WATERPROOF???

Pitter-patter.

That's how it began.

With the innocent, quiet sound of tiny raindrops gently tapping at our tent.

Until…

Let me tell you the story.


Last week, desperately needing some time away, "The Hub" and I decided to spend five days and nights camping in Joshua Tree National Park.

Might I just say that our version of camping involves an air mattress, sleeping bags, and a tent.

Yes, I'm rather proud of myself, proud of the fact that at 61 years of age, I'm still willing (and able) to *rough it.*  I think that deserves a round of applause…

(Go ahead.  I'll wait…)

On Monday and Tuesday, we decided to go exploring.

There are some interesting places to see.  

Joshua Tree was an area where quite a bit of mining took place in the late 1800's, early 1900's.  One day we trekked to a site where two wooden structures are still standing, and mining equipment lays abandoned.

We hiked. 

Uphill.

A very steep hill.

The next day we ventured forth to explore the ruins of an old ranch site, a stamp mill for processing ore, and a dam built to harness rainwater.  (The water level was waaaay down – the drought continues in our water-starved state).

We hiked.

Through a desert.

A very hot desert.

Yes, both days the temperatures soared into the 90's.

As I trudged along – soaked in sweat, tired, thirsty, hungry, achy, and a bit dizzy – I pondered the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  How vulnerable He must have been when Satan appeared to Him.

Forty days.

Let me tell you, after two days I was done.

But that is a post for perhaps another day.

Today I'm talking about water.


OK, so Wednesday we decided to just hang out at our campsite.  I did word puzzles and read a great mystery book.  "The Hub" read books about Joshua Tree, and cut up firewood.

That night, after some restful hours around the campfire, we retired to our tent to sleep the night away.

Uh, yeah.

That didn't quite happen.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I awoke.  And somehow in that twilight state of *not-quite-asleep-but-not-quite-awake,* I became aware of a tapping noise.  As I gradually reentered consciousness, I realized what I was hearing.

Rain.

I woke up "The Hub" so he could help me close all the vents in the tent.

While we were doing that, we kept seeing flashes of light and hearing distant rumbling.  Being the adventuresome twosome that we are, we decided to go outside.

Boy oh boy!  Am I glad we did!

We stood under the protection of the popup tent that we use for shade…(and in this case, rain!).  And for over an hour, "The Hub" and I watched the most spectacular thunder and lightning storm we have ever seen!

Giant forked lightning flashed every 4-5 seconds, all around us, lighting up the surrounding landscape like a strobe light, and lingering in our vision like rays from the sun.  This was followed by booming thunder, mostly far away, but some so close that the loud crack made me jump.

Fortunately, I am not afraid of thunderstorms.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that my mother told me as a young child that it just meant that God was rearranging His furniture, and testing to make sure His lights worked!

What a display!

It was awesome, in every sense of that word – astonishing, beautiful, breathtaking, impressive, magnificent, stunning, wondrous.

You know, lately I've been pining (whining?) over the fact that I can't see God – not in real, actual, physical ways.

This night, I think He appeared in all His power, glory, and majesty – and said out loud to me:

HERE. I. AM.

Yup, it was really something to behold.


Around 3:30 AM, we decided to go back to bed.

And that's when the *fun* began.

Once we were all settled again (or so we thought), a strange thing happened.

Drip.  Drip.  Drip.

"The Hub" asked me, "Did you feel something?"

"No," I replied.

But then I did.

And, upon turning on the lantern, we discovered the problem.

Our "waterproof" tent was not…

You see, many tents come with a rainfly – (In basic terms, a fly is a tent without walls, and generally used for keeping out moisture – such as condensation or rain – while people rest or sleep).  

Our tent did not come with a rainfly because it was advertised to be waterproof.

Right.

Like lo-fat ice cream is advertised to be diet-conscious.

Fortunately, "The Hub" is always prepared!  

And this trip he had thoughtfully brought a (truly) waterproof tarp that he quickly jury-rigged over our sieve-tent abode.

Problem solved.

It took me a long time to fall back to sleep.  And as I lay there, I got to thinking about the whole idea of being waterproof.

And that made me think about Noah.


God instructed Noah to build an ark.  

And contrary to popular opinion, he did just that.  

In fact, Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him to do.  And yet, there was one thing that God did not ask Noah to do.

He didn't ask him to close the door of the ark.

Have you ever noticed that one small, but oh-so-crucial detail in the story of the flood?

God had led Noah step-by-step in all his preparations.  And now, just before the tempest began, He didn't finish by saying, "OK, Noah, now it's time to lock the door."

No, this task He reserved for Himself:

"And the LORD shut him in."  (Genesis 7:16, ESV)


Obviously, God had Noah and his family firmly in His grasp.  

And it was He, the great I AM, who was going to ensure their security.

Their safety in the flood was not going to depend on themselves.  

Rather, their protection was going to be dependent upon The One of whom it is said, "…and what he shuts no one can open."  (Revelation 3:7, NIV)

Noah and his family, and all that God had deemed to enter the ark, could rest in peace.  Through the long days and weeks and months of waiting, they were all perfectly safe – right in the center of God's will and provident protection.

God completed Noah's work by hemming him in, covering him round about with divine guardianship.

Is that not a sweet image?!

Now yes, God protected Noah from the rage of wicked men.  But He also preserved him from the violence of the mighty floodwaters.

God indeed made Noah waterproof.


Can we not apply this familiar story to our own lives?

Can we not find comfort in the sure knowledge that we are also hemmed in by a loving and protective God?

YES!

Divine defense.

I all too often lose sight of that concept.


Last week I talked about the incident when Moses and the Israelites found themselves trapped between the onrushing armies of Pharaoh and the impassable waters of the Red Sea.

And while I was reading that familiar story, I noticed something I hadn't really thought about before – these words (which I've underlined in context):

"Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp.  The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.  The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps." (Exodus 14:19-20, NLT)


When danger was present, what did God do?

HE. MOVED.

He moved between the people He loved and the forces of danger.

He stood behind them, and watched the enemy camp Himself, keeping it at bay –

".…the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night." (vs. 20)


Do you see what God did here?

He did just exactly what He did for Noah!

He stood between His beloved children and the onrushing rage of enemies – (wicked people, wicked forces in the unseen world).

And, He also protected His people from raging waters.

(Notice that God made Moses and His people *waterproof* as they walked through the Red Sea!)


Dear friends, this is also what God does for us!

He literally *has our backs* when it comes to everything that menaces us.

He stands against the forces that threaten to overpower us.  He stands against persecution and the enemy attacks that threaten to overtake us.  He stands against the raging waters of life that threaten to overwhelm us.  

He hems us in with His loving Presence, guarding us against all that would come up against us.

He protects us.

We are not asked to rely on ourselves – we do not need to "shut the door" – for we are held by the only One on whom we can truly depend, the only unfailing and unchanging Person we know – God Himself.

HE shuts us in.

HE stands behind and between.

HE makes us *waterproof* against the floods of life, in whatever form they come.


"And the LORD shut him in."

Yes, it is He, the great I AM, who ensures our safety and security.

He has provided the door for us to enter into His salvation, and He has closed it firmly behind us.

"'I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…'" 
(John 10:9, NKJV)

(Matthew Henry's commentary: "…and so when he brings a soul to Christ, the salvation is sure: it is not in our own keeping, but in the Mediator's hand.")


You know, that night in the tent I learned a lot.

And I was once again reassured that even in the midst of intense and furious and violent storms, that no matter how strongly they assail me, I am safe and secure in the everlasting arms of the Lord.

The One who shuts me in forever.

The One who makes me *Living Water-proof.*

God made the earth
by His power.
He founded the world
by His wisdom,
and stretched out the heavens
by His understanding.
When He thunders,
the waters in the heavens roar.
He makes clouds rise
from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning
with the rain
and brings out the wind
from His storehouses.

The LORD on high
is mighty.

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

From the hymn, "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms," (Showalter and Hoffman, 1887)



"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:25, NASB)

"When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever." (Proverbs 10:25, NIV)

"…blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." 
(Jeremiah 17:7-8, NLT)

"The eternal God is your shelter, and his everlasting arms support you.  He will force your enemies out of your way…" (Deuternomy 33:27, GOD'S WORD)


"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!'

For He will save you…

He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions,
And under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.

You will not be afraid of the terror of night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But danger will not come near you.

Because you have made the Lord, [who is your] refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

No evil will befall you…

For He will command His angels in regard to you,
To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

They will lift you up in their hands,
So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.

[The LORD says]:

'Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him;
I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him…

And I will let him see My salvation.'"

(From Psalm 91, AMP)



Had any *floods* lately?  How does God make you *waterproof*?!



Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, GRATEFUL HEART MONDAY, REFLECT LINKUP, WORDS WITH WINTER, THE ART OF HOMEMAKING MONDAY, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, SOLI DEO GLORIA, UNITE LINKUP, TITUS 2 TUESDAY, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, TELL IT TO ME TUESDAYS, RA RA LINKUP, INTENTIONAL TUESDAY, LIFE GIVING LINKUP, TELL HIS STORY, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, WISE WOMAN, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, JOYHOPELIVE LINKUP, THE (NOT JUST) HOMEMAKING PARTY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS, FROM HOUSE TO HOME, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, GRACE AT HOME, SHINE LINKUP, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, LOOKING UP, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, EVERYDAY TESTIMONY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, FAITH 'N FRIENDS, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, GRACE & TRUTH, TGI SATURDAYS, DANCE WITH JESUS, STILL SATURDAY, WEEKEND WHISPERS, SMALL VICTORIES SUNDAY, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY SUNDAY


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

THE WONDER OF GOD'S NAME

What's in a name?

Well, if you're God, quite a lot!

Our pastor is doing a series of sermons on the names of God.  

And today, I was blown away by how the Holy Spirit spoke to me through his words – how the Spirit moved so powerfully in my heart when we studied this name:

Elohim.

The name Elohim means "strong one" in Hebrew.

So it's an apt name for the Almighty God.  

But what's most interesting to me is the fact that God chooses to name Himself with this name.  And it's also pretty remarkable when God chooses to introduce it.

In the beginning.

Yes, right there in the very first verse in the Bible, there is the name…

Elohim.

Genesis 1:1 could be translated this way:

"In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth."


So today our pastor helped us *unpack* shades of meaning, blistering insights, and nuances of Truth – all held within that name.

Let me start with some facts:

1) This name for God appears over 2500 times in the Bible.

2) Elohim is the name that is translated "God" in Scripture – so when you see the upper-case name, God, it is actually the Hebrew name Elohim.

3) The name Elohim is plural and singular – thereby declaring the existence and truth of the Trinity from the very beginning.

4) Therefore, the name Elohim declares that the Trinity was involved in the process of creation.  Yes, the one God in three Persons – all of them participated in this miraculous work.


So, God chooses this way of introducing Himself – by using a name that holds a treasure chest of doctrine, theology, and mighty truth.

Pause and ponder that.


But our pastor also elucidated other characteristics inherent in a Creator God.

He used these words: transcendent, outside of time, not confined by what exists, organized, intelligent, detailed, extravagant, sustaining.

Elohim is infinitely more than and substantially distinct from His creation.

In fact, creation only points us to conclude that there is Someone greater.

Now, I am a nature lover.  And I live in a pretty awesome place.  Surrounded by majestic mountains, and towering trees, and creatures galore.  The sky is often bright blue, and the moon glows like the sun.  The air is so clear at night that I can see the Milky Way and its entourage of a multitude of stars.

Some are tempted to worship these things.

But this awe and adoration is misdirected if we stop at the "stuff."

It would be like worshiping a book just because the cover is pretty and the pages smell good…without ever reading the words, or knowing the author.

Creation speaks.

And it speaks of its Creator.


Lately I've shared a lot about the difficulties this year has brought to my life. How sometimes I feel so alone in it all.  Just the other night, when I once again could not fall asleep, I looked out my window in the kitchen and stared at the skies.  I whispered aloud, "You know, God, that is a pretty awesome sky You've created."  And in that exact moment, the biggest shooting star I have ever seen streaked across the sky!

It was if I heard God say, "I'm here."

My eyes teared up as I was once again reminded of the transcendent God of the universe who also deigns to come near.

Elohim.

The Creator, who is all-powerful.

Think of words that mean powerful:  strong, great, mighty, awesome, commanding, authoritative, prevailing, majestic, almighty, invincible, supreme, sovereign, omnipotent.

This God is our God.


Why do we doubt Him?

Why do we struggle with trusting Him completely?

Why do we try to control our own lives, to determine our own circumstances, to manipulate our own situations, to fix our own relationships – ON OUR OWN?

I don't know why I do that.

I think I’m just a slow learner.

Are you?


So, as this very powerful message was coming to an end, our pastor chose to have us focus on a very particular scene from the book of Luke.

A young woman is confronted by the angel, Gabriel.  And he has a message for her:

"…behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

I don't know about you, but if I was Mary at this moment, I probably would have uttered something really profound like:

"Huh???"

We're not alone in those feelings.  Mary was a bit confused, too.  For she knew that she was a virgin, and she knew how creation worked.  She could not fathom in her own mind how this prediction was ever going to come true.

But then Gabriel, who declared with his very own words that he stood in the actual presence of the One, uttered this amazing truth:

"For nothing will be impossible with God."


Listen to these words in other translations:

"For no word from God will ever fail."

"Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises."

"Because nothing is difficult for God."

"For no word from God shall be void of power."

"For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfillment."

"For everything spoken by God is possible."

“For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”

"For every promise from God shall surely come true."


I have written each of these interpretations of the Word, for I want them to burst upon your heart, as they have in mine, as a mighty refrain – chanted over and over, and building to a crescendo of truth.

And then, insert the name, and it all becomes thrilling:

"For nothing will be impossible with Elohim."

Pause and ponder that!


I finish with these words from our pastor:

All God needs is Himself, and all I need to do is trust Him.

Yes.

God established at the very beginning that there is no one or nothing that we can turn to besides Him.

He is the One who made it all, who keeps it going, and holds it all together.

He is the One who made me, who keeps me going, and holds me together.

He is in control.

Elohim.


As we sang the last song of the day, I coupled one sentence of the lyrics with an astounding statement from our pastor – and knew that both had come directly from the Holy Spirit like an arrow to my heart.

This will be my prayer this week, the prayer that embodies and encompasses every prayer that could ever be said:

"Elohim, hold me, please hold me…"

And the answer that is The Answer:

"JUST REMEMBER MY NAME."

I will reveal my name to my people,
and they will come to know
its power. 

"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." 
(Hebrews 11:3, ESV)

"The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.  He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.  Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.  For when he spoke, the world began!  It appeared at his command." (Psalm 33:6-9, NLT)

"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." (Psalm 33:6, 9, NIV)

"The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:2-3, NLT)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." 
(John 1:1-3, ESV)

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10, NIV)

"'Am I a God who is only close at hand?' says the LORD.  'No, I am far away at the same time.  Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?  Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?' says the LORD." 
(Jeremiah 23:23-24, NLT)

"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God..." (Deuteronomy 10:17, NASB)


"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 reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."

(Psalm 19:1-4, NIV)


"This is what the Lord says,

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:
'Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,'
declares the Lord,
'will Israel ever cease
being a nation before me.'

This is what the Lord says:

'Only if the heavens above can be measured
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject all the descendants of Israel…'"

(Jeremiah 31:35-37, NIV)


"For in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28, NIV)




What does it mean to you that we have a relationship with the Almighty Creator of the universe, the One and Only Elohim?



Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, UNFORCED RHYTHMS, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, SALT & LIGHT, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, UNITE, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY'S PRAYER GIRLS, WINSOME WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS, CAPTURE YOUR JOURNEY, COFFEE AND CONVERSATION, TELL HIS STORY, WHAT YOU WISH WEDNESDAY, WISE WOMAN, WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, THRIVING THURSDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, HEARTS FOR HOME, GRACE AT HOME, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, FAITH BARISTA, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, LIGHT FRIDAY HIT LIST, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, THE FRIDAY FIVE, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, SO MUCH AT HOME, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, HEART-FILLED FRIDAYS, SATURDAY SOIREE, SATURDAY STILLNESS, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, WEEKEND BREW, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

National Geographic Magazine.

I love those three words.

My mom has had a subscription for like 120 years, and when I go visit her, I catch up on my reading.

Yes, the articles are really interesting, but it's the award-winning photos that capture my attention.

The other night my eye was caught by the picture on the cover of a recent edition – a couple of planets – and the title: "Is Anybody Out There?"

It was about the search for life on other planets.  (Some people are searching for intelligent life on other planets.  Which I think is a long shot, for it's hard to find intelligent life on THIS planet…just sayin')


Do you know that I love astronomy?

When I was a little girl, I was absolutely fascinated by anything to do with outer space.

My mom bought me a fold-out map of our solar system, with colorful renderings of the planets, and interesting facts about them.  I looked at that map until it was in tatters.

Now, of course, it's seriously out-of-date.  For instance, in 2006 poor old Pluto was *de-planeted* – stripped of its claim to the 9th planetary position in our solar system.

Ah, but wait.  Seems that the jury is still out.  Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, we've learned that Pluto has at least five moons and an atmosphere – which is pretty impressive for something that's supposedly not a planet.  One year from now, NASA will fly its first spacecraft past Pluto, and we will have all sorts of new information.


Other cool space facts?

Did you know the earth is 93 million miles away from the Sun?

Did you know that one light year = the distance something would travel in one year at the speed of light (which is 186,000 miles per SECOND?!) – and the nearest star (besides the Sun) is 4.22 light years away from Earth?

Did you know that this nearest star is called Proxima Centauri?  And, by traveling at a speed of approximately 37,300 mph – (the speed of the spacecraft that will fly by Pluto) – it would take about 78,000 years to reach it?

Did you know that our galaxy, The Milky Way, is about 99,000 light years across – and it contains about 200 billion other stars?

And did you know that the Milky Way is just one of about 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the universe, each of which has hundreds of billions of stars?


Yup, my mind is boggled.

But I digress!

The most interesting thing to me about this article was the persistent quest for life beyond planet Earth.

For millennia, man has looked to the skies and been fascinated about what he sees.  The mysteries of the universe, though some have been discovered, continue to mystify and perplex humans.

I'm not surprised actually.

For I believe that there is something else underlying this desire to understand the universe.

I believe it is the desire to know and touch the hand of God.

Now, sure, many scientists would deny this.  Many people probably would, too. They would claim that it stems from man's search for knowledge and his place in the universe.

Which is at least partially true.

But I disagree that this is the only motive.

Whether you acknowledge it or not, we're all searching for our Creator.

"They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature.  So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:19-20, NLT)

Really, then, the contemplation of the universe is really the heart of the creature longing to know the unknowable heart of God.


I am all for exploration.

The quest for knowledge, and the desire to understand mysteries, is just fine.

I believe that it is God-honoring to develop and use the mind to its fullest potential.

After all, I am fascinated with the study of many things – astronomy, anatomy, psychology, zoology, geology – just to name a few.  I'm as curious as the next person.

But I find that each new piece of knowledge that I learn always leads me to one conclusion – I am more and more awed at the Creator.

It is a rather amazing thing to know that the unknowable God chooses to let Himself be revealed.  His universe is uniquely made to be explored and understood.

He is not diminished by this.

Rather, by beginning to understand the intricacies of what He has created, His glory and majesty are expanded.


So, the search for life in the universe?

I say, go for it.

For all paths truly lead home…

…and that home is a Person.

The very real and mysterious and almighty and unfathomable God.

The Master Creator.

The One who chose to inhabit this particular planet at one point in human history – so that He might take on flesh and blood and be known.

I say if there's any intelligent life on THIS planet, we would be wise to seek out this God – God in the flesh – and get to know Him.

And then, launch out into the awe-inspiring search for Him in the rest of the universe.

From the vastness of nebulae to the minuteness of quarks – from the complexity of a snowflake to the simplicity of a drop of water – from the power of an atom to the gentleness of a whale – He is fascinating!!

And as much as I want to learn about His universe, as much knowledge as I seek about His creation…

I want to know HIM more.

And God said, "Let there be light,"
and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good.
And God separated the light from darkness.

"But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul." 
(Deuteronomy 4:12, ESV)

"For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought.  If you seek him, you will find him." (1 Chronicles 28:19, NLT)

"Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God." 
(1 Chronicles 22:19, NIV)

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7, ESV)

"'You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT)


***This is a long passage, but it is worth the reading!***

"Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind…

'Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
…Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
I said, 'This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!'
Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth…
As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.
…Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
Do you realize the extent of the earth?
…Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
…Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
…Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?
Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?
Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.
Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?"

(From Job 38, NLT)



What is something that you find fascinating about God's creation? What does it teach you about Him?



Linked today with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, UNFORCED RHYTHMS, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, UNITE, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS, CAPTURE YOUR JOURNEY, WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, WINSOME WEDNESDAY, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, TELL HIS STORY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, THRIVING THURSDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, THRIVE AT HOME THURSDAY, HEARTS FOR HOME, GRACE AT HOME, LIGHT FRIDAY HIT LIST, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, THE FRIDAY FIVE, ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, STILL SATURDAY, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, SATURDAY SOIREE, WEEKEND BREW, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - God...He Rules!

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY - (renting the first U-haul truck for our big *move* up the hill - it's really gonna happen - scary!)  "I trust in the LORD for protection...the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven."  (Psalm 11:1, 4)

TUESDAY - (trying to make tons of decisions)  "If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea...At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One."  (Job 6:2,10)

WEDNESDAY - (traveling a 4-hour round-trip up and back to the new house) "But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God !"  My future is in your hands...Let your favor shine on your servant."  (Psalm 31:14-16)

THURSDAY - (struggling to find internet for the new house - will it work out?)  "How long, O LORD, must I call for help?...The LORD replied, 'Look around...look and be amazed!  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." 
(Habakkuk 1:2, 5)

FRIDAY - (under a lot of pressure - money issues)  "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."  (Matthew 34:6)

SATURDAY - (the old house is emptying out, feeling sad)  "...God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land...He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give..."  (Genesis 50:24)

Well, the moving *saga* continues.  I have been plagued by time and money pressures, and the increasing reality that I am actually leaving this old, familiar home and place.  I've been frustrated with setbacks, and scared about the upcoming future.

But, God spoke plainly this week.  His message?  HE is still in control - HE is still on His throne.  And He continues to accompany me every step of this new journey.

He is there - He is the same God that has reigned forever!

What has God said to YOU this week?

Linked today with Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Praise the King!

I was so excited.

I had stayed up all night, camped out on the street, and it was just moments before the beginning of…

The Tournament of Roses Parade!

This is a beautiful parade that happens every year on January 1st. And it's quite a spectacle to watch on TV. But, let me tell you, being there in person is another thing entirely!

It's hard to explain the excitement of the people, the sounds and smells, the beauty of the floats with their myriad rainbows of colorful seeds and flowers. I stayed out with a group from church just once in college. But I'm so glad that I did. It was memorable…

I was reminded of that beautiful morning because today is Palm Sunday. The day of Jesus' triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem.

Picture yourself there – surrounded by people from all walks of life. It was the beginning of Holy Week, and the roads into Jerusalem were thronging with pilgrims. Can you hear the many voices of the crowd – murmuring or laughing, talking excitedly among themselves? Are you jostled along with the animals, stopping here and there for a bite to eat? Can you see and smell the surrounding countryside?

Can you imagine the anticipation in the crowd when they heard that Jesus – whom many believed was the long-awaited Messiah, the Promised One who would deliver their nation – was arriving in the Holy City?

"Where is He?"

"He's just up ahead."

"Is He coming this way?"

"YES!"

People scrambled for position (just like we did on that parade route) – trying to get the best vantage point to see – to see HIM!

He enters on a donkey – and people push and shove to throw their cloaks on the road ahead of Him. Palm branches are waved and strewn about in honor of the approaching King. Jesus was the center of the procession, and the people all around Him were shouting:

"Praise God for the Son of David!

Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!

Praise God in highest heaven!"

It's one thing to read about it in the Bible – being there in person must have been another thing entirely!

And then – less than one week later – Jesus was hanging on a criminal's cross.

Anticipation – then incredible, dashing hopelessness…

The anguished cry echoed in every heart – WHY?

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" sheds light – because it tells us what the Light of the World did on that day:

"You lived in this world without God, and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall that separated us…Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross…Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." (Ephesians 2:12-14, 16, 18)

The Prince of Peace arrived that day – not the conquering king, but the Suffering Servant.

The One who brought hope to all the peoples of the earth.

The One who still does…

"Look, your king is coming to you.

He is righteous and victorious,

Yet he is humble, riding on a donkey…

His realm will stretch from sea to sea and…to the ends of the earth."

(Zechariah 9:9-10)

Bless the One who comes in the name of the LORD!!

What are your words of praise on this glorious Palm Sunday?

Linked today with Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

(SIDENOTE: I hope this publishes OK - Blogger has decided to "upgrade" their format. I'm thinking it's going to be another *big bucket of worms* that will cause all sorts of problems. I do not like when people mess with my stuff! Hang in there with me - I'm planning to post like usual, if I can figure it all out!!)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

SATURDAY STROLL

Welcome to "SATURDAY STROLL!"

In these posts I will be interacting with Scripture – making it a conversational walk of faith.

Sometimes we'll be talking with Jesus, sometimes God will be talking with us.

There might even be *guest appearances* by some of our beloved characters from the Bible!

So put on your walking shoes – you know we can all use the exercise!

THE AMAZING JIGSAW PUZZLE OF GOD'S WORD

All the pieces fit together...

So all of us who have had that veil removed…

"Ears to hear and eyes to see--both are gifts from the LORD." (Proverbs 20:12)

"No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us." (John 1:18)

can see…

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14)

"For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

and reflect the glory of the Lord…

"Jesus responded, 'Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?'" (John 11:40)

"I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22)

And the Lord--who is the Spirit…

'"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised.'"

(Luke 24:49)

"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)

makes us more and more like him…

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:2)

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

(Romans 8:29, NIV)

as we are changed into his glorious image…

"Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life…let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."(Ephesians 4:21-23)

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus speaks on our behalf:

"'Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!'" (John 17:24)

And we are given these promises:

"Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." (1 John 3:2)

"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

(Verse study: 2 Corinthians 3:18 / Benediction: Philippians 4:20)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"