Extras

Our highest assurance of the goodness of God rests in the flowers.
All other things - our powers, our desires,our food - are necessary for our existence,
but the rose is an extra.
Its smell and color are an embellishment of life,
not a condition of it.
It is only goodness which gives extras,
and so we have much to hope for from the flowers. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

As I sit typing this missive today, the cherry tree directly in front of my window is bursting with blooms. It sits in the middle of a sidewalk, causing everyone who walks to my office to have to defer to its beauty.

It's an extra.

In countless yards and fields around my home, there are azaleas blooming by the dozens in white, in pink, in red - even lavender. Most of the year they serve little purpose except to separate one yard from another, but now they, and the wisteria just now beginning to bloom, bless all who behold them. Even weeds around here are beautiful - in purple, pale yellow and white.

They are extras.

There's a message here somewhere, I think.

Luke 12:27-29 (Msg)
Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. [28] If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
[29] "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving.

and a little later on..

Luke 12:31-32 (Msg)
Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. [32] Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

If we are honest, we can recognize the fact that we are blessed - too blessed to stress out over things that ultimately do not matter.

Take time today and notice all the beauty God has placed around you. It's just the over and above extra of His love. He really does love you.

Grace!

David Wilson

This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.