Introduction: Flowers in the Desert

New Series: Flowers in the Desert

Genesis 1:1-5 ESV

Genesis 1:11-12 ESV

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

Romans 8:26-28 ESV

Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

Romans 6:4 ESV

Matthew 19:26 (all things possible)

Romans 15:13 (God of Hope)

Today we begin a new series that will have a bit of a twist added to it.

The title of the series is no accident because we will be looking for hidden gems in nature to illustrate a point. In nature, God created and continues to create.

The beauty of creation is all around us and we have evidence of the cycle of life. The “driver” for the cycle of life is God and His love.

On day one in Genesis 1:1-5, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

We are also told in Genesis 1:11-12, “And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

God created the good out of His love.

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Because of God’s great love for creation (which includes us), God made a way for the cycle of life to continue. We see evidence of that in nature.

One of the big surprises God created is evidence of the unexpected and sometimes unexplainable elements God made possible.

Romans 8:26-28 says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because:the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God created all things to work together for good. The realization that God makes everything work together for good to those who turn to Him (love Him) is life changing. It means the cycle of life works together for good.

In Isaiah 43:18-19 the prophet wrote, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

What strikes us about God creating a new thing where there will be a way in the wilderness and a river in the desert is that we do indeed see evidence in nature that God is continuously at work in creation.

In Romans 6:4 the Apostle Paul wrote, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

We do see evidence of newness of life around us even in very unexpected ways. So, maybe…just maybe it’s God’s way of reminding us newness of life is indeed all around us.

Even in the midst of life’s storms, new life emerges.

When everything seems hopeless, God provides hope.

Unexpectedly, God provides a way when it seemed like there is no way. And so, we will explore and dialogue about seeing and finding the way.

The flowers in the frozen tundra are a perfect example of an unexpected occurrence. Even when everything is frozen, flowers bloom.

We may not fully understand that, yet “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

The arid dry desert doesn’t seem like a place where we can find lovely flowers growing, yet they do grow.

And so it is with our lives.

There are times in the midst of a hopeless mess that we find hope. We unexpectedly see God heal and create new life. Although it seems impossible, God makes it possible.

As we explore the ‘flowers in the desert’ we find throughout scripture perhaps we can plant seeds, new seeds in our hearts so we will come to expect the unexpected from God.

Expecting the unexpected can after all give us cause to hope.

And so, we receive this, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

As we explore God bringing hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless, and joy in the desert places of our lives we begin to recognize God’s perpetual work within us.

Spiritual Practice: Good

Think of a time when God brought good in the midst of a difficult situation. Say “thank you” for the blessing!

In God, Deborah

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