Created by God (Psalm 33:6-9)

Today’s scripture: Psalm 33:6-9

We live in a created world.

I look around me, season after season, and I see the hand of a Designer. I’ve seen oceans and mountaintops and deserts. I’ve sat beside rushing rivers and trickling streams. I’ve stood below trees that soared overhead.

It’s clear—so clear—that this is a created world.

And I believe with all I am that the hand that created it all is the hand of God, the God of the Bible.

By a word, He created the heavens and the earth.

Animals and birds

Plants and flowers.

Sunsets and sunrises.

You. Me.

Created by the loving voice and hand of God.

Our Creator God (Psalm 19:4-6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 19:4-6

On Monday, I wrote about nighttime skies full of stars. Today's verses bring us to the sky at day.

I think the existence of the sun and its precise placement is one of the greatest testaments to a Creator. I've read that if the sun were in any other place than its exact position, life on the earth would not be sustainable. I'm not a scientist, so I visited The Institute for Creation Research's website. In language I don't fully understand (it's been many, many moons since I took a science class!), the ICR states:

The spiral-shaped galaxy in which the earth is located is called the Milky Way. The spiraling arms and center of this galaxy contain many stars set close together, giving off its characteristic brightness.Some stars explode into supernovas, causing deadly radiation to flow through nearby stars and planets.The center and arms of galaxies are flooded with high amounts of radiation. Most stars are located in places with too much harmful energy for life.Our solar system is located about two-thirds of the way out toward the edge of the Milky Way, where we are least likely to suffer collisions with other stars. Most of the stars in our galaxy are in the larger spiral arms or in the center. Because there are few stars near us, there is a low amount of radiation surrounding our solar system and we can observe the rest of the universe and our own galaxy much better.

So, when we look toward the sun (not at it because that's not good for our eyes!), we can remember yet again the awesomeness of our Creator God.

God's Handiwork (Psalm 19:1-4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 19:1-4

We live in an amazing, amazing world. So much beauty. So much diversity.

My husband and I love to travel, and one way we especially love is taking road trips. We've traveled up and down the west coast several times. We've headed east through Arizona and New Mexico, and up into Utah. We even flew into Anchorage a few years ago and then took a road trip north to Denali and south to Seward.

We've enjoyed cruises that took us to parts of Mexico, eastern Canada, and islands in the Caribbean, and when I was younger, I traveled to Europe and the South Pacific.

Everywhere I've had the privilege to travel, I've marveled at the awesome beauty of this planet. Snow-capped mountains. Raging rivers. Powerful oceans. Mysterious deserts.

Every place so different and unique.

And I love being out in the country away from city lights. Looking up and seeing an expanse of sky, full of stars. I may not be able to pick out one constellation from another, but there is something both majestic and reverent when it is quiet and all I can see are stars upon stars. In those moments, I truly feel like the "heavens [are] declar[ing] the glory of God ..."

His creation is awesome. This universe we live in is a testimony to His greatness and creativity.

So we too can declare His glory and delight in His handiwork.

This Amazing Creation (2 Peter 1:4)

Today’s scripture: 2 Peter 1:4

Oh, what an amazingly gracious and loving God we serve! He, knowing the choice Adam and Eve would make, still created them. He, knowing the choices we’d make, still created us. He gave us a beautiful world. He made trees and flowers, seas and mountains. So much to bring us joy. He loves us that much.

My husband and I love to explore our beautiful nation. In 2010, we drove up the California coast through the Redwoods up in to Oregon and then down through Yosemite. The towering, majestic trees. The roaring ocean. The magnificent, awe-inspiring mountain peaks. And then in 2011, we visited Zion and Bryce National Parks in southern Utah. And since we moved to East Tennessee, we’ve been able to see more of God’s amazing creation.

Words just can’t describe …

Such beauty. Created just for me. Just for you.

But creating this beautiful world isn’t the most amazing thing. Instead of giving us what we deserve—divine punishment—He gives us what we don’t deserve—His divine nature.

He loves us so much He wants to make us more and more like Jesus Christ, God the Son. He gives us His written word. He gives us brothers and sisters in Him. And He molds and refines us daily to be “partakers of the divine nature.”

Amazing.

Unseen God (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-9

So much mystery surrounds faith. Indeed, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard” the face of God or His voice. In fact, that’s one of the things skeptics struggle with: belief in an unseen God.

But those of us who truly know God have seen Him in many ways. And we have heard His voice.

I see God in magnificent snow-covered mountains. I see Him in the faces of precious babies. I see Him in the roar of the ocean. I see Him in the flittering hummingbird just outside my window. I see Him in vibrantly-colored flowers and green grass and towering trees. I've seen Him in the pristine wilderness of Alaska and the crystal clear waters in Fiji. I see Him in the diversity of nature ... and of the people I'm blessed to know.

Or as Paul wrote, “God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That's why those people don't have any excuse” (CEV, Romans 1:20).

I hear God’s voice in the silence as He speaks to my heart. I hear Him through the words of the Bible. I hear Him in the prayer of a friend. I hear Him in the laughter of a child. I hear Him through the melody of a praise song or an old hymn.

Our God is not some distant being whom we cannot know. Not at all. I know my God. I know Him intimately. And I have no doubt He is with me, guiding me, carrying me, protecting me, providing for me …

Yes, there is much I don’t know. There is much I won’t know this side of heaven. But that’s as it should be. I want to serve a God who is so much greater than I could ever be.

As God Himself said through His servant, Isaiah:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
      Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
       “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
      So are My ways higher than your ways,
      And My thoughts than your thoughts.
(55:8-9, NKJV)

Although much of God remains a mystery—and rightfully so—He will reveal Himself to a truly seeking heart.

If you don’t know this God who dearly loves you, if you’re still skeptical, do this. Just say, “God, if you truly exist, reveal Yourself to me.”

And He will.

Perfectly Created (Psalm 19:4b-6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 19:4b-6

Yesterday, I wrote about nighttime skies full of stars. Today's verses bring us to the sky at day.

I think the existence of the sun and its precise placement is one of the greatest testaments to a Creator. I've read that if the sun were in any other place than its exact position, life on the earth would not be sustainable. I'm not a scientist, so I visited The Institute for Creation Research's website. In language I don't fully understand (it's been many, many moons since I took a science class!), the ICR states:

The spiral-shaped galaxy in which the earth is located is called the Milky Way. The spiraling arms and center of this galaxy contain many stars set close together, giving off its characteristic brightness.

Some stars explode into supernovas, causing deadly radiation to flow through nearby stars and planets.

The center and arms of galaxies are flooded with high amounts of radiation. Most stars are located in places with too much harmful energy for life.

Our solar system is located about two-thirds of the way out toward the edge of the Milky Way, where we are least likely to suffer collisions with other stars. Most of the stars in our galaxy are in the larger spiral arms or in the center. Because there are few stars near us, there is a low amount of radiation surrounding our solar system and we can observe the rest of the universe and our own galaxy much better.

So, when we look toward the sun (not at it because that's not good for our eyes!), we can remember yet again the awesomeness of our Creator God.

Declare His Glory (Psalm 19:1-4a)

Today's scripture: Psalm 19:1-4a

We live in an amazing, amazing world. So much beauty. So much diversity.

My husband and I love to travel, and one way we especially love is taking road trips. We've traveled up and down the west coast several times. We've headed east through Arizona and New Mexico, and up into Utah. We even flew into Anchorage last year and then took a road trip north to Denali and south to Seward.

We've enjoyed cruises that took us to eastern Canada and islands in the Caribbean, and when I was younger, I traveled to Europe and the South Pacific.

Every where I've had the privilege to travel, I've marveled at the awesome beauty of this planet. Snow-capped mountains. Raging rivers. Powerful oceans. Mysterious deserts.

Every place so different and unique.

One thing I really love is being out in the country away from city lights. I love looking up and seeing an expanse of sky full of stars. I may not be able to pick out one constellation from another, but there is something both majestic and reverent when it is quiet and all I can see are stars upon stars. In those moments, I truly feel like the "heavens [are] declar[ing] the glory of God ..."

His creation is awesome. This universe we live in is a testimony to His greatness and creativity.

So we too can declare His glory and delight in His handiwork.

God's Green Earth (Psalm 111:2-4b)

Today's scripture: Psalm 111:2-4a

Yesterday as I was driving to do some errands, I was blessed by the sight of majestic mountains, which I don't often see clearly, in the distance. Later, I glanced out into my backyard and had a splash of joy, watching hummingbirds flitting about.  Still later, I looked into the brown eyes of my sweet lab, and my heart was touched.

I couldn’t help but be in awe of God’s creation, and I thought to myself, How can anyone truly deny the existence of—at the very least—an Intelligent Designer? To think that all of this came from some kind of big bang that led to plant life and animal life. To think humanity developed from a single cell.

It makes no sense to me, and frankly takes a lot of faith.

What does make sense is that a loving, creative, glorious God created this world and all that’s in it. So much of what He created, He did so for our pleasure.  Those tiny birds and majestic mountains and my unconditionally loving pup … those things that bring us so much joy …

Just to make us smile …

I’m reminded of a line from a Point of Grace song, “God’s Green Earth”:

On God’s Green Earth
If every color was the same
And every child had just one name
There’d be no beauty for each of us to claim …

What an amazing, loving, creative God we serve!

Praise God! (Psalm 8:6-9)

Today's scripture: Psalm 8:6-9

The psalmist continues his praise of God’s amazing love for His children. Everything in this world, everything we see, touch, hear, was created to please Him and delight us.

He gave humankind “dominion over” everything. We are more important to God than any animal, bird, or fish. We are the only of His creation made in His very image. He is our Father. Our Abba. Our Daddy. And like any loving Father, He made a wonderful environment for us to live in.

All for us.

So we can join in a heartfelt chorus: “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!” Because, as amazing and wonderful this earth is, nothing is more amazing or wonderful than our Creator God. And we can speak His name with awe and joy and praise.

For His name is excellent, wonderful, worthy of praise. And worship. And honor. And glory.

Join in the chorus!