Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
What was it like, before He created the earth and all that is in it? God has no beginning and no end. We are unable to understand how this is possible, as finite beings. We have a beginning and an end. The earth itself has a beginning and will have an end as well, but God Himself has no beginning or end.
Sometimes when I read the Bible, I try to visualize how it might have been at that time. Try to imagine what it was like before creation, when only God existed. I also wonder what creation could have looked like as God spoke all into existence. Take a minute, close your eyes and try to envision before and after creation. He created the heavens and the earth. Things only begin for us in Genesis 1: 1-2.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” NKJV
If you ever want to see nature, in its innate raw beauty, Alaska is a place you should consider going. On a cruise along the Inside Passageway, you see the landscape in all its natural form. Early one morning, looking at the mountains and water, in this photo, I thought about creation. Could it have looked something like this? Genesis 1:10 came alive to me, prayerfully this picture, along with God’s word will speak to you also. We truly have an awesome God.
Genesis 1:10 “And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” NKJV
His creation was beautiful in the beginning and still
is today. His word and promises, to us
continue.
On an Alaskan cruise, out in the Pacific Ocean, I enjoyed a miraculous sight. The sun was setting, closing the day, while the moon was rising, beginning the night watch. My thoughts went to Genesis 1:1 NKJV,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
As we read further into the story of creation, I realized the truth of this account as I gazed upon the sky. In Genesis 1:16 NKJV we read,
“Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.”
Simply put, I was in awe and wonder of our God, who did this in the beginning, and faithfully continues to do this daily. How can we think that there is no proof God exists? Everywhere we look; we see that He is real, His creation and His word reveal this to us continually; they coincide. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, this truly is the word of God.
“From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3 NKJV
“Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!” Psalm 148:3 NKJV
On a recent visit to our hometown, my husband and I took a walk. Along the path we came upon several sections of the sidewalk with interesting engravings. One inscription said, “Jesus Saves.” Another section said, “Jesus is Lord.” How uplifting this was to us! Even on a simple walk we were reminded of the glory of Jesus.
As I look at nature to see God’s word come alive, I also see this in the things of the world. It is always there no matter where you go or what you see, whether in the heavens above, or on the earth below, there is always the reminder, Jesus Is Lord!
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
The setting of this photo draws you in. It brings a feeling of coziness, glowing warmth, and peaceful comfort. The lamp Illustrates the glow of His love and light flowing to us; fully enveloping us, illuminating the words of Psalm 119:105, NKJV.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
God is like this! He is our light, hope, comforter, teacher, strength, shield, protector, and much more. In everything we do, He longingly, reaches out to us, ever so gently bidding us to come to Him. In His word we read the following:
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
NKJV
“Come to me, all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
NKJV
“Jesus said to them, ‘Come away with me.
Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.’” Mark 6:31 NKJV
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That
I might not sin against You.” Psalm
119:11 NKJV
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 NKJV
Take a break, sit a while, learn of Him, let his word and His spirit fill you. Feel His love and light surround you. Let Him be the lamp to your feet. God Bless!
One of my favorite areas to walk is by The Saint Lawrence River. I am constantly inspired by the Master’s design of His creation around this river. The beautiful scenes of nature can be enjoyed anytime of the day, what a delight this is. I never know what to expect. Along this walkway, there are many types of birds; Black Hawks, Ospreys, Canadian Geese, and Robins to name a few. You can find some of these birds perching in the trees. The geese strut along the path; the robins sing, but the black hawks and the ospreys are flying, gliding and soaring above. They move with such graceful ease; spreading their wings appearing to float on the air. It seems they don’t have a care in the world. Although the birds in this picture are not eagles, they do give us insight about the meaning of Isaiah 40:31.
” But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” NKJV
God is telling us to wait upon Him, He will renew our strength. He will enable us to mount up, spread our wings like eagles, to fly. His strength will enable us to run and not get weary; to walk and not faint. The key is, Hewilldoit. He doesn’t want us stressing about every little thing. If you are in a hard time, a struggle or a waiting period, listen to what God is saying. Stand on His word, which is his promise to us, if He cares for the birds, how much more for you? Rest, wait, trust, mount up, glide and soar! He will renew your strength!
One Summer evening, after a cleansing rain, my husband
and I were on our way to the store. We
saw a rainbow in the sky. I had to get the picture. I was working very fast, as the rainbow was
fading as quickly as it had appeared. I
was focusing on the rainbow when I realized that the moon was in the sky as
well. It was a stunning image to behold!
I was astounded at the profound sight before me. You might be wondering why I would say it was
a profound sight. Let us look at the
following Scriptures:
Genesis 1:16-18 (NIV)
“God
made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light
to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the
sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to
separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
Psalm 89:37 (NKJV)
“It shall be established forever like
the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky”
Genesis
9:13-16 (NIV)
“I
have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant
between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the
rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you
and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a
flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will
see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living
creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Considering these verses, think about how, in the days
of Noah, God sent the rain of judgment on the earth. While it was a rain of judgment, it brought
about a cleansing of the Earth. The healing,
cleansing rain, came along with a glorious rainbow and promise. God said He
would never again flood the whole earth and destroy all life. God is still sending rainbows today, reminding
us of His unfailing promise and love.
He created the moon for the “Nightlight” watching over
us, guiding us through the dark. The
moon has it’s nightly “Reign.” God is
still sending the moon every night, faithfully.
The clouds and darkness may hide it from our eyes at times, but it is
still there. This comes from the Creator,
who is faithful and true to His living word.
Finally, through His creation and word, how can we not believe in our
Heavenly Father? To God be the glory. We
thank you for your everlasting covenant.
This is PROFOUND!
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name . . . just looking up into the painting God has placed in the sky above assures me that God, our creator, is there! He is allowing a little glimpse of His majesty to shine forth. God wants us to know Him and be aware of His presence all around, we see it in all things. Romans 1:20 NKJV is a comfort to us:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
Remember God tells us, in His living word, in Genesis 1:1 NKJV, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” We see that His word proclaims the creation to be true. This should be a great assurance for us to grasp. Feeling down, unsure and alone, meditate on His words, and behold His glory in all you see. He is there!
“And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3 NKJV
Now gaze into the skies and see His handiwork.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1 NKJV
A lighthouse is known for the light it sends out. The light guides and directs the ships on their way, warning of danger and keeping them safe. I could have used the scripture in John 8:12 NKJV, “I am the light of the world.” However, when I look at this picture many other scriptures come to mind. Psalm 1:3 NKJV, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Psalm 18:2 NKJV, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” These are just a few of the multitude of scriptures that could have been used. I chose Psalm 121:5 NKJV, “The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.” Looking at this picture, I see the rocks, signifying Jesus our rock and strength. The tree is firmly planted by the river of water, and the lighthouse portrays Jesus, our keeper, standing strong in the background. Even though we don’t always sense the presence of God in our daily walk, He is steadfast, like a beacon. He is watching over us, warning, guiding and directing our steps in this earthly life. The Lord is keeping us safely on the right pathway. Open your hearts and let Him keep you.
On a recent trip to Lake Placid, NY my husband, and I were blessed to have a hotel room with an amazing view. Every morning God painted a different design for us to enjoy. Each design was more stunning than the one before. The scripture that came to mind was “His mercies are new every morning.” It was so awesome to see God’s word come alive in His creation. It is The Living Word! I look for God and His truth in all things. Reflecting on how he gives us a new day, start, and another chance, is a special reminder of God’s faithfulness. Truly, he loves us and is merciful to us. Creation’s beauty offers you entrance into God’s mercies day to day. Take His fresh mercies every day and soar.
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