The first day of spring and the bloom and flowers are starting to edge their way out now. It almost seems like a quickening and plants to get out as quickly as possible. There is an urgency to the bloom. The picture shows catkins hanging from a tree branch. A lovely sunny day made sure I had good light to catch these at a small nature reserve called Cuerden Valley Park – http://cuerdenvalleypark.org.uk

They each look like gold hanging from the tree, and if you are looking from a distance they are very translucent in appearance making the site a more special encounter.

Sadly with todays culture, especially in the music and show business industry, people are singled out and told they are special from the start. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with telling someone they are special, but it the fact that individuals are built up and separating from the rest of us and they are held out to be stars and people who have that extra special something.

Like this berry on a tree, people are held out to be stars, to be gods and goddesses, to be special and above the normal person.

The Widow’s Offering

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

God has created each of us and has numbered each of the hairs on our heads. We have come on an amazing adventure already to just be here. In this verse we hear that God looks upon those who give from there heart, and also that this woman that was seen as the least of the people was actually seen as special. It is not through works that God looks upon us as gifted or special, because in fact God knows that each of us is special because we all bear His image, but that God looks upon us as special because of our heart. If we truly believe in His Son, and through that belief the Holy Spirit will lead us into following our heart which could lead on any number of adventures for God.

Like this berry held out, God the Father Held out His only Son to be sacrificed for everyone of us if we make that choice to accept Him. And like the red tipped thorns in the picture Jesus bled for us and died on the cross. You too can have your sins put to death so that you can be resurrected in Jesus as a son of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

with blessings

Graham