All Things New!

I never cease to be amazed at the creation of new life.  Watching something beautiful come from something not so beautiful (and often even ugly!) is a miracle of nature that happens so often we can easily take it for granted.  I love watching the plants grow and bear fruit, trees blossom, puppies being born and - the greatest miracle of all - a human baby taking it's first breath.  All of these are a reminder of the new creation that has already begun in Jesus' resurrection from the grave. 

Revelation 21 has become one my favorite chapters in the Bible.  I am staking my life on the words God speaks, "I am making everything new!"   Today's service reminded me all over again, how God brings victory out of defeat and life out of death.  Watching the cross be transformed from an instrument of death into a bouquet of flowers, gives a visual representation of what God has done to our sinful lives and our sin-stained creation.  He has given sin the death blow through the cross and has brought eternal life to us through the resurrection.  More than that, God has promised to recreate and redeem all of his creation!  Hallelujah!  Come, Lord Jesus!

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us--so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.  May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.  May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.  May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.  The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.  May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him." (Psalm 67)