"The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior" Page 10

Romans 4:17 says “God… calls things that are not as though they were”.  The title of this page, which is actually scripture located in Judges 6, is an example of that.   In this passage God is encouraging Gideon to stand in his faith, to be courageous….and then God proceeded to call him a Mighty Warrior.  Gideon was not yet displaying the courage of a mighty warrior and he knew it; but God encouraged him with this empowering descriptive and boldly called things that weren’t as though they were.  This is a reminder that we must move past our emotions, those tumultuous beliefs bouncing around in the psychology of our minds and, with courage we do not know we have, stand in our faith.  How will we ever become that modern-day mighty warrior until we’ve done just this; stand when our legs are shaking, speak when our voice is quaking, and love when our hearts are breaking.  We must become what we not yet are…to achieve what has yet to be.

 It is with a longing to understand death that I compile these thoughts…for as I write this my uncle is spiritually walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  The other day I went to visit him.  I stood at his bedside as he sought breaths that were hard to find, called for help in his time of need, and asked to be held as he sensed his life was faltering.  I pondered my uncle’s spiritual location as I stood there, momentarily choosing to be in that valley with him.  I held his hand and tried to clear my head of emotions so that I could bravely pray and stand guard over him as best I could.  I prayed that God would send angels to stand guard as well, and then turned my shift over to them… because I was faltering.  My emotions poured forth…and my frail, human heart began to break.

We become nostalgic at times like this.  We want this life to be eternal.  We want our loved ones to always be with us…yet we know this is humanly impossible.  Death is that one thing from which none of us can escape.  My mind tried to pull forth things I could remember about my uncle and I realized how much he reminds me of my father, his brother. With emotion, my heart began to beat patriotically knowing that he was a military man.  I viewed the metals on his dresser that displayed his bravery and honor….and I watched as he courageously took in those painful breaths that also displayed a very specific form of bravery and honor.  Standing on the cusp of this life and the next, knowing that it includes walking through a valley that is shadowed with death, is exactly like that of a military man braving it all. Just as the Lord spoke to Gideon…I wanted to tell my uncle “The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior” and I did, in my own way.   Visiting with him was, indeed, precious for it allowed me to acknowledge that death is a part of living and it vividly reminded me that each breath is a gift that literally binds us to this world; but, what of the next?

 Scripture says in James 4: 14….”What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”   This vanishing includes a journey that is beyond the scope of our understanding.  We can only imagine the spiritual journey one takes when leaving this earth and entering the spiritual world so vast that its gates are made of ivory and its streets of gold.  Scripture says In I Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy to be destroyed is death”.  II Timothy 1:10 says… “But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel".  The Holy Bible is full of this revelation!  The above scripture states that we have eternal life through belief in our Savior Jesus Christ…and our hearts beat of this truth as well.     

          Scripture states in Ecclesiastes 3:1
 “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

What does this mean?  From the beginning to the end, deep within our hearts, we absolutely know that we are meant for eternity.  Do you think it ironic that our hearts long to live forever, that we love so deeply that we can hardly bear losing a loved one?   We sense that there is something beyond ourselves….yet we cannot fathom it.   The best-selling book of all times, the Bible, states there is life after death.  All our human hopes would certainly be fulfilled if we took this amazing opportunity to be saved from the sin of this world and blessed with eternal life.  You are invited by God himself into eternity through the scripture in John 3: 16

 “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
  Simply confess that you believe! 
“I believe!”

 We all have a legacy that is imperfect, but none-the-less, beautiful.   My uncle has a family history worthy of remembering.  The picture-book of our lives is there for this purpose.  With this said, we know that memories don’t suffice nor console.  There is really no way for us to reconcile losing a loved one…. but the more we know of God the easier it is to find a peace with this parting.  When we know God we are confident that “all things work for the good of those who love him”.  When we know God we have a trust, set deep in our core, that allows us to hold to our faith and accept the inevitable.  

 More importantly than all of this…when we know God we know that we will meet again in eternity.  Until then, we can stand confident in our faith that through the compassion of our Creator, we will smile again, love again…find joy again.  Time is an amazing healer -just as Christ is.  And just as His life floods beyond time-lines and still teaches and heals us with historic scripture and amazing grace…the passage of the very time He created will flood over us and attend to our fragile hearts.  Although we long to have our loved ones with us daily…we know that we will surely see them again in the heaven….in a way that will exceed all expectations of even our best days with them on earth.   God says it’s so…..biblical text confirms this….and I believe.  Do you?

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands”. 
II Corinthians 5: 1

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to ALL who have longed for his appearing”.
II Timothy 4: 7-8

In honor of Johnny Abrams-
who lived a full life!

Song recommendation
Who am I?
Casting Crowns

click this link to listen to the song "Who Am I?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q

Lord, Help my Unbelief! Page 9

Our heart can fool us when it has slipped into unbelief!  Doubt easily creeps in bringing with it fear and confusion.  When this happens we must find our footing again.  We must step back onto the platform of faith, climb to the top of our watchtower and scan the horizon for God’s handiwork.  We must silence the doubting heart than can mislead us into despair.  We must over-rule the foolishness of unbelief with a head full of scripture, with a conviction that God wants the best for us…and with a steadfast mental and spiritual assurance that our “God is the ‘lord of hosts’ who can summon unexpected reinforcements at any moment to help His people.  We must believe that He stands between us and our difficulties… and what troubles us will flee before him, as clouds in the wind”1

To the physical world we must say “I believe in the unseen!”
To the laws of Nature we must say “you don’t fool me!” …
and to the unbelieving heart we must command “silence, you lying tempter!”

We’ve been taught that our hearts know the way through the rugged terrain of life.  We’re taught to follow our hearts because our emotions have credence.  The truth of it is…that we must move out with faith…and allow our emotions to catch up.  Our emotions want to take us one way…but our faith knows of another.  Inevitably, our hearts will get confused with emotion and, when blended with worldly standards, untruths will settle in and soon we have been misled.  Fooled! 

When this happens we must call emotion what it is; temporary… and turn back to faith, which is eternal.  It is purposed!  It is mental and spiritual!  It is a choice!  We must spiritually climb out of the valley of despair up to a precipice and call out “God!”…or simply whisper “Lord”.  We must purposely seek out truth for we are blind to it when fear and unbelief come onto the scene.  We must boldly bound all fearful thoughts that so easily ensnare and work to separate ourselves from the worldly dissonance with a single release of power, called prayer.   We must quiet our hearts, silence our emotions and make sound decisions free of the worldly influences that caused the fear in the 1^st place- for worldly noise and busyness can veil us from the truth of heavenly purposes.

  After we’ve made the climb out on this mental and spiritual precipice with our minds free of emotion, and our hearts free of fear we find the peace of God and are able to sense His presence... for the distractions of this world become silent.  Now in God’s presence we stand in truth…and He stands watch with us, looking down over our triumphant battle.  Tomorrow we will rise and do it again for this sinful struggle with fear and unbelief happens daily.  We have to face this world every day with purpose and intent or it will capture our hearts,  fill us with fear, hide the truth, distract us with the unimportant, and  pour noise into our heads till we can’t think clearly and we’re left to the demise of worldly decay. 

What is the point here?  Unbelief see’s us as easy prey.  It is simple to fall out of our stance of faith...and when life gets the best of us it is very tempting to do so.  It’s difficult to remain hopeful; faithful.  We can spin our wheels and spend our time seeking reasons why faith in God is necessary…. or we can generate our faith by adamantly affirming that disbelief is absurd. 

Scripture says in Isaiah 7:9
 “…if you do not stand firm in your faith you will not stand at all.”

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

Hebrews 11:1 says  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for;
certain of what we do not see”

Faith is a requirement and with it everything is possible (see Mark 9: 23).   Ask God to help you overcome your unbelief and He will.  The scripture above says he will reward those who earnestly seek him.  Sincerity is mandatory if you want to see God work in your life.  A flippant prayer will flip only so far.  “God whispers into the quietness of a humbled heart”.   Add the ingredient of sincerity into your faithful heart and just watch as the impossible becomes possible, your needs are filled, the favor of God arrives on your doorstep and goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life!  See Psalm 23.

"Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of Life."
Proverbs 4:23


Song Recommendation:
Here With Me
By:  MercyMe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74CNUExD4I8

Footnotes:

1-Streams in the Desert

Wisdom and Understanding! Page 8

“God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, 
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.”
Job 28: 23-24

To me this is beautifully written.  I can just see God looking down, with earth in full view, knowing the path to where everything dwells…knowing earth-inside and out; but what is it that this scripture is talking about?  If you go back two steps to verse 20 and begin reading from there…you will fully understand what is being poetically written about:

 “Where then does wisdom come from? 

Where does understanding dwell? 

It is hidden from the eyes of the every living thing, 

concealed even from the birds of the air.  Destruction and Death say, 

‘only a rumor of it has reached our ears’. 

Again verses 23-24

 ”God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, 

for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.”

 Verses 25-28 

“When He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, 

when He made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, 

then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.  

And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, 

and to shun evil is understanding”.

Job 28: 20-28

In the scripture above we learn that God is the source of wisdom and understanding and that at some point, while He was setting paths for thunderstorms and decrees for the rain –He made note of wisdom.  He went even further by appraising, confirming and testing it.  How many times in our lives do we appraise, confirm and test something.  You can bet that when we do…it is important.  This is important. 

Scripture even states here that he verbally spoke to man and said “The fear of the Lord THAT is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding".  Now, He is not speaking of a basic understanding….as in “oh, yes…I understand”.  I believe this is talking about a deep, spiritual agreement-an accord with one’s self, and God, to shun sinful, evil things.  God has given us a directive to respect the Lord and to shun evil.  By practicing this we put wisdom and understanding into motion.  God himself has appraised, confirmed and tested this theory so we can rest assured that its applications work.  For our own confirmation we can simply look at creation to know that God has a handle on “putting things into motion”.   

This particular scripture also says that Death and Destruction have only heard rumors of wisdom and understanding.  Why do you think that is?  Could it be that two very practical God-given instruments, wisdom and understanding, are of no use to Death and Destruction?  Living here on earth we know that to be the case. The bible has capitalized Death and Destruction for surely they are nouns.  I believe that in this scripture these two words are proper names for serious forces at work in this world.  These two forces are the very things that bring us to the end of ourselves. 

 Romans 6:23 says 

“The wages of sin is death

 but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, Our Lord”. 

The crux of our Christian belief is that this earth and it’s people are in bondage to sin and death is the only way out.  Thankfully, as believers, we have been given a gift that saves us from the decay of this world, eternal life. 

 Romans 8: 20-22 states: 

“For creation was subjected to frustration,

 not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, 

in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay 

and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth

 right up to the present time.” 

All we need to do is turn on the news and we have evidence of this fact.  The bible says in Proverbs 27: 20 “Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.”  All we have to do is look at our burdened society to know that this is true.  Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 1:8 “All things are wearisome, more than one can say.  The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear it’s fill of hearing.” All we have to do is look at our TV options to know that this is true.  When the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables He replied in Matthew 13:13 

“This is why I speak to them in parables:

 “Though seeing, they do not see; 

though hearing, they do not hear or understand,…”

 (It seems that even in Jesus’ day people were falling prey to this same issue.)

 OK, what are these scriptures saying?  Many things!  The noise of this world…the blurring of understanding…the weariness on monotony, the acceptance of sin …it blinds our eyes and dulls our hearing to the point that all things become acceptable and nothing is satiable.  Ever so slowly time changes what we see as valuable and our minds are no longer sensitive to the sight and sound of sin.  If we don’t practice seeking heavenly wisdom and godly understanding we lose two of our senses that connect us to God…our hearing and our seeing.   We begin see and hear as the world sees and hears. 

To live on this earth we must seek wisdom and understanding from the heavenly… and to do that we must differentiate what is valuable on earth from what is valuable in heaven.   This world is filled with meaningless, sinful things, and if we’re not careful with our associations, our mouths will be full of idol words… and our hearts will beat for the attainment of the temporary.   Our society has taught and groomed us to search out, go for, and literally build our life-long ambitions on worldly attainment.  We can become very weary, very fast living our lives within the wrong context and/or believing in the wrong value-system.

Do you feel weary?  In what have you placed your faith?  When you closely align yourself with this sinful world you will not sharply hear nor clearly see wisdom… nor fully understand righteousness (that which is right).   When you search this world for happiness and fulfillment you will never find it -for your spirit knows the difference.   Your eyes can scan the horizon for the next fun-filled adventure…and your ears can listen intently for the next opportunity for success…but until you give up the illusion that happiness is within arm’s reach…you’ll never understand wisdom nor face the truth that happiness and godliness are intangibly within.

Matthew 6: 19-21 says:  

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moth and rust do not destroy, 

and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

This scripture is encouraging us to value things that are worthy of heaven-those things God treasures-namely character and integrity; friendship and love; honesty and devotion; generosity and compassion; wisdom and understanding.

 Only when we open our hearts and minds to the pursuit of God will we find any level of satisfaction as we live our life on earth.  Happiness is not about the tangible but the intangible; it is not about the physical but the spiritual- for earthly treasures will never fulfill us. If we’re honest with ourselves we know this to be true.   With this said, let’s set our eyes, hearts, and ambitions on a different value system.  Scripture says:  “Come out and be separate”….for we have nothing in common with this evil world."  "Pursue God and He will be found by you"…."Draw close to God and He will draw close to you."  Seek wisdom and understanding from their true source, God. Commitment is key…belief is crucial…differentiation mandatory!

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth
 to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
  II Chronicles 16:9

May your daily strength be found in God!

RvH

Song Recommendation:

Here With Me

by:  MercyME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74CNUExD4I8

 

God is in the Shadows! Page 7

Psalm 91: 1 ”He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

We’ve previously learned how to see God in nature, we’ve learned that God works in our lives even when we cannot see or sense it….and today we will learn that God is there…in the shadows of our lives… as we walk the unknown path darkened with our burdens and concerns.

Today is overcast and dreary, the sky is dark,  and the wind is blowing.  This is how we feel at times when the path of life takes us into the shadows; into the unknown places where the answers to our earthly problems seem hidden; where courage is necessary and  avoiding what is ahead is not an option.  Not long ago I found myself sitting in such a place…. with not one or two stuggles burdening me…but three or four.  I'm sure in your busy life you can relate.  In our modern world…we juggle, we struggle…we try, we strive ….yet even with these efforts the winds of change blow in and cast these shadows…these trials  -for such is the nature of this earthly life. 

Like the breath of life that ebbs and flows, the shadows of life will come and go….and dim the light around us…. just as billowing clouds on an overcast day cast a temporary shadow where we stand.  Within the shadows of life we can attain “a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character.”   Finding this discipline is necessary  as we walk through life.  Just “like the fierce winds that calls the might cedars on the mountainside to sink their roots more deeply into the soil”1…. we are called to be deeply rooted in faith and in doing so enable ourselves to endure the darkness that overtakes us as the ever-changing winds  blow. 

Faithfully, we look deep within and find our courage- for it will take us where we must go...and that is forward. As we walk into these mandatory shadows with all the faith and courage we can muster , deep growth takes place; we become rooted, surrendered,  into God’s plan and not even fierce winds will move us because we are prepared for what is ahead-and faith in the Almighty makes this so!  My friend, we must “stop interfering with God’s plans and with His will.  Touching anything of His mars the work.  Moving the hands of a clock to suit you does not change the time.” 2

Not too long ago I faced a “shadow-land”, where loneliness loomed,  I prayed and God answered:

“(I) still have secrets-hidden from “the wise and learned” (Luke 10:21).  Do not fear these unknown things, but be content to accept the things you cannot understand and to wait patiently; in due time (I) will reveal the treasures of the unknown to you-the riches of the glory of the mystery.  Recognize that the mystery is simply the veil covering (my) face.  Do not be afraid to enter the cloud descending on your life, for (I) am in it and the other side is radiant with (my) glory.  “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ” (I Peter 4: 12-13).  When you feel the most forsaken and lonely, (I)  am near.  (I am) in the darkest cloud.  Forge ahead into the darkness without flinching; knowing that under the shelter of the cloud, (I am) waiting for you”3 with the richness of forgiveness, a depth of courage and a vastness of love that will sustain you till the shadow of life has subsided and my light is warming you again.

A Brief Summary:

·         In time God will unveil everything and we will understand our problems and understand the mystery of life itself.

·         Do not be afraid to enter the cloud descending on your life -those issues you struggle with in this world-for God is in them!

·         Do not be surprised at your trials as if something strange (or undeserving) is happening to you. Understand that on this earth Christ suffered and so will we.

·         When you feel the most forsaken and lonely—God is near!

·         Go forward through your pain without flinching (with great courage) knowing that under the shelter of the Cloud God is waiting for you.

Proverbs 25: 2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of Kings”. 

God is mysterious but just like the wind that blows through the cedars, we can feel this power and wisely attribute it to something real but invisible-for it is.

Scriptural tie-in:

The Mystery:  "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:  He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory"  I Timothy 3:16

Answer:  Jesus Christ.


Dedicated to Cheryl-who is in the Shadowland for now!

Footnotes:

 1 Streams in the Desert
2   Streams in the Desert (March 30^th)
3 Streams in the Desert (March 14^th)

God is There...Even in Silence! Page 6

 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great
and unsearchable things you do not know”. 
Jeremiah 33:3

 One morning, not long ago, I sat in my daughter’s room waiting for her to get dressed for school.  I prayed and asked God to hold onto me because my faith was floundering.  My husband and I had just closed a business and were facing a difficult road ahead.   I felt emotionally weak and uncertain about many things.  I asked that God  hear my prayers- and show me the way.   I needed some guidance-a specific direction…. I needed to hear from Him…yet more than all of this…I needed to know that God was still there, in the middle of our losses.   This day…I needed God to literally tell me the unsearchable things I did not know.  My heart wearily cried out for answers.  We’ve all been there, haven’t we?

When seeking God we have to listen for His voice using scripture and insight; this is called discernment.  When we feel that God is silent and life is difficult—it’s easy to drop into uncertainty…or hopelessness.  Either way, this place can feel deathly quiet.  In this heavy stillness we don’t sense God…there seems to be no connection with Him.  It’s just too quiet.  Here’s the truth of it:  God works in the spiritual realm…and this is not something that we can always sense.  When quietness engulfs us…faith will sustain us.    In the book of Revelation scripture tells us that in God’s Throne Room there are mighty sounds such as rushing waters and peals of thunder.  These sounds are real-yet we do not hear them.  There is a barrier beyond our senses and these heavenly sounds. 

To continue my story…I prayed that morning….and I asked God to draw close to me.  I took just a few moments in spiritual quietness to call out to God.  I asked Him to speak to me through my Daily Devotional in my favorite book Streams in the Desert.  The date was December 7^th.  I went and read it after the kids left for school and a profound revelation washed over me.   The AMAZING lesson for that day was this:  “Don’t look for some outward sign or some visual manifestation of God’s promises being fulfilled”.  God works quietly, even silently, in the unseen realm.  Miraculous healing or some extraordinary deliverance can be accomplished with great victory-in absolute silence”.   Amazing!!!  Ok, it bears repeating….”Amazing”!

Did you see what happened???   On that day- I sat in silence- wondering  if God was indeed aware of my needs.   My faith knew that he was…but my heart and my spirit were quiet.  I didn't see any evidence that my problems were being resolved...and I didn't sense God anywhere near me.   I asked God to reach out to me…I needed some reassurance.   I called out to Him and He quickly answered me using a book written many, many years ago.  God went straight to the point…He reached across those pages and reminded me that silent does not mean absent, that He fulfills His promises…and that we should expect the unexpected.   There are victorious events accomplished in silence… out of earshot…out of eye-sight. 

The answer to my problems seemed unsearchable.  I had no idea how or when these issues would be resolved.   I was indeed looking for an outward sign but God’s voice, on those black and white pages, said to look with Spiritual eyes into the realm of the unseen…. that I did not need an outward sign to be confident that my God was taking care of His own.  His voice said “have faith”, “stand firm”, “wait”.   I was reminded of that fact that God is working...even when we don't feel or see it.   He brought my attention to the unsearchable, undisputable fact….that He is there even when He is silent-when our hearts simply cannot feel his presence.  Could His profound answer to me that day have been any more gracious?

 Do we remember to stand firm in our faith and to draw close to God when our hearts are quiet with an emptiness that tugs at us…or do we assume that God is not there…. or that, perhaps we’ve done something wrong,  let down our guard, dropped our shield of faith, that we’ve walked away from Him, or perhaps that we’re undeserving or even unworthy to be in contact with God…. Or that maybe He’s moved away from us?  Please know that  God is ever-present…and is always with us even when He seems silent.  With our eyes, our ears and our hearts… searching for and finding God is as simple as sincerely whispering the word “Lord”.      See James 4: 7-10

Our Life Lesson:    Huge events take place in the spiritual realm unbeknownst to us.  Believe that!  Just because we don’t see, hear or sense God does not mean that He is not there!  God’s voice can be heard just as boldly as nature’s voice, as it silently pours forth speech.   Do you see or hear the mighty force of gravity as earth orbits the sun?  This happens beyond the realm of our hearing...but it happens none the less.   This same extraordinary power is available to us through prayer.  The God that commands the universe hears our prayers.  We simply utter the words and “all of heaven comes to attention to fulfill God’s promises”1    We have access to God’s power and love….and with the igniting of our faith God can bring extraordinary deliverance, in absolute silence.   We must simply PRAY and BELIEVE!

Song Recommendation:

Oh My Soul

By:  Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNZf878ISQ

1-Joel Osteen

Book Recommendation:  Streams in the Desert  By:  L.B. Cowman

God's Silent Appeal! Page 5

On page 4 we referenced scripture that states that God is the creator of heaven and earth.  We read scripture that reveals God’s intimate knowledge of His creation and His managerial style regarding its working order.  We also talked about having a “sense” of His presence and the opportunity  to acknowledge God for what and who He is.  Let’s look a little bit more into what scripture says about Nature and it’s revelation of God…

Over the years I’ve had many opportunities to see vast, vast sunrises and sunsets in the Texas sky.  As an airline employee I’ve been subjected to many an early sign-in at the DFW International Airport.  This particular airport sits on a wide-open range of land and the eastern sky is there for the viewing.  I’ve watched the darkness of night slowly fade and the sun gloriously rise on many occasions…and had to admit that getting up before the sun was worth it after all. 

All of us at some point have probably had the pleasure of watching the sunrise. This is a natural daily occurrence; yet even still, it is a breath-taking and awe-inspiring experience.  As sunlight floods over the land, colors paint the sky with unimaginable ease and a new day presents itself in all this majesty. Every morning creation speaks volumes as our massive sun silently rises… and every evening our creator provides an encore as the sun sets—sending rays of light into the stratosphere creating a palette of colors on the edge of western sky.  The sun slowly slips off the horizon as a blanket of stars rise over-head in silent applause!

Scripture says in Psalm 19: 1-4
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
 the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”

Have you ever heard an inspiring speech?  Did your senses come alive as the words poured over you with such knowledge and understanding that your heart just soared and you possibly rose to your feet in applause?  Our sun gives a daily speech that is so inspiring that in transcends language.  This speech is so powerful that words travel to the ends of the world; this voice goes out into all the earth!  This scripture is basically saying that God has a voice-the silent voice of Creation.   The heavens are the representative of the Creator of the Universe-Almighty God!  Nature is one very distinct way to hear God speak; this voice is visual and sensory!  He can and will speak to us in various other ways as well.   If we’re keen enough to listen… we can be sure that His words will appeal to us specifically, speak to the truth of our situation AND reveal His trust-worthy character—just as the sunrise gloriously reveals  God’s workmanship in the dawn of a new day!  While this earth still spins we can trust that the sun will rise and set daily…and we can trust the character of the One that makes this so.  Allow the nature of God to speak to you today.  Take the opportunity to silently observe the sun set or the moon rise; the snow fall or the rain shower; the stars shine or clouds billow.  Listen to Creation’s daily speech as it silently sends this message to the ends of the earth:  “Glory to God”.

God’s silent Appeal:   As you quietly observe nature, you will feel a stirring inside of you.  This is no accident and it is not ironic.  You are meant to sense this.  God wants you to know Him.  His speech is silent…but He speaks.  May we have enough faith and curiosity to listen.

Must Do:  To listen to a Powerfully inspiring speech please go to the link below and listen to:  That's My King.  Do Not miss this opportunity to have words of knowledge and wisdom pour over you. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE


Many Blessings!

Seeing God! Page 4

Have you ever sat alone on the ocean shore-listening to the soothing breath of the waves?  The waters inhale and momentarily exhale.  Inhale…then exhale.  It’s as if the ocean’s ebb and flow is the breath of Earth itself.  The inhale and exhale of the tides can quiet our minds in such as way that peace flows through us and mentally alters us.  Our worries fade; our soul becomes quiet and acutely aware.  Our minds admit that something larger is present…and it is.  The vastness of the ocean diminishes our size in such a way that it suctions us to the sand we’re sitting on.  All of the sudden we feel the gravity of our own presence and…. possibly something else. 

 We may be observing the artistry of the sun dawning in all its glory…or watching our surreal moon rise in perfect form sending a path of light across the water.  No matter what time of day or night -when we’re at the ocean something speaks to our senses…and we attribute it to the presence of this vast body of water and the pull it seems to have on us.  Let’s give this presence another name; through nature let me to introduce you to the Living God.

In the book of Job God speaks and reveals His deep understanding of the working order of His physical creation-Earth- and therefore reveals His mind and character.  This amazing revelation is a must-read and can found in Job chapters 38-42.  Here are God’s words from  Job 38: 4-11

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me, if you understand. 
Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know!
  Who stretched a measuring line across it?
 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-
while the morning stars sang together
 and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’." 

 In Genesis 1:1 God says He created the Heavens and the earth.  Let’s take Him at His word.  Let’s admit that our world, its skies and seas have a working order that did not come from chaos but was designed by THE architect of heaven and earth who is both the creator and the original artist.  He is the 1^st scientist and the creator of science; the one who laid the cornerstones of earth and told the seas they could come no further;  the master-mind of our universe and all that is beyond even that. The  living and breathing God. 

If we quiet our doubting hearts enough we can feel Him. If we lift our eyes to the heavens we can see him.  If we listen to the waves inhale and exhale we can sense Him- the very presence  of  God -as He breathes life into our exhausted souls.  It’s so easy to take in the sights and sounds of our natural surroundings and say out loud… “I believe in God”.    Take the opportunity to acknowledge that presence in your soul that whispers “I am who I am”.   Let nature and the natural order of His creation be the gateway to knowing and understanding God -who is not physically visible… but is.

Reference tool:  Do you want to literally see God.  Then I highly recommend you view the video entitled Indescrible By Louie Giglio (available on Youtube/link below).  It will expand your mind as you watch and learn amazing things about our universe and its amazing creator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQTy2dIsgcM

May you be blessed beyond your wildest imagination!

Song Recommendation:

Indescribable
BY:  Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmA9fPEpe4