Category: Creation

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A Mornings View

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

The heavens call out to me this morning. They sing a chorus over the darkened land

Their song shouts forth the glory of their place in the heavens above and speaks in quiet praise of the wonder of God’s creation

What joy I feel to see the stars and planets sparkling. How awesome to watch the smiling sliver of the moon poking up just above the horizon. The sun is chasing it, not far behind. Reflected light from earth illuminates the dim circle of its face

Great is our God who made all of this, He is wise beyond all the capabilities of our mind. By His power with a Word, He swung all this into motion. What wondrous things He has done

Our world is set amidst this endless creation. We have been cast as a grain of sand into the vastness of this place

How blessed am I to see all this beauty today, to ponder the width and depth of all God has made and to see its power, depth, and glory

It’s amazing that we have just begun to explore this space around us

Our ships have sailed out across the solar system

Our feet have walked upon the dusty surface of the moon

Our eyes have looked out across nearly 14 billion light years of space and seen to near the beginning of all we know that is

But God knows infinitely more

I wonder about our future here on this planet, can we somehow overcome our frailties?

Will our species grow more compassionate and loving towards each other, so we don’t mess up our chances for survival or a good outcome

For we are self-centered creatures, prone to greed and war. We have learned many amazing things, but have failed to solve the most difficult problems of our times

Our God looks down from the heavens above. He sees and knows what lies within us and offers us the wisdom of His Word and Spirit; the grace and mercy of His salvation, He freely gives

Will we truly acknowledge Him and go before Him in faith this day?

Oh, the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, what an incredible place He has made

Our Earth was formed by the strength and will of His hands and we were brought forth here, as His children

Our problems, which we have created, are rising above our heads. They threaten are very existence, but with God, we have the promise of a future

When we connect with Him, the creator of all that is, we will see and know that every good answer resides in Him.  11/30/20

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Our Home, Earth

Blessed are all those who dwell in Your house; they are forever praising You.    Psalms 84:4

Blessed are we who live in this sanctuary called Earth, and those able to see and experience all its boundless wonders

It is of God’s own making, and He made it exceedingly well

How fortunate is the family of mankind to dwell in this house, and to have been born into this place of beauty and comfort

It is a temple of God’s creation fashioned for us to live in, along with all the multitudes of life

Blessed is the entire family of plants and creatures that dwells here. We are all a part of earth’s character, born of this creation

Each of us are linked together as a family in this world, sprouting forth on the surface of this planet

We are cast into orbit around our star, the Sun;

Lost among a million stars, but not unknown, as we swirl within our Milky Way

And rise outward, along with an untold numbers of other galaxies, within this universe of unsearchable length, depth, and time

It is all His making

It is all that we know of

Even if we could think of what lies beyond the distant boundaries of all we know, He would be there, as its creator and as it’s Spirit

Blessed are we who have life, how lucky indeed, are we to experience this miracle and see, touch, and feel all the wonders that life allows

Praise God, for His infinitely grand creation. Commend Him, for this crazy thing called life. It exists here on earth in all its incredible depth and complexity

Glorify our God, because we have life amidst this beautiful world

Life is precious, it is fragile, and exceedingly rare. There is no other place that we know of where it even exists

We believe some simple primitive forms may possibly live somewhere else, but we have not seen them yet, despite all our searching

The universe is wondrous, but it is also an exceedingly harsh place, to find somewhere else that is as soft and hospitable as earth may never happen

How far away will such a place be if one even exists?

God sent His own Son into this place as a gift to Earth’s current apex species, so that we might not die, as every form of life eventually does, but that we might have eternal life

And so that we could have a pathway through faith in Jesus Christ to live on past our present life, the miracle that it is, and live in the presence of God, the very maker of all we know that exists

It begins through faith in Him who made us and by our love and praise for all that He has done

It comes by glorifying Our God and His Son through the very expression of our life

For He is worthy, because there is nothing that is greater than Him

Praise God for His creation and for the gift of salvation through our faith in Him.  9/17/2021

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Wake Up, This is Real

 

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy them; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:17

This world is changing, our climate is warming, the balance of our living world is degrading and few of us are paying attention

It appears, that the ways in which our climate is changing does not easily set off alarms in us. Perhaps it is happening at such an incremental rate that it defies our deep perception

We notice things are different, but we endure or adjust, and then move on. This  has left us profoundly vulnerable to this danger

Wake yourself, arouse your mind and sharpen your perception, become an observer and listener of nature. This is more important than we realize, a problem which will be difficult to recover from

Never forget that this planet was made by our God, created for life and for wonder. It is a miracle of His work

Do you think God applauds its destruction?

Many say they don’t see the climate changing. Look more intently, study the data determined by the experts.

Remember the harm you have seen across the lands nearby. Recall the gigantic fires, the powerful storms, the unusual freezes and unrelenting heat; the devastating droughts, and all of the collective damage done so far

Sense the enormity of environmental stress that covers most of the world now. It is all there for you to see, just open your eyes and understand

Some say it is a hoax or scheme to defraud us. But, why are so many brilliant people telling us there is now no doubt?

Climate change is happening. It is real, and our own actions are to blame. The real hoax may lie in the disinformation and lies spread abroad, sowed by those who can gain by creating confusion and distrust in the truth

Our God is a God of justice and righteousness, He considers those who act justly, and those who aspire towards what is good, but He is against anyone who acts selfishly and propagates lies

How do you think He feels about those who are damaging this precious Earth?

Some say it is our right to subdue this World that God gave us to live in. But we have gone far past overcoming the challenges of living on this planet

Never has there been so much destruction wrought upon our land, seas, and air; harm that has affected all life, especially our poor and our defenseless, the ones God calls precious in His eyes

Oh Lord, I pray for our collective climate awareness, that we might sharpen our focus upon this threat. Please help us grow closer and more united as we seek to find good solutions

We elevate you, the Lord of the heavens and of this Earth, so that we might regard You in all our ways, that justice may be served, and the health of our world, upheld

May we always acknowledge You, as we work to restore the bountiful abundance of this world, so that it may be well for us, and for all who live here, and so that You may be forever praised for your all Your awesome works. 3/5/2021

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Goodness Without Measure

Be Thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting. Psalms 100:4-5

Lord, You bless all the earth with Your goodness

All that there is, has sprang forth as a gift from your hands. You give breath to every creature, and water, to the plants of the earth

How great is Your goodness, and wonderful, Your gifts. All of creation is indebted to You, for You are creator of all

In awe, and with wonder, I will praise God. With joy, and thanksgiving I will raise up a song for Him. For He has given us this day as a gift, and for His own glory

May all of creation Praise Him. May they shout forth His name, and call upon His benevolent Spirit. May they shout forth His name, and seek Him each day and every hour

For He does not Hide His presence

Look to the heavens and glory. Gaze upon His creation with respect. Rejoice, for we are alive and have been given great treasures

With each dawn that we are blessed with, may we live our life for Him, and give back to God that which He has given to us

All that there is, He owns. Nothing lies beyond His reach, or, escapes the gaze of His eye

Yet, how great is His mercy towards us

With love, God looks upon each life, and treasures us as priceless creations

Great is the goodness of God, and excellent, His Word. With truth and with power, He has made clear the way that leads to life. It transforms all who seek after our Lord God

The Word of God was before all creation. By it everything that was made, was framed and placed into context within God’s plan

May all of creation praise our God, and call upon Him, who is their salvation. So that they may taste and know the pure goodness of God.  12/22/2006

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Thank you for the Light

“Then I was the craftsmen at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind.” Proverbs 8:30

Thank God for the bright and sunny days. Praise Him for creating the gift that is our sun; for its warmth and brightness of light, and for the ways it lifts our spirits

Lift up the name of our God, for giving us a star like our sun. For He placed it exactly where it is within the universe so that we are not too hot, or too cold. It safely blesses our world in its illuminating light, and is stable, not given to dangerous outbursts or fluctuations

Thank you, Lord, for all the stars that You have made. Their quiet beauty in the night skies, inspires. The stardust that was formed within their fusion powered factories, is the very dust that we are created from

Through the energy of the sun and the miracle of life, we have our being. The stardust flows through us all the days of our lives

How glorious is the sunshine. It lifts my spirits in the morning, and warms my soul throughout the day

All the colors of this amazing world are illuminated by the brightness of our sun, and through our sight we are allowed to fully appreciate the wonder of God’s creation. For this world is incredibly made, the heavens stunningly vast and beautifully marvelous

Great is our God. Glorious is all of His creation

All honor, praise, and thanksgiving, we give unto You. For we are a vital part of Your creation. We too, are awesome and fearfully made

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was with God from the beginning. He was invited to share in the joy of making this grand creation

His eyes witnessed that first burst of energy, when God spoke and set His laws in motion. He observed, as they cause matter and energy to run towards their places. He labored with God, as they watched all of time stretch out before them

They arranged things to be just so, to Their liking. By the outworking of the power of Their wisdom and love, they moved, as They still do to this day and forever more, to bring good things to light. So that glory, goodness, and righteousness, might rule throughout the entire universe, even within this world

Praise God, our Holy creator, and His Son, Jesus Christ. For through the Son, He has given us His light and the power of His Spirit

Jesus is our savior, and our only hope within this creation.

We were made to live in Him forever, but, our sins work to separate us from the light of His goodness and the power of His salvation. Therefore, cease from giving in to the futility of sin, and put your trust in Christ.

Live according to His Word and His ways, and you will have the light from the source of all light shining within you.

The warmth of His love and the goodness of His promises will then uplift your life. For, throughout all of eternity; blessing, goodness, and mercy, dwell in Him. 3/26/2021

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The Precious Fabric of Life

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:26

The God of all that is, clothed the Earth with a precious fabric. He made this world with materials of many colors, textures, forms, and patterns

It fits perfectly upon this world, and is unlike anything we have ever known or observed

It is incredible how it persists, adapts, and repairs itself even when damaged. It is woven with such exquisite complexity, that we can barely understand how it works

Our God in heaven created something amazing and beautiful. Perhaps the most surprising thing about it is that it also lives and breathes

This fabric that covers our Earth, our home, is not something to be taken for granted. For we are dependent on the health of every part of it for our very existence

It lies in a balance within all of its workings, so that our life, and all life that dwells on Earth may  persist safely for eons of time

Oh God of the heavens and of the Earth, humble us, and make us to know your love for us. May we recognize that You alone have made this place for us to live, and it is marvelous in every way

We cheapen our lives when we take all this for granted. It shows our lack of reverence for God, who has given us all things

Blessed are we to be given life here in this place, and to be loved, for God has given us all we need. But, we curse ourselves by our unthankful actions, when we conceive in our minds to exploit God’s gift to us.

In recent times we have grown to fill the entire Earth. We have crowded in to every part of this life giving fabric. Our sin is that we do not appreciate this wonder that we live within, and that we give in to the selfish power of our greed and lust for things

Through our actions, we have increasingly desecrated the very fabric of God’s world, and now weaken, even threaten our own existence by the runaway momentum of our destructive pursuits

God’s amazing creation, the fabric he placed here for life, even our lives, is being strained. Its threads are being stretched and torn. Our climate is changing in dangerous ways

We must thoughtfully renew a vital commitment to this sacred place we call home and humbly revive our faith in our God. So that through this we might chart a new path away from the course we take now, and live as a species that values and nurtures the health of our natural world. 2/28/2021

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The Connection

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:20

The famous naturalist John Muir once said, “If you pick out one thing in nature, you will find that it is hitched to everything else in the entire universe”. It is an astounding thought. No matter what you look at, you will find that it, in one way or another, it has a connection with everything else. The beauty in it is that the connections come in various ways and in an almost infinite number of means. There are the cycles of nature, placed into the fabric of God’s creation, that transport energy and matter from one place to another. Within these cycles, are checks and balances, that regulate their flow in particular ways, based on how God has placed His physical laws. Every movement in this natural realm, each life, every person and believer; has an effect on the rest of the universe around them. Most often, these effects are at levels beyond our perception and understanding. However, all that we sense, every interaction within this world and with others, is our conscious part of this equation of connection within God’s creation.

When I am working in my garden, I can see how it is uniquely placed within the matrix of creation. Energy and matter are shuttled in and transformed by the life that lives there, then flow outward in various ways. I can see this transformation taking place in the compost pile, where last years leaves full of nutrients and latent energy are changed by the actions of bacteria, earthworms, and fungi. I see the bright green leaves filled with Chlorophyll absorbing sunlight to create sugars that fuel a whole host of reactions that build the plant, flowers, and fruit. And then there are all the millions of ‘guests’ who come to visit and chew on the leaves, sip the nectar, suck on the juice, fix nitrogen in root nodules, steal my just ripened berries, or grace the place with their beauty. It is an amazing miracle, what takes place in the ordinary garden.

Yes, everything is connected, and ultimately it all is connected to God. Think of all the infinite number of events that happen around us, both big and small. Consider the storms and the calms; the brightest days and darkest nights; the basic processes in nature and the dynamic revolutionary actions of DNA. The list is endless. Everything is connected, and we all connected to the God who created all things. He moves by the power of His Spirit throughout the entire world, and out into the farthest reaches of the universe. There is no place where He is not. He dwells even within our gardens, and especially so, within our hearts.

God knows all the subtle connections that tie together His creation. It is amazing to see just how gently He works, but also, how awesome are the results. A nudge here and a  jostle there, and a whole series of events is set in motion like a building wave. They culminate in carrying out His will to His glory and honor. God speaks with a still and quiet voice. He can move things with the gentlest of breezes, and yet His strength is beyond our comprehension.

The Church, the living body of Christ, is also interconnected in a tightly woven fabric. Even the most insignificant church and every poor unnoticed believer, has great value and importance to the health of the whole body. We suffer together the hardships of other believers. Together, we rejoice when others are uplifted and God is glorified. Each member is responsible to the whole. We are not islands, but more like one continent in Christ. In God’s eyes, we are both individuals, and parts of one body that makes up His church. Always connected to one another, and never separate from Him who made us to live.

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Our Reason to Praise

Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. Psalm 104:1

 

Holy is the Lord God Almighty. He reigns over all the earth, and all of His creation

Our Lord looks out across the universe and sees that it is good. By His will it was created, along with all the things that exist within it

He formed all the nuances of light, motion, and matter. It was His thought to blend them to be just as they are, so that awesome formations like galaxies, black holes, and solar systems would exist; and so that life could spring forth to praise and worship His name

Holy is our God who made all this to be. He exists in every dimension He has created

Our Lord, and God, blesses everything that is, because He loves all that He has made. Glorious is our God; through the creation He has given us life. When we observe what He has done we cry out to Him, and praise Him for His wisdom, power, and love.

You are worthy, oh God, to receive all honor, and glory, and praise. For we amount to nearly nothing in relation to what You have made. We are but a breath, a small flash of light against the backdrop of the creation; inconsequential, but you have given us meaning for our life

For You, oh Lord, have considered us, and come to us. You have blessed us with Your Word, and sent to us Your very own Son as a minister and savior, so that we might live in harmony with You, forever

How great is Your love, it stretches out across all the universe. Yet, has become focused here upon this earth, our home; the place that You made for us, and for the life we share this planet with

Therefore, we give you our praise; we worship You alone, oh God. For there is nothing else as worthy as You

Great is our God, the One who has created all things. By Your will they were created and have their being. We bow before You and acknowledge that You are our God

We lay down our pride and possessions. The power that we thought we had over our life, we give to You.

The little strength have, we turn over to You, oh Lord; so that Your will can reside in us and allow us to consider You always, that we might receive Your love and live near Your throne, forever

Great is our God, and worthy of our praise. We were created by You, and in You we have our being. May You alone receive all our honor, our glory, and our praise

For You are our God and You love us and have blessed us with the gift of life. May we understand the depth, width, and height of all this, so that we might glorify You all the days of our life.   1/5/2021

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There Is Proof All Around Us

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Each day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

 

When I see wonders throughout all of creation, it is proof enough to me that there is a God

Clouds streaming across the sky, even from beyond the curve of Earth’s horizon. Some form before my eyes, others shrink and disappear altogether

And in the distance, mountains rise up in their own quiet strength, beckoning me to explore their lofty reaches.They are not so much places where the Spirit of God resides, but temples, filled with the inspiration of beauty and solitude; places where God can speak to our hearts and reveal a measure of His glory

There are countless marvels within this creation. If we take the time to look and to explore, then we will become convinced of the priceless value of God’s creation

Who can gaze up across the expanse of stars that are spread out across the vastness of the heavens, and not be shaken deeply within their soul

Or, who can attempt to explain their place within the reaches of the universe, without being humbled by the scope of its magnificence, after looking at the small size our footprint

What man has learned about this place sheds light on the awesome power of God

But, there is so much more. God only knows the wonders He has formed, that we have not yet seen or explored; or barely determined, through the efforts of our curious minds

God is due our honor

He is worthy of our praise

The Most High is great beyond all measure. Give thanks to Him for what He has done

It is sufficient that I experience His presence; that I feel the touch of His Spirit upon my life. That I know without a doubt, His goodness and love towards me

And, it is proof enough for me to believe, as I contemplate His Word and His promises, because, I have experienced how His instruction has changed my life; To live in a way that is so much different than before.

I believe in His love for me. I have hope; and I know, each day, the blessing of peace and joy

I also trust in God, because all of life and creation validates Him, and proves to my heart, that there is nothing more important than to have faith in Him.   10/7/2007

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Consider the Lilies

“Consider the Lilies, how they grow: they neither toil or spin, and yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these”. Luke 12:27

Have you ever taken the time to explore the intricate and beautiful detail of a flower. What a wonder they are. Sometimes I take the time to look over one flower in great detail. I gaze at every petal and look upon the details in the color of their markings. There are textures to feel and observe, and a symmetry of design that could only have been crafted by God. I look at the calyx, the stigma, styles, anthers, pollen, and a host of other anatomical details. Each part is incredible in its detail and workings, made for a specific purpose, each of which gives glory to our God who made both flower and us humans, too.

There is such intricacy in every flower they seem almost a universe unto themselves. It’s refreshing to observe plants during these times, because in their own naturally passive way, seem almost oblivious to everything that goes on around them. They simply concentrate on growing and producing flowers, so that more seed will be made… and so that their position in the web of life continues. That is their purpose, and they don’t seem all that concerned about the economy, or the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the political battles that are going on these days, or a million other things that weigh us down. They are just concerned with the business of living within the creation God has made for them and everything else. That is how they bring glory to God, they flower, and bring to the light of day a small, yet beautiful, miracle of God’s creative design and wisdom.

God considers every flower that grows, even those weeds that crowd into our gardens. Though they’re a nuisance, weeds serve a great purpose in the grand scheme of keeping our world healed and in balance. Try looking at the flower of a weed sometime. Take a magnifying glass, if you have to;  look closely at each detail. They are as interesting and beautiful as many of our garden hybrid flowers, though perhaps less flamboyant. Look at the flowers and be reminded of God’s care for them. For He has used great wisdom to design how they were made, and blessed them with a living formula of both success and attractiveness. They have given glory to Him long before our species ever walked upon this world.

If, He has considered the life of each flower, then how much more has He given His thoughts to us, God’s most precious and beloved creation. If He has bestowed upon the flowers such beauty and ability, then He has given us even more. We, who were made in His image and placed in position to have dominion over all of His creation, have been blessed more than we know. Can there be any doubt then that God has great care and love for us? He has blessed us with His living Word and gave us His only begotten Son, so that we might live; even in His presence, for all eternity. Therefore, we should not be so anxious for the things that are of this world, but focus our eyes on our God, and the wonder of the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ. They alone are the only ones that can  give us true riches, and all the other aspects of a complete life.

Don’t become a worry wart, even though these times demand that we feel anxious. Focus your eyes upon God, for He has blessed you considerably. Don’t lose sight of Him, though the entire earth shouts that we pay attention to what it says to be concerned about. Never forget your first love, the one who made you as beautiful and capable, and who meant you to enjoy all the benefits of the life He designed you to live.