See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:19
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
After getting buried under the snow twice the past several weeks, I think we can all say that we’re looking forward to spring. We’re just starting to peek out from behind the mounds of snow now and hope for sunnier and warmer days ahead. Personally, Spring is my favourite time of year, especially when the snow begins to melt for good. Nothing makes me happier than hanging up the snow shovel and putting away the road salt, knowing that it won’t be months before I’ll need them again.
In many ways, I feel like we’re experiencing a bit of our own springtime at Lifespring. Every season change is marked by signs that tell us that the season is changing. Right now we’re seeing the temperature rise, if only a little. I was surprised yesterday at how bright it was at 5:30pm. I can hear the birds chirping outside, which I feel I haven’t heard in months. In the same way, I feel like there are signs that are pointing to something new happening at Lifespring. Like the verse from Isaiah 43:19 says, we are to see and perceive these signs because they give us an idea of where God is taking us.
I think Donna spoke into this well last week during her sermon. At one point, Donna turned to me and said, “Theresa’s testimony shows that the miracle is inside of you.” Those words definitely caught my attention. Gabe mentioned the same idea in his devotion from March 6, that the miracle is inside of us. As I think more about that idea, I see how true it is, that the miracle is inside us as a church.
Lifespring exists because God brought us all on different paths that crossed and merged at one point or another. We’ve each experienced our own miracles in life that have sustained us and showed us how real God is. The testimonies we’ve been hearing over the past months show that. Every testimony had a story of how God intervened in our lives to transform us and change us. We all came to Lifespring through a friend, relative, or chance encounter that brought us into the church. On Sundays, God continues to be present with us in our worship, communion, kids ministry, message, fellowship, and more. All of these point to the fact that God’s miracle is truly inside of us as a church. We are blessed!
But Donna’s word also came with an exhortation and challenge. “Don’t allow the miracle to become too familiar.” It can be so easy to allow our present circumstances to dictate our perspective. As human beings we can be myopic and shortsighted, allowing our present moment to cause us to lose sight of everything else. We can even lose sight of God. We can take God for granted, missing out on the fear of the Lord that is so important for faith. During these times, it is time with God and listening prayer that can help to ground us and give us perspective.
Lifespring, the miracle is inside of you. I hope you feel encouraged about the next season and what’s ahead for our church family. But never allow the miracle to become too familiar. Don’t wait to spend time with the Lord. Allow Him to speak into your present circumstances and give you perspective. Allow God to remind you daily that God’s miracle is inside of you, and grow in living from that eternal perspective.