God Reaching Out

"....If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred.  We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our starved imagination to visualize it...."Taken from Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest.

"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things..." (Isaiah 40:26)

Muddy Waters

As I looked at these pictures from our adventure last weekend I realized how true it is to keep our eyes lifted up to the hills and not look at the muddy water around us.  As you see in some of these pictures there were markers or buoys to guide us on the trip...that is until we got so far!  We knew where we were headed but not sure how to get there.  We had the choice to turn around to the certainty of the buoys or keep our eyes on the distant hills and keep going.  We were never in danger, but felt uncertain if we would find the opening to the next channel.  It had recently rained 5" in a short time, thus causing muddy water, and the cold wind was blowing up waves.  Thankfully we had a depth finder because we soon realized we were in 2 feet of water. With the help of a few great friends we kept cautiously looking ahead and not behind.  We finally saw the marker we needed and were again on course...seeing more of God's beauty around us.

Psalm 121:1-2  "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth."

Hebrew 12:2  ..."fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and protector of our faith"....

His Beauty

Worship Me in the beauty of holiness.  I created beauty to declare the existence of My holy Being.  A magnificent rose, a hauntingly glorious sunset, oceanic splendor---all these things were meant to proclaim My Presence in the world.  Most people rush past these proclamations without giving them a second thought. Some people use beauty, especially feminine loveliness, to sell their products.

How precious are My children who are awed by nature's beauty; this opens them up to My holy Presence. Even before you knew Me personally, you responded to My creation with wonder.  This is a gift, and it carries responsibility with it.  Declare My glorious Being to the world.  The whole earth is full of My radiant beauty---My Glory! 

Psalm 29:2   Isaiah 6:3

Taken from "Jesus Calling"...July 30

Constant Grace

       

    



                                                                    "Never Once"

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Matt Redman Lyrics