Pastor's Corner - May 6th, 2022

This time of year is one of my favorite times of year.

Spring in Oregon in particular is a time of beauty, renewal, new life and growth. 

So many things are blooming - the cherries downtown, the flowers out front - my favorite flower out there, our Camas Lilies are up and vibrant. As the old adage goes - April showers bring May flowers... and Mayflowers of course bring pilgrims... but this year, has felt a little like March showers, April Showers, May showers... bringing about all these flowers and blooms.

This past April was the wettest April on record in Northwestern Oregon, and this May is shaping up to match if not beat the wettest May on record. For those of you that work outdoors, you might be saying to yourself... "Yeah, I'm well aware..." Coming home from Bend recently, I was surprised to see Detroit Reservoir already at max capacity. Feels like a number of years since that has been the case. 

We certainly need it, particularly come summertime.

Looking to our neighbor to the south, California's Lake Mead has reached levels of low water that haven't been seen before. Things are being discovered in parts of the lake that have been there since at least the 1980's - and were then under roughly 200 feet of water. 

Rain is a blessing - it certainly doesn't feel that way sometimes when you get caught in a sudden storm, but God provided it to Israel when they needed it, both the former and the latter rains - one enabling them to plow up the fields to plant, and the other when the plants needed the life giving water to grow and mature. 

Paul and Barnabas providing a witness of God to the people of Lystra, stated in Acts 14:17 - "Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." 

These spring storms that we experience, are a witness of God--of His benevolence toward His creation, providing rain, fruitful seasons - that can, if we allow them to, fill our hearts with food and with gladness. 

Praise be to the God who gives good gifts. 

Have a spectacular Sabbath!

Lots of Love,
Ben