Month: Nov 2018

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

It’s early, on a late November morning. The heavy rain of an hour ago has ceased and the clouds are parting to expose a pale blue-grey sky, brighter in the East. The brightness of the new LED street lamps is slowly receding in the increasing dawn light. Still, many heavy and menacing clouds are hanging around but two celestial bodies are undimmable in their splendour – Venus to the South East and the Moon to the West. They have been shining out, not just in this dawn, but ever since the dawn of time. Declaring, to all who bother to look up, that all that we see has been created by a wonderful God, a Being unstinting in His love and power. He reminded me this morning that, like these two orbs, He is unchanging, always there. The clouds may come and go, obscuring these lights from time to time. The daylight outshines them. People ignore them. Astronomers take them for granted. But that changes nothing. Like these celestial manifestations, God is always there. I looked up again – the moon had disappeared behind the clouds. But Venus is still shining out, a bright pinprick in the blue-grey dawn, but dimming as the day fast approaches. Faith starts to kick in; we know they will be there again tomorrow, as sure as we know that God is always there for us.

I was walking by some tall, broad-leafed trees. Sycamore, I think. The morning was crisp. Blue sky. Cold but still. Archie was rooting around under the fallen leaves, sampling the odours so interesting to our canine friends. But more leaves were falling, loosened by the overnight frost. They fell, silently, gently, like large multi-hued snowflakes. A variety of colours, from bright greens through yellows and golds, to browns and blacks. There was a sense of sadness, looking at these marvels of nature, each one unique, as they drifted to earth, work done. Making way for a Winter to come, and a Spring to follow. But in their death they were exhibiting an explosion of different, vibrant, colours, as a final demonstration, a final shout of praise to their Creator. But isn’t it wonderful that very soon, out of dead looking twigs and branches, buds will start to grow, swelling with new life, getting ready to explode into a green expression of praise to our wonderful God once again. One season moves into the next as God ordains.

A new pastor is being inducted into our church soon. He’s leading us into a new season. Not to say the old one was bad, far from it! But, like the falling leaves, it had fulfilled and completed its God-ordained purpose. A new season brings new growth, new life. New “leaves” that will not wither until their purpose is completed. Let us be like the Revelation 22 trees, drinking from the river of life that flows from the very throne of God. Producing fruit every month and leaves that heal the nations as we touch those around us with the love of Jesus. Not for me a life winding down to death and decay!