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| Outside My Window By Pastor Del Keilman |
A couple of weeks ago while looking out our kitchen window I noticed
something green on the ground. When I inspected it further I saw that it
was the daffodils Mary had planted a few years ago. The warm weather of this
most unusual winter had caused them to sprout, along with the roses that
were showing signs of budding.
This week, in the midst of the coldest weather of the winter those same
daffodil buds are under a cover of snow. My concern is what will happen
to them; will they blossom with the same beauty and intensity of past years?
Or will they, as a result of their premature emergence not blossom at all?
In talking about this with some of you about this condition you have assured
me that the spring flowers are hardy and that this is not the first, nor the
last time they will suffer from budding, freezing, budding, etc., and that they
will flower with the same brilliance and color as in previous years.
I find, as in many cases of nature, a lesson for you and me. Life is full of its
ups and downs. It seems as if we are on the right track and then all of a
sudden something comes along and stunts our growth. Loss of a relationship
or a loved one, disease, or injury or any of a plethora of other conditions that
might cause others to ask, “Are they going to be the alright?”
The Apostle Paul knew loss injury, and loss and yet he wrote, “…we know
that in all things God works for the good those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8: 28) What is
our purpose? The Shorter Catechism tells us “Man’s chief end is to glorify
God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Paul wrote to the Philippians, “He who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day
of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
On February 22nd the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The
English word “lent” stems from the Anglo-Saxon word for “spring” and is
related to the English word “lengthen”. This 40 day period, excluding
Sunday's, is time for reflection and penitence preceding Easter. It is my hope
and prayer that you will make this year’s observance of Lent and Easter a
time for new growth through study, reflection and prayer and by participating
in our Sunday morning worship.
Solomon wrote, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11) The opening hymn in our hymnal reads in part, “For the
beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our
birth, Over and around us lies: Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of
grateful praise.”
If our Creator God can bring forth the beauty of the earth, including the now
frozen daffodils outside my window, imagine how much greater the work He
has began in us will blossom forth in all of its beauty, that we may indeed
“glorify Him and enjoy Him forever!”
In Christ’s love
Pastor Del
something green on the ground. When I inspected it further I saw that it
was the daffodils Mary had planted a few years ago. The warm weather of this
most unusual winter had caused them to sprout, along with the roses that
were showing signs of budding.
This week, in the midst of the coldest weather of the winter those same
daffodil buds are under a cover of snow. My concern is what will happen
to them; will they blossom with the same beauty and intensity of past years?
Or will they, as a result of their premature emergence not blossom at all?
In talking about this with some of you about this condition you have assured
me that the spring flowers are hardy and that this is not the first, nor the
last time they will suffer from budding, freezing, budding, etc., and that they
will flower with the same brilliance and color as in previous years.
I find, as in many cases of nature, a lesson for you and me. Life is full of its
ups and downs. It seems as if we are on the right track and then all of a
sudden something comes along and stunts our growth. Loss of a relationship
or a loved one, disease, or injury or any of a plethora of other conditions that
might cause others to ask, “Are they going to be the alright?”
The Apostle Paul knew loss injury, and loss and yet he wrote, “…we know
that in all things God works for the good those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8: 28) What is
our purpose? The Shorter Catechism tells us “Man’s chief end is to glorify
God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Paul wrote to the Philippians, “He who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day
of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
On February 22nd the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The
English word “lent” stems from the Anglo-Saxon word for “spring” and is
related to the English word “lengthen”. This 40 day period, excluding
Sunday's, is time for reflection and penitence preceding Easter. It is my hope
and prayer that you will make this year’s observance of Lent and Easter a
time for new growth through study, reflection and prayer and by participating
in our Sunday morning worship.
Solomon wrote, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11) The opening hymn in our hymnal reads in part, “For the
beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our
birth, Over and around us lies: Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of
grateful praise.”
If our Creator God can bring forth the beauty of the earth, including the now
frozen daffodils outside my window, imagine how much greater the work He
has began in us will blossom forth in all of its beauty, that we may indeed
“glorify Him and enjoy Him forever!”
In Christ’s love
Pastor Del
| Pastor Del and Mary Keilman |