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God's Kaleidoscope of
Colors ~ A Virtual Paintbox ~
Devotional: .  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone;
thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and
all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalms 19:1) All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. (Psalms 145:10) Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever. (Psalms 146:5-6) Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. (Psalms 148:5) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? (Isaiah 40:11-12) . Commentary:
. Some of my fondest memories as
a child and early teen are of times when I would take walks through the woods behind my parent's home to sit on top of
a hill overlooking a small community that sat nestled below it. As I sat there in the stillness of God's creation,
listening to the sound of the birds and watching the beauty of the trees and flowers around me, I felt His presence in a way
that was equal to any church service I have ever participated in. My faith was nurtured on that hilltop, and in times
when my faith grows weary, I find myself returning to nature to restore and replenish the faith that is deep within my soul. Many of us have had our most meaningful spiritual experiences in relationship to the environment. Beauty provokes us to transcend our mundane concerns, shortcomings and conflicts. We have heard the voice of God in our woods and waterways, in bird song or the remarkable delicacy of a flower. Yet, there are those around us who readily abandon the idea of a higher power, or ascribe all this complexity to the whim of chaos. For me, when I look into the eyes of nature, and see all the beauty that God has placed here for us to enjoy, there is no denying His presence in the world He created, or in my life. In those still, quiet moments when I am intertwined with Him, He is as real as the air I breath, and His voice speaks to me as softly as a gentle breeze. . I often find myself looking at the clouds by day and the sunset by night,
admiring the colors and the way that God seems to paint His beauty across the sky for all to see. He is quite the artist
and nothing can compare to the beauty that He sets before us. This spring, I have particularly been impressed by the
colors of the leaves and blooms that have covered the landscapes. And, have you ever seen so many different shades of
green? It is amazing !!!
The 19th-century English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins once wrote that “The world is charged with the grandeur of God." And in equally moving words, the psalmist David wrote: . “The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” ~ Psalm 19: 1-4 . . Throughout human history, our poets, writers and mystics have seen God’s
reflection in nature. And they have been inspired, even compelled, to share their visions.
Think for a moment of all the images from nature that have been and continue to be evoked as metaphors for God or some aspect of the Divine: fire, wind, water, earth, sun, and light. The presence of God has also been symbolized by thunder and lightning, a towering mountain, an indestructible rock, a self-contained seed, a mighty tree, and an unfolding flower. Something of God has been revealed in the blazing eyes of a tiger, a soaring eagle, a cooing dove, and a beautiful butterfly. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it in his classic book Nature, “Nature is the symbol of spirit.” Indeed it is, and in fabulous diversity! Human beings have always been drawn to the beauty and majesty of nature, but nature invites us to look deeper. It’s as if God is hiding behind every tree, under every rock, over every hill, across every meadow, at the bottom of every lake, through every cloud, on the wings of every bird, and in the eyes of every animal. It’s as if God is playing hide-and-seek with us and waiting for us to discover the One in all. “The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship,” wrote Emerson. “The noblest ministry of nature is to stand as the apparition of God. It is the organ through which the universal spirit speaks to the individual, and strives to lead back the individual to it.” . Meditation:
Let us pray ... Father, we
thank you for your presence in our lives and in the world around us. Thank you for the many blessings you bestow upon
us, for your mercy and your grace, and for your love that surrounds us each and every day of our lives. Father,
help us to be thankful in all things, and to never take for granted the simple pleasures of life; a sunrise, the
beauty of a flower, and most importantly, life itself. May we always be mindful of your almighty presence even
when we do not feel it, and may we always come to you with childlike faith, and an attitude of thanksgiving, because we
know Lord, that it's only through you, that all things are possible. Father, we thank you most
of all for the gift of your Son, Jesus, and for the wonderful gift of salvation that You so lovingly give each and every
one of us, if we only believe in You. Father, be with each and every person in the world today, Lord, meet them at
the source of their needs and cover them with your love and your peace. May we always seek your presence and the True
Riches that come from knowing you. In the name of Jesus, the sweetest, most precious name I know. Amen.
. Stories to Touch the Heart and Warm the Soul:
CARL'S GARDEN. ~ Author Unknown ~
. Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much.
He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years,
no one could really say they knew him very well.
For Bookings or Information:
Pam Powers Moore Sweet Song Ministries P.O. Box 1181 Buckhannon, WV 26201-1181 FaithAglow@aol.com www.SweetSongMinistries.com (304) 472-0296/ (304) 672-2821 |