Don’t Miss the Moment

Happy Monday to our CFC Family!

This past Friday, many of us here in Southern Manitoba woke up to something truly beautiful. The sun was shining brightly, and the trees were weighed down with a thick layer of hoarfrost that was so stunning it looked like it came straight from the front of a Christmas card.

Being my day off, I had a few things around the house that I wanted to get done. Yet in the back of my mind, almost in a childlike eagerness, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more important I needed to do. That “something” was to take Duke for a walk and soak in that moment of natural beauty before it disappeared.

After about an hour of tending to a few other tasks, I grabbed my coat, Duke’s leash, and together we headed across the street. Almost immediately, we found ourselves surrounded by what felt like a small miracle of creation. The air was crisp but welcoming. The sun was bright and inviting. Everything—from the towering trees to the tiny plants poking through the snow—sparkled with an almost supernatural beauty. For about an hour, Duke and I walked through this winter wonderland, fully present in the moment, until it was time to head home and finish the day’s chores.

Later that afternoon, as I looked out the kitchen window, I noticed that the hoarfrost was gone. The beauty that had been so mesmerizing just hours earlier had completely vanished. In a childlike way, I felt grateful—almost pleased—that I hadn’t waited. Had I delayed just a little longer, I could have missed that magical moment altogether.

I know I’ve spoken about nature time and time again, but I truly believe this thought bears repeating. How many beautiful, intimate moments with God do we miss simply because life gets in the way? How often are we too busy, too distracted, or too focused on our, “to-do lists” to notice what God is revealing right in front of us?

The psalmist tells us in Psalm 19:1 that, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Creation constantly speaks—but only to those who slow down enough to listen know what this scripture really means.

In my sermon yesterday, I spoke about those whom Jesus describes as doing many impressive things “in His name,” yet He says to them, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:23).

This is a sobering and even frightening passage. What makes it even more striking is the word Jesus uses for “knew.” It is the same word used to describe the intimacy of a loving husband and wife knowing each other. Jesus is not talking about religious activity, He is talking about relationship.

God desires that kind of closeness with us. He wants us to know Him. Not to just “work for Him,” and talk “about” Him, but to intimately talk TO Him, and Him to you!

James 4:8 encourages us to “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” Yet so often, intimacy is lost not because God is distant, but because we are distracted.

Sometimes God reveals Himself in quiet, fleeting moments—a walk through a snowy park, a sunrise, a stillness we almost rushed past. Life truly is beautiful, and the enemy would love nothing more than for us to forget that, to keep us so busy and so focused on “life issues” that we miss those special places where God is waiting to meet us.

May each of us learn to slow down, to notice, and to cherish those sacred moments. They may not last long, and if you wait too long, you just might miss them!!

But when you stop…..look…..and listen, you may be surprised what God reveals to you!

Question: When was the Last time that you allowed God to show his Majesty to you in very personal way?

Have a wonderful week and we’ll see you Sunday!

Pastor Dan….and Dukie