Proverbs in a Pandemic
March 26, 2020Zoom Quick-Start Guide for Church Groups
April 2, 2020
It’s a beautiful day here on at Calvary’s property! Don’t you love the spring season? It’s so fun to watch the gray of winter roll away under the green of spring.
This week, our Community Groups are discussing Psalm 104, which is the “nature walk” of the Psalms. The psalmist strolls through his backyard and praises God for all he sees – from mountain goats to mountains themselves, from sky to sea, from birds to lions.
So I decided to join the psalmist and take a nature walk of my own around our church property. I know it’s been awhile since many of you have been by, and we miss having you here! The property is looking more and more beautiful with every new bud. Let me show you…
O Lord my God, you are very great!
vs. 1
I love the look of our tower, how it soars into the sky and can be seen for a good ways around. But as “great” as it is, it merely points to the greatness of God as encapsulated in the symbol at the top – the cross of Christ.
Light
You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment…
vs. 1-2
God controls light like it’s something He wears. Just as easily as we put on a sweatshirt, so God can “put on” or “put off” light in His Creation. And what beautiful artwork it makes! Even the most beautiful art on our property is merely a tool for showing us the beauty of God’s creation of light and color. I love how the stained glass casts beautiful colors on the new floors of Altizer Hall. Or how brilliant it is when you emerge out of darkness into light, like you do coming out of the Gym.
Wind
He rides on the wings of the wind.
vs. 3
God rides the wind! What an incredible picture! It was a fairly windy day and between Altizer Hall and the Atrium is our courtyard, which seems to especially catch the wind. There, I found leaves mixed with flower petals being whirled around. It was as if God was stirring together the seasons, fall and spring, dead leaves and beautiful flowers, riding the wind to make a moving piece of art.
Water & Birds
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills…Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
vs. 10, 12
Well, I couldn’t find much of a “spring” on our property, but we sure did have some earlier this year during the flooding. You can still see where the water poured through, creating mini canyons and exposing rock. I also wasn’t quick enough to snap a picture of any birds – but they are there, especially in the trees around the Admin Building where our picnic area is. I love listening to their different songs, each one heard by its Creator and special to Him.
Grass
You cause grass to grow…
vs. 14
I wish God would cause my lawn to grow – thus far, it’s mostly dandelions. But here at the church property, after some hard work, the grass is growing well. I love seeing the green poke through the dry grass in the field by the playground and was especially intrigued to see some vibrant green grass out behind the College Room.
Trees
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly…
vs. 16
All trees are God’s trees, and unlike some of us “green thumbs,” God never fails to care for His trees. Some may make us sneeze, but we can’t deny how beautiful they are as they bud for a new season. I especially loved the pink dogwood over by the Gym. I only wish the preschoolers and Calvary Kids could be here to see its beauty on their way to class.
Lions
The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
vs. 21
No, I didn’t see any lions on the property – well, except for our theme poster. I love the imagery of lions in the Bible – such powerful creatures, compared to both Christ and Satan in different ways. Every time I see our theme poster, I’m reminded of God’s power – every lion, no matter how powerful, ultimately has to find its food from God Himself.
Diversity
O LORD, how manifold are Your works!
vs. 24
I love how different everything God has made is. Clouds of all different shapes, trees of all different heights, flowers of all different colors – and that’s just on our small property! That’s not counting the mountains you can almost see from the window above the North Entrance or the beach that, unfortunately, you can’t quite see. God is a creative God!
Life & Death
When You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground.
vs. 29-30
Nature reminds us that things come to life and then eventually die. Winter comes and everything grows gray, but soon springs comes and the “face of the ground” is renewed. Nowhere is that more clearly seen than in the flowers that have popped up in our beds of late. I think they’re daffodils, and they’re beautiful. But no sooner do they appear but they start to droop and then die again. Here’s a spot where you can see both dead and alive ones.
May the Lord rejoice in His works!
vs. 31
We find it pretty easy to rejoice in our works. We’re particularly happy about the signage we were able to install on the church property and can’t wait for you to see it! But compared to the wonder of nature just around the signs – the trees budding, the grass growing, the insects crawling, the birds singing – these signs look like nothing. Nothing man can make can rival what our Creator makes. He is the best Designer, the best Artist, and the best Sculptor. And He rejoices in His works – at the beginning, He said it was “good” and to this day, though marred with sin and sorrow and even diseases, He still rejoices in His creation. And He plans to redeem it all!
We get to see little glimpses of that in our nature walks as a new season dawns, new growth shoots out, and green is everywhere. So if you’re discouraged, I encourage you to step outside. Put down the news and social media and see Creation calling out to us that God is great and that He will make all things new.
In the meanwhile, we can’t wait till we get to gather together again on this beautiful property to praise our great Creator God.
May my meditation be pleasing
to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
vs. 34
