A Christian Poem From Australia

From The Land Down Under: Christian Poem From Australia

One of the many reasons that I delight in God is because, sometimes, He brings special people into my life – even if it’s just for a brief time.

And, it’s always a thrill to connect with Christians across the globe!

A Christian Poem From Australia

Imagine my delight when I heard back from a lovely couple from The Land Down Under – beautiful, sunny Australia.

Recently, I got in touch with them about sharing an excellent poem that was on their website.

This doesn’t always happen, but they responded!

They know the poet personally and called him to let him know about my request. 

It turns out that this talented poet is a 90-year-old Christian man.

Christian poet, Maurice Dyson

My humble request was enthusiastically granted.

So, I want to give a huge shout-out, all the way from the Lone Star State to sweet Maurice Dyson in the Land Down Under.

He’s a man blessed by God.

I love his passion for using his gift of writing to share his faith and love for Jesus Christ.

This poem is all about reverence for God and His Holy Works.

I have a feeling his poetry will continue to inspire others for years to come.


Psalm 19

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:31

The heavens are telling God’s glory from high;
His handiwork vividly etched in the sky;
From day unto day they are uttering speech;
And night unto night with the knowledge they teach.

No language occurs where their voice is not heard;
Throughout all the earth goes their eloquent word;
Their message has reached to the end of the world;
Resplendent above like a banner unfurled.

In them He has set up a tent for the sun,
That goes like a bridegroom whose day has begun;
Rejoicing as one who is running a race;
A circuit described by its circular trace.

The law of the Lord is effective and whole;
Its witness is simple converting the soul;
Its statutes are noble rejoicing the heart,
Establishing truth for our innermost part.

His holy commandments are gracious and pure;
Enlightening the eyes that our sight may be sure;
The fear of the Lord is enduring and clean;
His judgments are righteous and wholly pristine.

More are they desired than the finest of gold;
And sweeter than honey for youngest or old;
Moreover by them is Thy bondservant warned,
And keeping them favours a lifestyle adorned.

For who understands his erroneous ways?
Acquit me of faults that are hid from my gaze;
And keep back Thy servant from sins born of pride,
And let them not rule me nor hinder my stride.

Then I shall be clear from their grievous excess,
And innocent whereof I’d greatly transgress;
Let all my intentions by day or by night,
Be counted acceptable, Lord, in Thy sight.

Copyright © 2019 Maurice Dyson.

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1 Dyson, Maurice. “Psalm 19” 100 Poems of Praise – Christian Poetry to Praise God, edited by Ossie Amato, Self-published, 2019, p.18., Copyright © 2019 Maurice Dyson. Courtesy of freechristianillustrations.com.

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God’s Creation: This Crab Has Boxing Gloves!

God’s Amazing Creation: This Crab Has Boxing Gloves!

Are you ready to see some cuteness?

This crab has boxing gloves!

Delight in God - this crab has boxing gloves

Meet the Boxer Crab!

He’s also known as the “pom-pom crab.”

Or my favorite, “the cheerleader crab.”

You’ll soon see why.  🙂

His scientific name is: Lybia Tesselata.

Pronounced phonetically, “Lie be ah   tess a lot a.”

And, trust me, he has a “lot a” spunk and personality.

The boxer crab likes to hang out in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (Roth, n.d.)1

This adorable little crustacean only measures about an inch long, but don’t let his small size fool you.

He’s not afraid of bullies.

See those pom-pom-looking anemones on his legs?

As only God can do, the boxer crab was created with an amazing defense system. Working together in a symbiotic relationship, the boxer crab and his sea anemones hitchhikers work together to survive daily life in the deep.

Together, they will fight off any perceived threat – Rocky style!

Check this out.

Hey you want a piece of me?

C’mon Pufferfish. Give it your best shot!

God’s Creation

God’s creativity is all around us.

He is the Master Designer.

Every single creature, or blade of grass, or star in the sky has a role to play, whether we understand what that role is or not.

And the boxer crab and other tiny creatures in the world around us?

Even the smallest in God’s creation reflects the power and majesty of God.

We can see His glory in the beauty of a flower, the song of a bird, and the power of a thunderstorm.

What an amazing God we serve!

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1 From the The Mosaic Boxer Crab | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine. (n.d.). https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/saltwater/a-champion-fighter-the-mosaic-boxer-crab-lybia-tesselata-full-article

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Seeing Dandelions Through New Eyes

Seeing Dandelions Through New Eyes of Appreciation

Oh, to be a kid again.

I have wonderful memories of that simpler, carefree time.

Every spring, my friends and I used to go dandelion hunting.

We would tie some of the best ones together by their stems and make dandelion necklaces!

We were so glamorous.Dandelions are a pretty amazing part of God’s creation

The bigger ones we would hold tightly in our hands, close our eyes, blow on the seed heads, and then make a wish!

Unfortunately for the dandelions though, many gardeners wish these pesky little wildflowers would just go away.

Usually, dandelions end up falling prey to a lawnmower, or they’re treated with an herbicide so they don’t take over the lawn.

But . . .

You knew a “but” was coming, didn’t you?  😉

I’m now seeing dandelions through new eyes.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind; and God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:11-12, (NASB).1

In fact, dandelions are a pretty amazing part of God’s creation.

Did you know that:

They’re edible

Every part of them, from stem to flower, can be used to make natural medicines

They’re often used as an ingredient in natural soaps

Animals, such as rabbits and grasshoppers, eat them for food

But, besides their numerous biological contributions, dandelions offer so much more.

Here’s some insight into some other amazing details about God’s creation – the dandelion.

Delight-in-God’s Creation – The Dandelion

What we as adults barely notice anymore, dandelions are quite the little flying machines as the seeds blow on by in the breeze.Seeing dandelions through new eyes

It’s reported that dandelion seeds can travel as far as a kilometer when it’s windy out. (see Taraxacum, Wikipedia.)

That’s pretty far for this natural-born hitchhiker!

A kilometer is about the size of almost ten whole football fields.

Even the tiniest of God’s creations point to His majesty and creative intelligent design.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 “2-Minute Wonders: Uplifting Story.” Courtesy of Illustra Media. Youtube, April 4, 2020. Web. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/zHvi3aIAQpI

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Designed By The Almighty – The Dumbo Octopus

The Dumbo Octopus – Designed By The Almighty

Now I’ve seen everything!

Who ever thought an octopus could be described as “cute”?

Meet the Dumbo Octopus.

With its flappy ears (flippers, actually) and big soulful eyes, this little creature has captured the fancy of those who are lucky enough to see one up close.

 

And how about that name, “Dumbo Octopus.”

It does kind of look like “Dumbo” the Elephant from the Walt Disney film of long ago.

I never cease to delight in what God has created!

To know that every animal is designed by the Almighty, not by random chance or an accident, is humbling indeed.

This little one has a long scientific name that seems almost bigger than he is.

 “Grimpoteuthis”

When you pronounce it, it sounds like this:  “Grimp oh tooth this.”

Designed by the Almighty

 The Dumbo Octopus – NOAA Ocean Exploration1

The Dumbo Octopus can reach lengths of about 12 inches long.

They like to eat worms and other wiggly things that swim in the deep along the ocean floor (Helminstine).2

In the Bible, Psalm 104 (attributed to David) conveys the many wonders of the world that God created, including under the sea.

All glory to God!Psalm 104

Deep Dive

According to the Institute For Creation Research, a Dumbo Octopus was spotted swimming at a depth of about 21 thousand feet.

Now that’s deep!

It should be appreciated that the Dumbo Octopus has no high-tech submersible to house and protect it in those depths. It only has what its Creator gave it—the innate ability to thrive at those great depths.James, J.S. Johnson, Institute For Creation Research.4

How humbling it is when we realize that the wonders and complexities of the creation around us lead us right to our Creator God.

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1Photo courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration. November 19, 2019. Online Image. NOAA Photo Gallery. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanexplorergov/49203817176/in/photolist-2hXYqBs-2jsp69y-vcXdBp-nxFUAS-HaDW8D-GKstCA-M6NLAN-LHdtjs-LuNYZ-zfR4-8daU8S-zfR3-2jp5RY1-5HWhs1-atvdh1-5vWZVP-BgJv-2eDnx8-2eDnzk-9brE82-4xkYfi-4momfm-2eDnyK-2WdjX2-2jsRGjG-2jq7LFb-2jqvgwC-2joUX8d-4xkYwZ-aFTer8-2eDnwi-9vVvpb-eShSAu-ndWySt-6jrqSG-BByY-4Lrt8W-75wewg-4LnfFi-KfebxD-ajdhaL-2joHca9-4LnfEg-2jpw7nX-s2sNUH-4d4ANn-7MgSUu-6obpVp-4jLdhE-2jqbSpy

2 Quotation from Anne Marie Helmenstine (Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences) – science writer, educator, and consultant. “All About Grimpoteuthis, the Dumbo Octopus.” Courtesy of ThoughtCo. July 13, 2019. Web. Accessed 31, July, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/grimpoteuthis-dumbo-octopus-4160927

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

4 Quotation courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research. By James. J.S. Johnson, J.D., TH.D. From “Like Father, Like Son, in the Deepest Deep”, June 23, 2020. para. 10. Web. Accessed 29 July, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.icr.org/article/like-father-like-son-in-the-deepest-deep

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Favorite Heaven Quotes

Some of My Favorite Heaven Quotes

Have you ever thought about what Heaven will be like?

God’s Word gives us glimpses.

Our heavenly home will be MORE.

Our heavenly home will be MORE

More radiant than we could ever imagine, and more joyful (all the time) than the best moment we’ve ever had in our whole lives here on earth.

But, more importantly, it will be MORE because we will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Do you remember those promising words, the wonder and majesty in Heaven written about in the Book of Revelation?

John gives a firsthand account of seeing the new Jerusalem, words like:

Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. – Revelation 21:11, (NASB).

And the city has no need of a sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. – Revelation 21:23, (NASB).

God tells us in His Word what He wants us to know about Heaven.

We have His mission here on earth to do before we even reach eternity.

However, out of sheer anticipation of our future home, I curated just a few of my favorite heaven quotes from theologians to stir your imaginations.

With discernment always and to be clear, these are not people who claim they visited Heaven (thank goodness), but Christian authors who anticipated Heaven as well.

I agree with D.L. Moody. I see no compelling reason to not think about Heaven. There is insight to be had from these Christian authors.

The Reason for our Anticipation 

Any happiness found here in this world will not even compare to what we will experience in Heaven, says Martin Luther.favorite Heaven quotes

The following gives a whole new meaning to worshipping together!

Oh, Father, we long for the day when we can be there, the incredible world to come, and see your blazing, flashing majesty and reign on the thrones alongside of you and serve in your presence. We long for that day when we meet and fellowship with the saints of ages past and gather with all the redeemed. We desire so much to spend eternity visiting the New Jerusalem, the capital city of the new heaven and the new earth.John MacArthur, Pastor and Bible teacher from Grace To You.

Delight in God and be with Him forever!

Nothing will compare to the smiles and joy we’ll experience as we worship our King.

How divinely full of glory and pleasure shall that hour be when all the millions of mankind that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God shall meet together and stand around Him, with every tongue and every heart full of joy and praise! How astonishing will be the glory and the joy of that day when all the saints shall join together in one common song of gratitude and love, and of everlasting thankfulness to this Redeemer! With that unknown delight, and inexpressible satisfaction, shall all that are saved from the ruins of sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain, and rejoice in His presence! – Isaac Watts, theologian and hymn writer.

Where is Heaven?

Heaven is not here, it’s There. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for. – Elisabeth Elliot, Christian author and wife of missionary Jim Elliot.

This perverted world we now live in will someday fade away – but we won’t be grieving.

Everything will make perfect sense and we’ll be eternally joyful.

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All Scripture verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Martin Luther quotation, courtesy of Christian quotes.info.

John MacArthur quotation, courtesy of GTY.org/library/sermons-library. 1 November, 1987. para. 83. Web. Accessed 8 July, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-13/where-heaven-is-and-what-it-is-like

Isaac Watts quotation, courtesy of Christian quotes.info.

Elisabeth Elliot quotation, courtesy of Christian quotes.info.

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