As I entered into Your Presence this morning, Lord — consciously, deliberately, joyfully, expectantly — You immediately brought a song to my mind: “How Great Thou Art.”
So I played it.
“When I, in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made… I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder… Thy power throughout the Universe displayed.”
What a great way to begin this day, Lord — In Awesome Wonder! But You wanted me to do more than just think about it… You wanted me to experience it. So, You “popped” a familiar verse into my mind, to open my eyes… so I would see.
“… what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)
I looked outside our window to see a dense forest of trees. Trees that stand tall — steadfast — through every storm. Trees that provide shelter and shade in hot Summers. Colorful displays of beauty in brisk Falls. Stately testimonies of Hope — the promise of survival — through the bleakest of winters. Explosive growth in rain-drenched Springs.
Just like You.
The power of Your Living Water, bringing Abundant Life from both real and apparent death. Soil made fertile. From Seed to Sprout. Birth to Growth. Maturity to Aging. Decay to Death… and Resurrection. A purpose for every season. Nothing wasted. Nothing hidden from Your view. Nothing beyond Your Touch.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to judge every deed.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1,17c)
Last night, I looked up. And in the thick darkness of our remote country sky, I saw stars like countless grains of sand sprinkled on black velvet.
This morning, You reminded me of the “sign” You hung in the vastness of the Universe. The sign testifying to how truly GREAT You are, as the Maker and Master of that Universe. The sign You hung countless millenia ago, that we “discovered” only recently… through the Hubble telescope. The sign You hung in a black hole at the center of the Whirlpool Galaxy 20 million light years away from us.
The sign of Your Cross!!! (Google Images – cross seen by Hubble telescope)
The clear, unmistakable image of Your Cross, Lord… in a black hole 120 “quintillion” miles away from Earth! That’s 120 plus 18 zeroes! Mind-boggling!
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
You reminded me, also, that You are a mighty God — The Almighty God — who reveals Yourself even in the tiniest of places. Like within every cell in the human body.
You built this “tiny testimony” into human cells when You first created us millenia ago. But we first saw this sign in recent years, thanks to the invention of the super-magnifying electron microscope.
Laminin. The cell adhesion molecule — the “glue” — that literally holds us together.
In the shape of Your Cross!!! (Google Images – Laminin)
“The Son is the image of the invisible God… For in Him, all things were created… through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
Oh, yes, Lord… How Great You Are!!!
Awestruck,
Abba’s Girl
p.s. “Positively Sensational!” We drove to Warrenton today, about an hour away, to have lunch with nearby relatives. They picked out a restaurant that was new to all of us: The Black Bear Bistro.
On our way there, we crested a hill along the two-lane country road… and saw a HUGE BLACK BEAR about twenty feet off the highway to our right!!! He froze when he saw us, with one paw raised… so much so, at first we thought he was a statue placed there to thrill those passing by. But I turned to watch him… and HE MOVED! “He’s real! He’s real!” I shoulted. At which time, he turned 180 and bolted back into the woods.
How fitting, Lord!!! This new-to-us spotting of a black bear as we made our way to this new-to-us restaurant called the Black Bear Bistro. AWESOME WONDER, INDEED!!! 🙂