Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, May 26, 2024
I listened to the sermon. I took notes. That’s been my happy habit for many years, long before my husband became my pastor. I enjoy writing down what I hear.
The sermon was one in a series on “When God Speaks,” touring us through times recorded in Scripture when God spoke in an audible voice to people on this planet.
This time we listened to John 12, and before we heard God Himself speak, we heard Him speak through Mary (Jesus is my Forgiver), Lazarus (Jesus is my Life-giver), and the crowd at the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Jesus is my King).
Then the voice of God came rumbling from heaven, in answer to Jesus calling out to Him:
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this Hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
(John 12:27-28 NKJV)
And then the appeal for us to glorify God with our lives and words.
God spoke to me through His Word.
He also spoke to me through the bouquet of flowers in front of the pulpit.
What a magnificent bouquet it is, an abundance of pink and burgundy peonies and cream-colored roses. That would be beauty enough, but it doesn’t stop there. The flowers echo the exquisite vase that holds them.
While my eyes feasted on the beauty, I heard God point out something more. He reminded me there were three women involved in this floral offering:
Julia Nordby, who plucked the peonies from her garden and skillfully arranged them to complement the vase, and to grace our worship service.
Nona Nordby, Julia’s mother-in-law, who generously provided the vase, which she had inherited from her mother.
Vera Lyman, Nona’s mother, the artist who wielded delicate brushes as she painted the vase with such lovely results.
Vera died over 30 years ago, leaving behind not only many hand-painted creations but a legacy of loving service with her pastor-evangelist husband.
Her love for her family lives on, a golden thread that will weave its way through the family tree until Jesus comes.
From now on, whenever I read John 12 I will remember that Jesus is my Forgiver, my Life-giver, and my King; and I will also picture a magnificent arrangement of fresh flowers and painted flowers, and the three women and the love that tie them together.
May God speak clearly to you this week, telling you what you most need to hear from Him. May you see beauty in His creation, hear encouragement in His Word, and taste and see that He is good.