Tabletop Gardening

chilli plant

We  spend quite a lot of time in various Zoom meetings now.  And Captain B has one with his fellow metal detectorists every so often, as for the moment, they can no longer meet in the field.  They all have  gardens, and seem to be very into growing veg and suchlike now that we have all this time at home.  We have no garden, just a balcony, though it does have a wonderful sea view.  So when it was proposed they all post photos of their gardens and their garden produce, I didn't think that the Captain would have much to say,  But he got in first with a photo of the chilli plant that lives on the table in our lounge. I crop it regularly, harvesting one at at time for our veggie soups.

geranium

I have suggested that they have a best balcony geraniums competition.   If so, its Gold cup here we come!

The theme of our one day assembly on Sunday was "Love Builds Up".   Which is so refreshing in a world system that can have such a negative, divisive tone.   So divisive in fact that it managed to turn the people of Europe on each other in two wars so terrible that they are called world wars.   And the world will continue to divide us, the children of Adam, and turn us against each other, unless we listen to our Creator

So the message of the assembly - heard by millions worldwide - was simply this:  To try to let everything we think, do and say be guided by the law of loving-kindness, the law of loyal love.  Our Creator Jehovah is love.  He doesn't just have love and give love, he IS love.   So while its not easy as things are now, he will help us every step of the way.

But how can we draw close to him and be guided by him unless we know who he is?

So, the next question we would consider in a Bible study is: What is God like?

No human has ever seen God because he is a Spirit, which means that he is a higher form of life than the physical creatures who live on earth.

John 4:24 tell us, clearly and simply that "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”   Knowing the truth about our Creator is very important.

And we can discern God’s personality from the things he has made. For instance, this lovely earth, the beauty and variety of the Spring flowers,  the ever changing skies, tell us of his love and wisdom as clearly as if they spoke to us.  It was, in fact, the beauty of an Autumn sky in my Northern hometown that made me realise that Someone had made this so beautiful just for us. And I wanted to find him and thank him.

The dizzying size of the universe tells us of God's immense power.

Romans 1:20 says:  "For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable."

We know that there has to be Creator, because we see his creation.

We can learn even more about God’s personality by reading the Bible.

Psalm 103:7-10 reassuringly tells us that God  "made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the sons of Israel.   Jehovah is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love.   He will not always find fault, nor will he stay resentful forever.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve."

What has gone wrong will be put right.  We are not abandoned.  Our Creator truly loves each one of us.

And then there is the very important matter of God's name, a name which has been removed from many Bible translations.  See next blog - hopefully.