Something New in Things Familiar

Matthew 6:28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.”

The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. As a native Texan (transplanted to Illinois) I’ve always loved this wildflower. It thrives in hot, sunny areas and thrives in rocky soil.

The wildflowers that we see along the way are God’s way of creating beauty in a place where there would otherwise be desolation. Recently, God did something unique. When He was visiting our country—even our part here in Mulberry Grove—with a winter breeze when we’d already been welcoming Spring, a few inches of snow found its way to central Texas. The wildflowers in full bloom donned a quiet coat that they normally don’t even get to try on. The beauty and the message struck me—God is able to take those things that I count beautiful and make them new.

At Easter time, He did something totally new. The beauty of the spring wildflowers was joined by the beauty of winter’s frost. The result was breathtaking. Pause and thank Him for His care for you, and the reminders of that care in the beauty of a new moment.

Father, thank you for provision, for life that you breathe new each day. Help me not to forget that you make even the old seem new. Thanks for the reminders from your creation.

More Than a Legend

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

The picture along with the post tells the story of the legend of Spook Hill in Lake Wales, Florida. Supposedly, if you pull your car up to the white line in the road and put it in neutral the car will roll backwards, apparently uphill. We got out of the car and watched as the driver put the little PT Cruiser in neutral and took his foot off of the brake. It most certainly began a backward roll that appeared to be up a small hill.

How can I, a preacher from Mulberry Grove, Illinois, explain what happened? I can't. I have been told that people have taken building levels and all sorts of tools to determine that what seemed to be happening indeed was. And it appears to be true. Of course, the story about an alligator and an Indian chief fighting makes a good story for something to supposedly happen.
Did you ever stop to consider how many people have real events in life which should lead them to faith in God and Jesus Christ, but somehow they don't? Many people have wonderful blessings coming their way. But they just can't believe there is a God or that they need a Savior, when in all reality they do. To them, it seems to be an impractical and unbelievable legend which piques the curiosity but offers nothing for them to live by.

Let me encourage you today to trust in Christ if you haven't done that all ready! It is not a legend. It is a reality that has stood the test of time. And I pray you will know the truth of Jesus in your life.

Father God, how thankful we are for the hope we can have in Jesus Christ! Thank you for His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that were truly wonderful events, and not just glorified stories. May we trust in Him with all of our hearts! In Jesus Name, Amen!

How Has God Gotten Your Attention?

Exodus 3: 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

It was cold and silent as I walked onto the porch. Snow had been falling at a steady rate and the traffic was now quiet on the usually busy road. As I admired the winter wonderland, a strange noise made its way up the road. The clopping of the hooves grew steady. I expected to see horses making their way up the road. Perhaps riders were out for a winter ride with their trusty steeds.

As I looked, I was not ready for what I saw. Wild deer were making their way down the street in front of my Mulberry Grove home. Steadily the noise became louder. As the herd approached I silently counted and found there were 16 deer clopping past my house in the dark of the evening on the asphalt pavement. In the dim street light I could make out some of their features. Thirty-two eyes glistened in the dim light. Sixteen coats of brown fur laid back in the wind as some of the snow bounced off the sides of the animals. It was truly a reverend moment.

Watching this otherwise silent parade, God laid on my heart that what I was seeing was something no man could do. No man could create the marvelous creatures that mystified me on this brisk, snowy evening. No man could create the fur. No man could put the glisten in the eyes. No man could create the firm hooves which tromped the road.

I had to praise God for what I saw that only He could do. It prompted me to remember that God made me and all that I could see around me. He had really gotten my attention, which sometimes gets diverted with the worries of life! What has God been doing to get your attention? Has He got it?

Dear God: Thank you for the marvels of your creation. Thank you for taking the time to put them in front of me to make me think about you. Thank you for saving me through the death of Jesus, something else I could not do for myself. In Jesus name, Amen!