and is a glorious yet gentle reminder of God’s ability to transform, and bring new growth and life in us.
COVID has brought many changes in our lives, and like winter, has made us somewhat become dormant (locked down), and in many ways has stripped our lives back, like leaves falling from the trees.
Life does have its winters, they are not a new phenomenon, yet each one we experience seems to overshadow our memories of the many springs that have followed.
The beauty of every season has its balance of difficulty, but poor winter is always considered bleak.
Winter days in the Mallee are startlingly crisp with the widest blue skies, and the gentle warmth of the sun can be soaked in without the fear of blistering, once the frost has melted!
Yes, spring does bring the promise of new life and new growth, but let’s remember that the sun rises every day, even when clouds get in the way.
Sometimes we need to take the opportunities that present themselves, to step out to benefit from the warmth.
Our prayer is that with the coming of the spring we will all enjoy the new growth and life and that the warmth and colour will bring joy to your hearts.
The seasons remind us that our Creator is ever present with us.
What new growth will you notice this week?
ANGLICAN
DURING discussions following the regular midweek services at 9.30am Wednesday, there will occasionally be a suggested talking point.
During one of these the question was, “Who is your favourite disciple, and why?”
Many chose one of the original twelve apostles, often because they could sympathise with their flaws of character!
They were just ordinary Jews going about their business as fishermen in the Galilee district.
The next eight were of various occupations, including a tax collector.
Next we see the ever increasing wave of people whose lives were changed by the power of the unconditional love of Jesus, particularly the self righteous Saul.
Jesus called him Petros, the Greek name for rock, who reborn as Paul would carry the gospel message to all the known world.
Paul, Phillip and Barnabas were all different personalities, yet one in their steadfast faith in God, their Creator and Father.
Barnabas’s style was as “The Encourager”, with his quiet reassurance to the new believers.
He was martyred in this life, but had remained faithful.
Matthew 5: 11-16, following the sermon on the mount Jesus speaks of the trials ahead of them.
He tells them to be the light of the whole world, and the salt of the Earth which will not lose its flavour.
In Paul ‘s letter to the Hebrews, all of Chapter 11, it gives their people encouragement by reminding them of all the amazing people throughout their history who had stayed the course.
As ‘potted history’ it’s an interesting read and may inspire further study.
Today’s message suggests that we should be patient, kind, and caring for one another, recognising that maybe there is something in the current situation that may have hints of how our lives could be simplified for a better future post COVID-19.
