Every Living Thing Matters to God

February 27, 2024 Gracie

Why Every Living Thing Matters to God

We probably all know at least one person who says they can’t dance.

But, we also know, if they were to accidentally walk through a large spider web – all bets are off.

Trust me, you’ll see some moves you never thought you’d see. LOL!

I can’t resist. Are you up for a laugh?

Here’s a humorous example of a mother and daughter witnessing the spider “dance” from dear old dad.

Arachnophobia aside, spiders are amazing creatures with extraordinary abilities to survive in God’s kingdom.

Spiders prey on many different organisms and employ a wide range of strategies to capture prey. They may trap prey in sticky webs, lasso it with sticky balls, mimic it to avoid detection, or chase and tackle it. Most detect prey mainly by sensing vibrations, but active hunters have acute vision. – as quoted from ThoughtCo.¹

Every living thing matters to God

God’s Grand Design – Every Living Thing Matters

Every living thing matters to God.

Even spiders, which some people are deathly afraid of, serve a valuable role in the grand design of the universe.

Through the beauty and complexity of the natural world, we are gifted the ability to see the fingerprints of God on every living thing.

How exciting is that?!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. – Romans 1:20, (NASB).²

the intricacy of a spider’s web

The beauty of a sunrise, the majesty of a mountain peak, and the intricacy of a spider’s web are just a few examples that reflect the attention to detail by our Sovereign Creator.

Stronger Than Steel

Speaking of spider webs, I had no idea just how strong some of their webs are.

For instance, the Bark Spider “has the toughest silk ever seen — more than twice as tough as any previously described silk, and more than 10 times stronger than Kevlar.” – as quoted on the livescience.com website.³

Jaw drop!

The proteins forming spider silk make that silk one of the strongest materials in the world. Ounce for ounce, spider silk is the strongest. The golden orb-weaver spider’s webs can stop a bee mid-flight at 20mph and can even stop small birds. If humans could create spider silk as thick as a pencil, it could stop a jet airplane mid-flight! – The Institute for Creation Research.⁴

Spider webs can also be huge, like some of those tracked on the island of Madagascar, or even this one at a wastewater treatment plant in Baltimore.

I think I‘ll avoid those places for now, thank you.

Every Living Thing Matters to God – You and Me

Why all this talk about spiders today?

Because the Creator of every living thing also created you and me.

The difference between us and the rest of the natural world is that we are made in God’s image.

Through Jesus Christ, our fallen nature (just take a look at the headlines) is redeemed so we can have eternal life through Him.

He graciously offers forgiveness and reconciliation to a broken world.

What can we do with that knowledge?

Spread the word!

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¹ Quotation courtesy of Hadley, Debbie. “Characteristics of Spiders.” ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/spiders-order-araneae-1968563.

³ Livescience quotation [2010] Courtesy of livescience.com., “Itsy Bitsy Spider’s Web 10 Times Stronger Than Kevlar ” Web. Accessed 20 February, 2024.

⁴Quotation courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research. From “Spider Silk Properties Ideal for Nerve Repairs”, August 10, 2023., Web. Accessed 22nd February, 2024. Retrieved from Spider Silk Properties.

Our Exceptional God

The Stench of Sin

February 20, 2024 Gracie

The Stench of Sin in Your Life

Have you ever seen a little skunk like this one scampering about in the woods?

The stench of sin He’s cute alright.

But, this little critter can strike fear in the hearts of anyone who crosses its path.

Did you know that a skunk’s stinky spray can travel over three miles downwind?

It’s so strong, you can even smell the spray inside your car when traveling down a country road.

My husband likes to tell the story of a dog he used to own.

Cindy the lab once caught a skunk in the backyard and, yes, she got sprayed.

It took a lot of effort to rid her coat from the stench.

But, even with the multiple dog baths, the disgusting smell stayed on her breath for a very long time.

In the same way, the stench of sin is an offense to our Holy God.

The Stench of Sin Offends God

No doubt about it, we all fall short.

From the hardened criminal on death row to the religious leaders that are sometimes put on a pedestal.

The following is an often-quoted verse from one of the Psalms of David. Here, he reflects on the fallen state of mankind.

We are no different in today’s world.

² The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek God.
³They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one. – Psalm 14:2-3, (NASB).¹

We are capable of good deeds, yes, but good works don’t get us into Heaven.

Our salvation is through Jesus Christ alone.

In other words, we can’t save ourselves – no matter how much money we raise for charity, or how much we put into the offering plate on Sundays.

The fact is that our Sovereign God who created us, hates sin.

We are born with a sinful nature.

We’d better acknowledge that and not let a fallen culture try to tell us that anything goes.

All of us need to feel convicted for our sins and the importance of repentance before our Heavenly Father.

Fortunately, God made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin and be saved through Jesus Christ. Salvation is based on Jesus’ goodness, and “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). While we were in our sinful state, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), and if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Christ alone was good enough to earn heaven, and He declares righteous those who trust in Him for salvation (Romans 1:17). – GotQuestions.org.²

Heavenly Scent: The Aroma of Christ’s Presence in Our Lives

Pleasing aromas Do you have a favorite scent?

If you asked me, I would say “Cinnamon” or “Pumpkin.”

Maybe a loaf of fresh bread baking in the oven!

Fragrances such as those filling my whole house instantly remind me of happy gatherings with friends during the holidays.

I want to smell those pleasing aromas all the time!

In the same way, the spiritual aroma of our faith in Christ is a blessing to all who experience it.

A life lived for Christ washes away the stench of sin from our repentant hearts.

¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ¹⁶to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.– 2 Cor 2:14-17, (NASB).³

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² Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “What does it mean that ‘there is none who does good, no not one’ (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12)?” n.d., para. 4. Web. Accessed February 15, 2024. None who does good application.

Our Exceptional God

A Reality Show Worth Watching

February 13, 2024 Gracie

A Reality Show Worth Watching . . . For the Ending

a reality show worth watching

Is there a reality show worth watching?

In my opinion, and in a very general sense, I’d have to say “no.”

You probably know the particular shows I’m talking about.

Forcing myself to listen to the scripted dialogue in some of the more popular ones, I couldn’t stomach more than a few minutes.

Relationship hook-ups, clothes or no clothes, 15 minutes of fame-seekers, obscenity-laden plot lines – in my opinion, they’re all stomach-turning.

In our celebrity-obsessed world, the more outrageous someone with influence acts or speaks, the better their chances of staying relevant.

Reality shows on TV?

I’ll take a pass, thank you.

But is there a reality show that is worth watching?

As I thought about that question, I realized that as a Bible-believing Christian, there is.

It’s the all-encompassing reality show we can observe right now in the culture around us.

What do you see?

Is it that much different than during the days of Noah?

During that his time many years ago in biblical history, the world was contaminated with wickedness and idolatry. So much so that the Lord regretted He made mankind.

Can you imagine?

The Creator of the heavens and the earth was sorry He made the world.

⁶So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.” ⁸But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. – Genesis 6:6-8, (NASB).¹

Pretty sobering, isn’t it?

Yes, God is a God of Love, an oft-repeated truth.

However, He is also a Righteous Judge.

People seem to forget that.

Meanwhile, the world is going dark around us and it appears many don’t care, or even notice.

the results of a fallen world

Nothing has changed!

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ²For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. – 2 Timothy 3:1-5, (NASB).²

This “reality show” we’re living in now should be a much-needed wakeup call to anyone on the fence about their belief in the truths of God’s Word.

Why else do you think the culture wants to change the words of Scripture to “fit the times”. They don’t want to see the truth and they don’t want you to see it either.

How can anyone not look at the world around them and see that the prophetic words of Scripture are being played out right before our very eyes?

Our world is not aching for another superstar. We have too many of those. What our world desperately needs is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Make much of Him. – Voddie Baucham, Voddie Baucham Ministries.³

Biblical Prophesy Coming True

When I first read the entire Book of Revelation – frankly, it scared me.

Until I came to understand what it was saying and what was prophesied to come, I tried to avoid it in lieu of reading more “God is love” passages.

Now, I’m grateful to have read through it because I know and can anticipate the blessed ending.

This life now – with all of the wickedness we’re seeing – isn’t a never-ending reality show with a cliffhanger.

The Author of Life has already created the ending.

By His incomprehensible love and the meritless grace of sending us His Son, we have an escape from fiery hell – salvation through Him.

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³Quotation from Dr. Voddie Baucham – pastor, author, and educator. “Adapting to the Culture . . . Or Not.” [YouTube]. [40:14 – 40:31]. April 23, 2012, Web. Accessed February 12, 2024. Retrieved from: Adapting to the Culture discourse.

Our Exceptional God

God Sees You

February 6, 2024 Gracie

God Sees You

Are you going through something right now?

It seems like everyone I’ve talked to recently is going through some kind of struggle.

Friends – we shouldn’t be surprised.

This is the nature of living in our fallen world.

No doubt, the evil one is working overtime.

Troubles and frustrations are a part of life, but through it all, God is with us.

Nothing is a surprise to Him.

When your life seems out of control

God sees you

When people lie and gossip about you

He sees you

When you’re laid off from your job

He sees you

When your marriage falls apart

God sees you.

When you’re afraid to leave your house

He sees you

When your illness lingers

God sees you

Please don’t feel discouraged.

There’s so much more to God’s love for you than you could ever imagine.

He understands what you’re going through and the frustrations that wear you down.

This may not be easy to accept, but our troubles serve a purpose.

If our lives were an easy ride – how would we ever appreciate the qualities of perseverance, compassion, humility, and resilience?

God sees you

When we understand and value the glory that awaits us, we are better able to endure whatever comes our way in this life. We can give God praise even during trials because we have His guarantee that we will receive all He has promised: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). – Got Questions.org.¹

God Sees You – Your Inheritance is in Christ

⁹But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. –1 Peter 2:9-10, (NASB).²

He Sees You While You’re Waiting

Have you heard Terrian’s new album, “Give it Time” from Gotee Records?

She’s a talented vocalist I’ve featured before.

Anyway, this seems like the perfect time to share one of her latest songs, “He Sees You.”

In the song, Terrian speaks to keeping the faith while waiting on God to make us whole again.

Waiting brings our lack of trust in God, our insecurities, our pride, our fears and worries all to the surface. Sometimes, we don’t realize all of that is hiding in us. Yet, The Lord uses it to show us that while we’re waiting, it’s not just the outcome He’s concerned with, it’s seeing us whole. Seeing us fully surrendered to Him. Seeing us lay down sins we’ve held on to for too long. Seeing us healed. Seeing us free before we’re ready to receive what comes next. Let the Holy Spirit transform you while you wait. Give it time, friends. He sees. He most certainly knows. – Terrian, Christian artist and co-songwriter. ³

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¹Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “What is our inheritance in Christ? n.d., para. 10. Web. Accessed February 2, 2024. Inheritance in Christ.

³Terrian quotation, {Facebook post}, November 1, 2023. Accessed February 3, 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/iamterrian/

Our Exceptional God

The Endless Surprises in God’s Creation

January 30, 2024 Gracie

Discovering Endless Surprises in God’s Creation

Webster’s dictionary defines the word “surprise” as a “feeling of wonder or astonishment.”¹

How about the endless surprises in God’s creation?

There’s so much to discover!

You could spend hours learning about the amazing animals inhabiting our planet.

Take the Long-wattled Umbrellabird, for example.

The Long-wattled Umbrellabird²

Personally, I’ve had interesting hairdos before, but this little guy takes the cake.

Is anyone else seeing an Elvis impersonator here?

Besides the little pompadour “umbrella” on the bird’s head, they also sport a feather-duster-like waddle from their necks.

Quite the unique-looking bird.

Don’t tell me that God does not have a sense of humor.

Found in some of the humid regions of South America, the Umbrellabird enjoys eating fruit and the occasional lizard.

I delight in God’s creation, don’t you?

Delight in God's creation

The oceans teem with life; the forests are full of His creatures; pastures and mountains are the habitations for His handiwork. Storks among the firs, badgers among the rocks, young lions in the bush, and goats in the mountains (Psalm 104:17-22)—all these things silently testify to the wonders of God’s creative mind, the glory of His wondrous skills, and the beauty of all that He has made. – Stuart Briscoe, Author and Bible Teacher.³

Each and every creature, every plant, every inch of land, and every depth of the seas – all tell a unique story of God’s perfectly-created design.

And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. – Genesis 1:31, (NASB).⁴

God’s Extraordinary Creation and its Endless Surprises

As humans, we can barely comprehend the complexities of our world.

We’re constantly discovering and learning new things.

And, the more we learn, the more we realize just how marvelous God’s creation and its endless surprises really are.

Evolutionary philosophy holds that ingenious biological features were invented by the unknowing, uncaring, purposeless laws of nature, but it is clear that they were instead engineered by our wise, benevolent, and powerful Creator. Nature has never been observed inventing these kinds of complex structures, each well-suited to its task, and there is not even a theoretical, realistic step-by-step evolutionary explanation for how they could have developed. Thus, in the same way that we infer a painter from a painting, or an engineer from an engine, we infer a Creator from a creation. – The Institute for Creation Research.⁵

Every living thing, no matter how insignificant it may seem, has a part to play in God’s grand design.

Thank You God for all that You do and for all that You have done.

The fact that we are living witnesses to His works is extremely humbling.

# # #

¹ “Surprise”. (n.d.). In Websters1913.com. Retrieved from Websters 1913 Dictionary

² “Cotingidae – Cephalopterus penduliger” photo by Hectonichus, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 15 September, 2010. Accessed and retrieved January 27, 2024.

³Stuart Briscoe quotation courtesy of TellingTheTruth.org. From “Everything Beautiful.” n.d., Web. 26 November, 2023. Accessed January 29, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.tellingthetruth.org/read/individual-post/read/2023/11/26/everything-beautiful

⁵Quotation courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research. From “God’s Design is an Engineering Wonder”, n.d., Web. Accessed 27th January, 2024. Retrieved from God’s Design.

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