Spring flowers can seem to shout or whisper based on how you “listen” to them. The first Spring blooms that caught my eye a few days ago seemed to shout, “Spring is here!” But when I scanned the panorama around me and realized that they were only gracing a tiny rock crevice in the vast landscape, their quiet grace seemed more like a whisper. They weren’t gaudy, demanding, boisterous—just a modest illustration of the joy of Spring. But a closer look at one of these precious blooms reveals a world of intricately designed exquisiteness. The delicate stores of pollen, the gracefully formed anthers, the brightly painted petals—they all combine to present a work of art from God. This must have been what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30) It seems like the huge, grand things in life catch our attention so much that the little gems of God’s care and design too often get shoved aside. But the little, seemingly mundane, things, which actually turn into beautiful wonders upon closer inspection, are actually the stuff of everyday life. We can’t reach a monumental achievement or have a milestone experience every day. If we did, we would burn out fast. Instead, we can revel in the joy of little wonders, knowing that they have their own special significance too. We may not make huge strides for God and ministry every day, but we can look for everyday opportunities to share God’s love through a smile, a handshake, or a listening ear. And we can remember that these little steps in ministry and caring are also part of God’s much larger plan to take the gospel to the world. We should definitely dream big dreams for God’s glory and expand our horizons of ministry as far as they will go. But as we’re reaching forward for God, let’s not forget the little divine appointments along our path as well. Spring definitely seems like a time of abundance, but sometimes the most satisfying signs of spring aren’t the big panoramas of greenery. Often they’re the little signs of new life that evoke wonder. Sometimes bending down to drink in God’s little blessings gives us a much sharper sense of our calling as Jesus’ disciples.
Announcements
Bible study group at Ruth Smith’s home starting this coming Tuesday at 6 pm. We will be going through a series of intriguing studies on Daniel and Revelation. These will cover some of the same themes that we saw at our Discoveries in Daniel studies on Wednesday nights, but they will also cover Revelation and some of the stories in Daniel in more detail. Hope to see you there!
Come enjoy a special worship experience on Saturday, May 4, at 11:00 AM at Osburn Adventist Church. We’ll be celebrating the Lord’s Supper in an Agape Feast Worship Service. The Agape Feast is a tradition that highlights key aspects of what Christ did for us on the cross while giving special opportunities for fellowship and drawing strength from God’s promises. Hope you can join us!
Come join us for a Revival Seminar presented by Dennis Priebe! This weekend series will start on Friday night, May 17, at 7 pm at Osburn Adventist Church and continue through Sabbath morning, afternoon, and evening. Dennis Priebe has been blessing churches with precious insights from Scripture and mission-focused revival sermons for many years and we’re blessed to be able to host him again this Spring. Plan on joining us on May 17 at Osburn church for a rich fellowship, in-depth Bible study, and inspiring worship!