It’s not long before we see those pretty wee snowdrops. Of all the beautiful plants and flowers in nature, there’s something special about these humble bits of whiteness, isn’t there?

I think it’s their timing, bringing life back to drab winter deadness; speaking of the hope of brighter days and sunnier times. We need that in life. Sometimes it seems as though the ‘winter’ of our soul is never ending, but there’s always hope. If we look carefully, we can find God’s little snowdrops of promise.

When they’d been exiled by their enemies, God spoke to the Israelites in the Old Testament: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29 v 11).

Whatever you’re going through just now, take a moment to find the snowdrops of His promise of hope and His good plans for your life. He’s placed them there, so look carefully and you’ll find them.

We woke up this morning to a conclusion to the long debate on Scottish Independence. Living in Scotland, we’ve seen the debate first hand; it’s been powerful and inpassioned, especially over the last couple of months. Now the people have made their verdict, it’s really important that our communities unite again for the future.

The big question is how to bring about reconciliation, whether it’s amongst people on the different sides of political opinions, or between rivals af any sort. What matters most is one to one relationships. Everything comes down to the attitude we have to the individuals we meet on a day to day basis. I found this great couple of verses in the New Testament this morning, which is so pertinent today and every day:

1 Peter 4:7b-11 (Message).  “Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”

Love is the oil which makes reconciliation possible – not a passive do-nothing love, but a real type of love which affects how we talk and act to each other. That type of love comes from God. It’s so important to pray for His love to empower all we do, so we can build for the future.