provision

As we are now over one week in our new place, I have reflected on the blessing of provision. The struggles we’ve wrestled w/ this week have been important, but in the big picture I feel we are very blessed. In this initial season of ministry, we have been blessed by various financial supporters (churches, our denomination, and individuals). We are blessed by all our new friends we’ve met since moving to WA (we entertained 2x this past week, had several friends pop in, and look forward to more of both). We feel blessed that Montana, although reaching new levels of energy and spunk, has had a smooth transition. And I feel blessed to live in Bellingham CoHousing. The space is cozy and inviting; our neighbors have been so friendly and welcoming. I feel blessed by all of these different things.

While thinking about these things today (an awesome sunny day), I was reminded, by my homeboy John Calvin, that although all these blessings come from different people and places, they have the same source. God has blessed through the blessings of others. Here’s a piece of what I read today:

“With regard to inanimate objects again we must hold that though each is possessed of its peculiar properties, yet all of them exert their force only in so far as directed by the immediate hand of God. Hence they are merely instruments, into which God constantly infuses what energy he sees meet, and turns and converts to any purpose at his pleasure. No created object makes a more wonderful or glorious display than the sun. For, besides illuminating the whole world with its brightness, how admirably does it foster and invigorate all animals by its heat, and fertilise the earth by its rays, warming the seeds of grain in its lap, and thereby calling forth the verdant blade! This it supports, increases, and strengthens with additional nurture, till it rises into the stalk; and still feeds it with perpetual moisture, till it comes into flower; and from flower to fruit, which it continues to ripen till it attains maturity. In like manner, by its warmth trees and vines bud, and put forth first their leaves, then their blossom, then their fruit. And the Lord, that he might claim the entire glory of these things as his own, was pleased that light should exist, and that the earth should be replenished with all kinds of herbs and fruits before he made the sun. No pious man, therefore, will make the sun either the necessary or principal cause of those things which existed before the creation of the sun, but only the instrument which God employs, because he so pleases; though he can lay it aside, and act equally well by himself” (Institutes I.16.2)