The Kingdom of God: All Consuming

I was reminded and convicted in Sunday's sermon that Paul's missionary journeys were all consuming kingdom work.  Rarely did he sit back, relax, and take in the view.  Neither did he leave the work for other's to do.

So I thought, am I living my life as all consuming kingdom work?  Although I may not be serving in Africa or China, I have been given my missionary field right here in my home and local community.

Lord, give me new eyes to see that the work of my hands and feet every day should be in honor of your Kingdom.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men.

Colossians 3:23

Can a Modern Woman Practice Spiritual Disciplines?

dis·ci·pline

 /ˈdɪsəplɪn/ Show Spelled [dis-uh-plin]

1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.

 

Discipline is a scary word.  Just looking at some of the words in the definition can send us running!  Let's face it, no one wants to willingly place themselves in the way of "punishment inflicted by way of correction and training".  It does sound like something that should be stuck in the stone ages.

 

Is this what's involved in exercising the Spiritual Disciplines?  Have we come to expect punishment from God if we aren't following the rules, participating in bible study or having consistent quiet times?

 

Want the honest truth?  I've avoided studying the disciplines for that very reason.  I was afraid it was one more item on a "to-do" list with God that I just couldn't do.  So if I didn't study them, I could claim ignorance, right?  I'm sure you know the answer to that question!

So I finally(and by finally I mean years later) found a book that would walk me through the disciplines and give me a better understanding of the entire idea:  Intimate Faith. A Woman's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines by Jan Winebrenner. 

 

I had no idea how wrong I was about the subject!

 

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{Will you come back tomorrow as I share with you all that I have learned?  I hope to see you then!}

 

Surrender? How Do I Do That?

 We need to be totally honest with each other.  Are any of us really good at surrender?  I mean, take a look at this definition:

1) to give into the hands of another

2) to give over into (one's) power or use

     a) to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage

Truth be told, few of us could surrender our cell phones, let alone our lives to Christ.  But yet to be an obedient Christ follower, that is what we are asked to do - open our hands and give our lives to Jesus.  That doesn't just mean saying yes to accept Him, but allowing Him to be in the driver's seat.

God has an intricate plan for our lives and He holds the road map to our destination, HIS destination for us.  My problem is that I want to see the road map!  I want to see where I am going at every turn, every rest stop, every detour.  But surrender costs us deep, abiding faith in God's plan for us.

If you're like me, you've had several detours in your life already.  It's those "how did this happen", "where did this come from", "how could I have missed this" moments that stop you in your tracks.  Life takes an abrupt turn and you end up at an unknown and unfamiliar destination.  For me that was the death of my Dad when I was 20 years old.  That detour sent me to a dead end--a divorce nine years later.

Would I have chosen these destinations on my life's map?  Nope.  But somehow, in God's grace, He has used these twists and turns to bring me back to Him every time.  If I surrender, staying close to my Shepherd, His voice will lead me.  If I don't, sin and disobedience will chase me.

Surrender is blind faith.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

But God sees all, and knows all, and holds me in the palm of His hand.  Truthfully, there is no place else I'd rather be!

Do You Ever Feel "Out of Order"?

Do you ever feel like hanging this sign around your neck and calling it a day?

I mean, I've gotten used to those days that I just don't feel like doing much, and I do have more of those than I would care to admit!  But recently it was something different....something deeper.

Being constantly aware with my ongoing fight against depression, I tend to have a more critical eye when it comes to analyzing what I am feeling.  I've experienced it enough times to be hyper-critical as to not miss the signs of an onset.  That wasn't it.

As I worked through my thoughts and feelings, I discovered I had a tape playing in my head, and it was on constant repeat:  "You're not good enough."  "You're doing it all wrong." "You're not doing enough."  I was under a constant barrage all day long.  No matter what task I was working on, the voice kept badgering me.

I finally identified the feeling that was different.  It was failure.

The voice was right.  I'm lousy at housekeeping, my husband is doing all the laundry, I couldn't put two thoughts together to write an interesting blog post, my kids need more spiritual guidance, I am not praying enough, God wants more from me, my kids need more discipline and structure, our finances are a mess and I'm never going to be able to change, my husband wants more intimacy, I need to volunteer more at church, the dog needs more attention
......................press repeat...........................

OUT OF ORDER!

Have you been there?  Has there been a voice inside your head grow louder and louder until you can no longer hear the true voice of God?  Because God doesn't cast shame or guilt upon us.  Do you need to read that last sentence again?  God's voice whispers words of love, acceptance and encouragement.  Perhaps today we need to sit still in the quiet for just a few moments and ask God to push STOP on that tape of lies that is running through our heads.

All of those character flaws written above that I struggle with may still be there, and through God's strength I will continue to work to conquer them, but they DO NOT define me as a failure.  As the tape continued to play through my mind, the lies got bolder and louder.  But as I take time to analyze the recording, I see that through the grace of God, each and every day, the blessings around me abound.  My husband loves serving me, my girls are beautiful and healthy, we all love the Lord, and the dog is fine.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10

A Strong Opinion About Rob Bell's Message

I'm not always up on all the news and latest and greatest out there in the world.  I prefer to remain optimistic and I tire easily of the constant coverage of bad news. That means I may be slow here in responding to the recent controversy surrounding pastor and author Rob Bell.

I must confess I just went out to Youtube to find the controversial video recently produced by Rob Bell introducing his new book about hell.  Can I tell you that I am deeply disturbed and irritated with what I just watched?

From what I can tell he is proclaiming that there is no hell.  He is insinuating that because God is a loving God, that he would not condemn people to hell.  Rob Bell couldn't be more wrong.

No one can take what they like about scripture and leave what they don't like.  Scripture is clear, and over and over again Jesus himself talks about hell, and that the only way to God is through him.  God is love, but He is also just.  We see countless examples in the Old Testament of God exacting His justice on many who were disobedient.  Those who did not obey the commands of the Lord were put to death.

"So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded." Joshua 10:40

If what Rob Bell suggests were true, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die.  If God didn't demand payment for our sins as our way into heaven, then Jesus didn't need to die for us.

"For the wages of sin is death, 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Romans 6:23

The word "hell" is mentioned 14 times in the New Testament, and many of those were spoken by Jesus himself.  Was Jesus just making that up?  Why would he mention a place that wasn't real?

I invite you to study the scriptures for yourself.  It is very clear.  You don't need to be a scholar to understand it.

• Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
• "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:33
• But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5
• Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.Mark 16:16
• Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36
• If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

Many are called and gifted by God to spread His message of salvation in and through the church.  But when someone suddenly goes in the wrong direction, don't follow.  Investigate.  Ask questions.  Pray.  Read your Bible.  Study.

All Scripture is God-breathed and truth.  Not just part of it.... ALL OF IT.

This is the Way, Walk in it

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, 

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 

"This is the way; walk in it." 

Isaiah 30:21

It is an amazing and scary time when you see your children transforming right before your eyes.  It can be exciting when you see them making good choices, thinking through decisions, and being responsible.  But nothing will make you fall on your knees quicker than watching children choosing wrong friends and wrong actions.  

There seems to be a pinnacle of time when suddenly parent's voices are no longer the loudest in your child's life, but rather the voice of friends.  Amazingly, those voices, no matter how contrary to their upbringing, get through because of the fear of rejection and a strong desire to fit in with those around them.

This summer our family is concentrating on listening to the voice of God above all else.  We're needing to focus on strong relationships both with family and with God.  If we're not listening for God's voice, the world's voice gets louder and louder.  It doesn't take long before our decisions reflect the world's desires rather than God's.  But He promises to guide, counsel, and protect us when we turn our attention to Him and no one else.

If you are watching closely, you most certainly will see when your child is standing at a crossroad, deciding whether to go the world's way or God's way.  Don't miss this opportunity to guide them to the right path.

"This is what the LORD says: 

"Stand at the crossroads and look; 

ask for the ancient paths, 

ask where the good way is, 

and walk in it, 

and you will find rest for your souls."

Jeremiah 6:16

Changing My No to Yes

Summer has arrived, when the kids are staying up late, sleeping in, playing with friends, and swimming.  There are times they find plenty to do on their own, but then there are times when they need me to fill the gaps.  It takes a parent who says "yes" to make a summer successful.  Lately, I've been the "no" parent.  Sadly, it took my Husband pointing that out for me to realize it!  {ouch}

What makes a parent a "no-ist"?  For me?  Selfishness.  I'm usually in the middle of something when the question comes in, "Mom, can we ________________?"  Saying no is much easier than stopping what I'm doing to rearrange my day to accommodate their request.  When they are in school, I get very used to my own time, and when summer hits, it is sometimes hard to switch gears to be Mom full time.

Have you ever gotten caught in the rain, feeling frustrated that you left the umbrella in the car?  It's like that with God sometimes.  He has all the wisdom and answers that we need, but if we don't ask, we don't receive.  If we don't "put on" the protection and assurance of the Lord, it will just hang in our closet unused and useless, like that umbrella in the car.

So how do I become a "yes" Mom?  I lay it at the feet of the Lord each morning, asking Him to make me the best Mom I can be to my girls, providing each of them exactly what they need to feel loved and secure.  I ask for my wants to be put aside so I can care for my family first. 

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."  Psalms 33:18-19

My shield is useless in the closet!  I'm going to put on the shield of faith and go love on my kids! YES!!

Conquering our Finances with Financial Peace University

If you've been a reader of my blog for very long, I have confessed that I am horrible with money!  My Husband and I have struggled through this for years. Neither one of us ever cared to give budgeting the time and discipline needed to make it work, so we just didn't.  We've wasted a lot of money over the years in overdraft fees and finance charges simply because we weren't paying attention.

Recently some good friends of ours took a class at our church and said we absolutely needed to go.  We've been attending Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey for seven weeks now and I can't believe the change!  We certainly aren't making any more money than we had been before, but we are budgeting and using the cash envelope system.  My most surprising aspect of this whole thing is that I don't want to spend money out of my envelopes because I don't like them to be empty!  We've paid off a couple of small credit cards and are now working on some larger debt that I can't wait to get out from under.  It does require making some difficult choices at times, but I've never had the discipline before to be able to face the choices head on.  It is so nice to have a group keeping us accountable and helping us through every step of this process.

If you've ever looked for a financial system, I highly recommend this class.  Check out their website for information on where you can find the class near you.

My Quest to Capture the Beauty Maker

Aim. Click. Focus. Click. Adjust. Click. Zoom. Click.

"Any created thing of which I am amazed, it is the glimpse of His face to which I bow down.  Do I have eyes to see it's Him and not the thing?  ~Ann Voskamp

I am completely mesmerized by the ocean.  I live in an ocean of corn fields, not of water.  Some may find it crazy that I yearn for the ocean and will drive 20 hours to see it, walk in it, soak it in.  I cannot meet the ocean waves without quoting Job 38:8-11 in my head,

"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'?"

And therefore, I stand at the waves with their boundaries on the shore, totally in AWE of my God. 

His grandeur

His unlimitless size

His grace

His creativity

His forgiveness

His provision

His Beauty, He is Beauty

His love

I've realized my yearning for the ocean is my yearning for God.  The Beauty is God.  Ann says again, "Is the longing for the Beauty the happiest place of all?  Longing to gaze upon the Beauty of the Lord and to seek Him, the place where all the joy spills from."

With my camera, I shoot and shoot, trying to get that exact replica that I see with my eye to register on film.  It rarely happens, but I continue my quest to capture it.  This has become part of me.  It is a part that God created.  

Author Gary Thomas describes Sacred Pathways....paths we take to experience the presence of God.  God created me to be a Naturalist, to find him in nature, to see Him in his handiwork.  Through nature I worship God for who He is and what He has done for me.  It is here that I feel His closeness.

So I continue to focus, click, adjust, click, zoom, & click, always watching for the Beauty around me so I can worship the Beauty who created me.

~~~~~~~

I have two places where I post my photos, so if you care to share with me in my hunt for the Beauty Maker, click on over to my photo blog, Capturing Beautiful, or my Flickr account, which I just opened.

God May Have an Appointment Made For You

Last weekend at the Hearts at Home Conference I was so excited to get to meet this beautiful blog friend, Natalie from Mommy on Fire.  You'll get to learn more about her next Thursday, as she will be featured on the Inspiring Women Series.

I love that Hearts at Home ministers to the hearts of mothers.  The conference is one of my favorite times of the year, as I get to be a part of watching God work in the lives of so many moms.  Friday and Saturday I had volunteered to staff the prayer room.  This is a place that women can come and talk to some of our staff and have us pray for them.  Now I don't tell you about this to boast about praying for women.  I want to tell you about it because I am in awe of how God works!


Serving in this way has reminded me of so much that I need to keep in the forefront of my mind at all times.  We all carry baggage.  We all have life experiences that are ugly and hard. BUT WE NEED TO SHARE THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  II Corinthians 1:3-4

God knows these experiences are hard.  He knows it has nearly defeated you.  But He has also sent others near you that have lived through the same thing.  He wants them to be His arms, to wrap around you in comfort, His shoulder to cry on, His ear to hear your struggles.

You've probably noticed here on my blog that I am pretty much an open book.  I share a lot of things that have happened in my life, and by all means, many of them are pretty ugly.  But because I have shared, I have also been able to help others in the same situation.  God seems to somehow put us together.

This past weekend, God was an amazing conductor of circumstances.  Every.single.woman. I talked with and prayed for had a circumstance in their life that they were struggling with that I had dealt with at some point in my life.  

• a husband who had declared he didn't love her anymore
• struggles with hurtful words from family members
• adultery
• yearning to know God but not knowing how to find Him
• attending a husband's church that she didn't agree with
• depression
• marital counseling

Happenstance?  I don't think so!  I am humbled that God has used my ugly trials to be able to encourage others to fight through, to not give up!

My encouragement to you today:  share your experiences.  I know it isn't always easy.  But God never said it would be!  Someone needs to hear your story so that they have enough strength to keep going.  They need you.  Don't miss your God appointment!

Don't forget to check back here tomorrow for another installment of the Inspiring Women Series.  You won't want to miss meeting Penny.  Her story will amaze you!

When God Speaks

"If we do not keep our heart in love with Jesus,

our disobedience when God speaks
could affect the lives of others.

When God speaks it is always
out of the context of eternity.

We don't have to know all the implications

of what He is asking.  NOW is always the

acceptable time to respond

to the Lord."

~Henry Blackaby

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Don't forget tomorrow begins the Inspiring Women Series.  Write a post about someone inspiring in your life and link up here!

Finding Encouragement in the Light

"Blessed are those...who walk in the light of Your presence."

Psalm 89:15

I've always had a great affinity for the word "light" throughout the Bible.  I've searched the scriptures to find every mention of the word during some of the darkest times in my life.  As one who battles frequent bouts of depression, the word can take on significant meaning.  Depression is often described as a deep dark pit, so those who have suffered through it know that "light" is a lifeline to help.

Jesus is that lifeline.  And not just for depression, but for whatever situation you might find yourself in that feels dark, frustrating, or overwhelming.  Jesus is always waiting with his hand outstretched to pull you to safety.  The Bible promises hardship for all of us, but nowhere does it say that we must endure it alone.  In the first several verses of the book of John, Jesus is described as The Light, and again in 8:12 Jesus proclaims it himself saying,

"I am the light of the world.  

Whoever follows me 

will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life."

What a gift!  We are surrounded by darkness on every side in our society, but Jesus provides our hope.

If you are struggling, would you go to the concordance in your Bible and do a word search for the word "light" and read through those scriptures?  I hope that you will be as encouraged as I am each time I do it.  Then pray and ask God to infuse you with the light of Christ, let it permeate your soul.  Soak Him in, and rest in his assurances.

I love that each day as I walk past my fireplace, I am reminded of the Light of His Presence by this beautiful vase and candle holder.  It is one of my favorite pieces from Blessings Unlimited.

Have a blessed day walking in HIS light!

Eucharisteo-A New Word

If you spend much time out here in the blogosphere, I am sure you have heard all of the buzz about Ann Voskamp's new book One Thousand Gifts. (learn more about a book club here)  Well the buzz is all worth it, because it is ah-maze-ing.

But what I want to focus on today is a profound truth that I found for myself on page 15.  I want to quote it for you here so you can get the full focus of all that is hidden within this gem:

"From all of our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden Story.  Satan, he wanted more,  More power, more glory.  Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate.  And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden.  Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity:

  the sin of ingratitude.  

Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave.  Isn't that the catalyst of all my sins?  Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives.  We hunger for something more, something other."

I have struggled my entire life with always wanting "more".  This especially creates a problem when your income is limited, as I have lived, credit card debt can quickly get you into trouble.  I have never lived extravagantly, by any means, but the point is that I always wanted more than what God had already provided.

And He has provided me with more than I can count.  I've never been homeless.  I've never gone without anything that I need.  But I have lived the sin of ingratitude.  I am giddy.  Not because I am happy about my sin, but excited that I finally have the answer to my lifelong question of "why".  Why do I always want to go shopping?  Why do I buy things that I really don't need?  Why do I have the desire to canvas every garage sale and book sale?  My house is full, I need nothing, but yet I purchase more.

Yet as I buy more, I am never satisfied.  I can always find something else that I feel I need.  I have such relief in being able to identify this sickness.  It is as if I am a bottomless pit that can never be full.  That is the emptiness that Satan created when Eve reached out to take something that was not hers.  The one thing that God was not willing to give, surrounded by everything she could have possibly dreamed or imagined.  She was in paradise, but wanted more.

Does this sound like your life?  I hope that I am not the only one that will be touched so deeply by this message.  I have felt such a heavy weight off my shoulders this week as I have pondered this miraculous truth in my life.

Now that I have a greater realization of my battle, I can choose my weapons more carefully.  I can cut Satan off when he tempts me with the Sunday ads.  I can praise more deeply for all the gifts I have been given.  I can turn my attention to praise instead of supplication.  I will renew my journal of counting 1000 Gifts.  I will praise God for his Word that reminds me everyday that He has a purpose for me, and that His eternal plan has always been to return every believer to His full glory.

I implore you to read this book.  It will change you.  God will change you.

1. God's message through gifted writers
2. God's unfailing love
3. forgiveness through Jesus Christ
4. my Bible
5. sunshine

I'm contributing over at The ModSquad Blog today. We're talking about family unity.

New Focus for 2011

Over the last couple months of 2010 I knew my world needed to change in 2011.  Some really great things happened in 2010, especially my renewed closer walk with Jesus by establishing a new morning routine and devotion time.  But after that time in the morning, my days fell apart.  Very few days had a plan or a schedule, and therefore many things on my mental to-do list never got accomplished.  For the first time ever, I felt very disconnected, disorganized and scatterbrained!  Honestly....some days I am not sure if I got anything accomplished!

I've decided to choose a word for 2011 that will help me stay on track:  FOCUS

God:  I will focus more of my time on God's word by taking the Bible in 90 Days Challenge.  I began this challenge on Monday, which breaks down the bible into about 12 pages per day(about an hour) to be able to complete reading the entire bible in 90 days.  YES it is going to be a challenge for me.  But I felt God calling me to do this, and I know He will help me persevere.  I've been praying about it for several months.

I also want to focus more time turning my children's hearts toward God each and every day.  My husband and I were looking at past Christmas photos last night and were amazed at how much our children change each and every year.  Our time with them is growing short and I must concentrate on growing strong roots of faith in each of them.

Family:  I want to focus being more available to my husband and children.  This is going to mean that I put the laptop down during family hours of 3-10 pm.  This is also a hard one for me!  I love visiting with friends on Twitter and reading others' blogs, but it has interfered with family time when I have been distracted by a computer on my lap!  I have also found that I spend too much time online during the day and my household obligations are not getting done....like when no one can find any socks!

Time Management:   This is such a buzz catch phrase, but I am truly awful at it and must get better.  My days get away from me and I just don't seem to get much accomplished.  Hours can float past my as I read blogs or check emails or visit with friends on Twitter, and before I know it, the kids will be home in an hour and I haven't done anything!  I failed at creating a Household Planner, and that is on my to do list again for this year.  I need a schedule for the week that I can stick to and get things done!  I recently discovered some software that I hope is going to help me with this.  I will be trying it out and giving it a review, so stay tuned for more on that.

My mind is reeling with things that I would like to do better in 2011.  For now, I must make small goals to begin with and these are my first three.  They are big, but my God is BIGGER!

Are you making any changes for 2011?

The God Given Winter is Here

 

"You made both summer and winter."  

Psalm 74:17

Winter has officially arrived, complete with snow and 24 degree days.  not my favorite season 

Comfort was found in the words of Charles Spurgeon:

"How we prize the fire just now!  How pleasant its cheerful glow is! Let's in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble.  Let's approach Him, and in Him find joy and peace in believing.  Let's wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises."

We don't have a fireplace, but I still like to create a place that brings warmth and that cozy glow into our home during the cold winter months.

For those living in climates that bring freezing temperatures and wind driven snow,  each time you wrap up in a warm cozy blanket this winter may you be reminded of God's warmth and protection.

God is Bigger than our Wildest Dreams

Do you ever gaze at the sky looking for God? 

Do you ever wonder just how big He is? 

The Whirlpool Galaxy, 31 million light years away from earth, contains 300 billion stars. 

"When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place,  

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?" 

Psalm 8:3,4

God is bigger than we could ever possibly imagine.  His creation AND creativity is more than we can fathom.  And yet He hears my every thought, my every prayer, my every word....and He cares for me, for you.

The Hubble telescope captured the black hole in the center of the Whirlpool Galaxy.    What do you see?

I think it looks something like this..................

Chance?

Hardly.

"He who appoints the sun to shine by day, 

who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, 

who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- 

the LORD Almighty is his name."

Jeremiah 31:35

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rules or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:16-17

His creation is not haphazard nor accidental.  Scripture shows His power through just His breath and thought.

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, 

their starry host by the breath of his mouth."

Psalm 33:6

Does this power not just blow your mind?  He spoke EVERYTHING into existence, created from NOTHING...except one thing...you and I.  Genesis 2:7 states "God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."   and verse 21, "he took one of the man's ribs and close up the place with flesh.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."

Beloved, you were created by the very hand of God, touched by His hand.  The same God who made the universe as pictured above made you.  He is HUGE, yet he knows everything about you.  He is BEYOND our imagination, yet He longs to have a relationship with each of us!

The next time you admire the moon, the stars or a constellation, join them in praising your God in heaven.

"Praise him, 

sun and moon, 

praise him, 

all you shining stars". 

Psalm 148:3