Goodness Springing Up All Over

For God so loved the World that he gave his only… John 3:16

Winter is over. No more cold and rain. New shoots of green grass have come up. Leaves appear on the trees. The birds are singing. Spring has sprung. The love of God is evident in the promise of spring. In Easter we see the love of God springing up, spilling and overflowing in the resurrection. God’s love has conquered death.

Have you looked around Amazing Grace lately? The spirit of Easter is evident. New people. New opportunities for fellowship and service that people are taking advantage of. Lots of involvement. Almost every Sunday we have visitors. Our cookie ministry where we give visitors a thank-you treat is going full-tilt. People have noticed. I’m often asked to what I attribute this spurt. The truth is, I’m at a loss for a simple explanation. Is it the new sign? The new website? The excellent anthems the choir sings? The various sermon series we’ve had? I don’t know.  I wish I knew. But I give God thanks for it, a sign of his steadfast love of this community of believers.

We all have seasons of winter in our lives. Times where we struggle in the cold harsh realities of brokenness. Jesus had that too. God sent him into the world to bring life, but the world rejected him. He was betrayed, his friends denied him. Sin drove Jesus to the cross and the cold dark tomb. But God’s love wouldn’t be denied by death and Jesus rose from the tomb, bringing everlasting life to those who believe.

What do we do with this everlasting life that we have been given? How do we respond to such blessings. The answer is found in what God does in spring. Life takes root, bears fruit. The flowers bloom, the grass turns green. Where in your life do you see reason for hope? Where in your life do you see new life emerging? That’s God’s promise of the resurrection.

The same is true for our community. As we receive visitors and convey the love of God to them, we as a community bear fruit in acts of love. The blessings that we have received we are called to share. Gifts are not to just be received, they are to be shared. The gift of the numerous people in this community is called to be shared in service to others: recent examples include teaching English to Korean immigrants, working at Habitat for Humanity both here in Gwinnett as well as in West Virginia in June, as well as numerous efforts here at the church.  As God’s spirit moves in our midst we see His goodness springing up all over. God didn’t create the world and leave it alone. He sent his son. When his son died he was resurrected, bringing new life and goodness ever since.

In the Joy of Easter,

Pastor Jason Talsness