Isaiah 64:1-3 – O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence — as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil — to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. (NRSV)

My husband and I planted our first garden last year. During the COVID-19 shutdown, we had more leisure time than usual and needed a project to keep our minds and hands occupied. Not all of our crop prospered, but the garden held our interest for months and made us want to do better this year.

In early June, I planted two different types of nasturtiums, which are annuals that bloom in a variety of colours. These plants thrive in poor soil, with little water and care. I planted several rows of them, and their stalks and leaves soon grew and grew. Then, one by one, they died. I don't know why. I wound up planting beans and lettuce where the nasturtiums had been.

Imagine my surprise when, in early September, a new nasturtium plant appeared behind the beans — an amazing small miracle.

The prophet Isaiah had heard many stories of mountain-quaking, nation-trembling miracles! God is certainly capable of those big, awesome events. Most of us will never experience a miracle like that — God doesn't usually work that way. But we can watch for His small miracles, like a friend calling when you most need her, a story on the radio that really hits home, and a nasturtium sprouting three months after being planted. Let's watch for them, and be blessed by them as a reminder of all that God can do!

Prayer: Omnipotent God, thank You for miracles big and small. Help us to notice them and recognize Your blessings, for they give us hope. Amen.

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About the author:

Kim Sheard <kimsheard@aol.com>
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
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