A Stunning Display of God’s Creation

November 10, 2020 Gracie

A Can’t Be Missed Stunning Display of God’s Creation

a stunning display of God's creation

One of the most breathtaking sights the world has to offer, in my opinion, is the Aurora Borealis.

It’s always been a dream of mine to go to Alaska and witness this natural phenomenon and stunning display of Gods creation.

Ahhh, some day.

Aurora Borealis: magnificent display of God's creation

I don’t know about you, but I’m awestruck just looking at some of the stunning photos of the northern lights on the internet.

A symphony of brilliant colors literally dance across the sky.

How can people not believe in our Creator God when they see something like this?

And how can people not believe in our Creator God when they see a broken life transformed through the saving knowledge of salvation through Christ alone?

God is good, all the time.

Only He can create such a beautiful phenomenon as the Aurora Borealis.

If you can’t go see this stunning light display in person, like me, you can soak in the photos and the videos online.

A welcome breather from all of the political news, right?

The Aurora Borealis Explained

So what exactly are the Northern Lights?

I’ll leave that explanation to the experts.

The Northern Lights are actually the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere.– Northern Lights Centre.¹

If you live in Alaska or Finland, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are excellent.

But here’s something even better . . .

Do you know what will be even more grand than seeing the Northern Lights?

No earthly beautiful thing, even the Aurora Borealis, will ever be able to compare with being in Heaven with our Savior.

Can you imagine the complete joy and excitement to finally be in His presence?

God’s Creation On Display: The Aurora Borealis

Thinking about that future joy reminded me of a great video I saw recently.

This video features a sweet family with their young son seeing the northern lights in Fairbanks for the first time.

As you will see and hear, you don’t have to be a five year old child to enjoy the wonder of God’s creation.

The video is a little longer than what I normally post, but it’s worth the watch.

This, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is just a foretaste of our humility, wonder, and joy when we receive our eternal lives in Heaven.

That promise is why I delight in God.

What do you think your reaction will be when you see Jesus in Heaven?

After falling humbly at His feet in reverence, I think our happiness will turn to shouts of joy similar to the video above.

As God promised victory to Israel over her enemies so long ago, likewise when Jesus returns, the enemies of our faith will be defeated.

Hallelujah!

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! – Psalm 68:3, (NASB).

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¹ Quotation from The Northern lights Centre, from “Northern Lights” n.d., para. 2. Web. Accessed October 31, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernlights.html

Our Exceptional God

The Lamp Of Heaven

September 8, 2020 Gracie

Thankful For The Light

Have you ever walked around in the middle of the night when it’s pitch-black dark?

Ouchhhhhh! I stubbed my toe.

Who moved the couch?

Finally you find the light switch and flip it on.

The welcoming light obediently floods the room.

Yay! No more stumbling around in the dark.

Aren’t you thankful for the light?

Morning Has Broken

the Lamp of Heaven

As the dawn starts to break, the sun begins its morning dance across the sky.

Our magnificent Sun, the lamp of Heaven, lights up a world of over 7.6 billion people.

Depending on your time zone, people start to wake.

Millions everywhere yawn and stretch – ready to face the day.

Each day brings new responsibilities stacked on top of old ones still demanding attention.

Sadly, we don’t have much time to slow down and smell the roses.

The Lamp of Heaven is Powerful

the lamp of heaven is powerful

How powerful is the sun?

The Sun’s energy, composed of hydrogen and helium fusion, is comparable to a nuclear explosion!

Nuclear explosions strike fear in the hearts of men, but the Lamp of Heaven is so perfectly made by our Creator, that these perfectly-combined explosions enable life to exist on earth.

No small miracle.

The sun lights our days so we can see nature all around us. (Even a blind person can feel the warmth of the sun.)
– Courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research.¹

Aren’t you thankful for the sun?

In the Beginning

In the beginning, there was Nothing.

God spoke, and the Nothing became the Something Spectacular.

You and I are living on it now.

The lights of heaven are the sun, moon, and stars; and all these are the work of God’s hands. (1.) The sun is the greatest light of all, more than a million times greater than the earth, and the most glorious and useful of all the lamps of heaven, a noble instance of the Creator’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and an invaluable blessing to the creatures of this lower world. – Matthew Henry, Christian minister and author.²

God’s creation wonderfully highlights His majesty and perfect love for us.

What a gift!

And someday, the Son (not the Sun) will directly light our lives for eternity.

Make no doubt about it in Isaiah 60:10 below, the prophet was speaking God’s word to Israel – His chosen people.

The saved people of Israel, of course, but what about us too?

God does not forget the Church.

As Christians who believe in salvation through Jesus Christ alone, we are also a part of God’s larger redemptive plan.

This is yet one more reason to delight in God.

Here’s what we have to look forward to!

The Lord our everlasting light

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¹ Quotation from The Institute For Creation Research, from “Nature Reveals God’s Power” n.d., para. 3. Web. Accessed 3 September, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.icr.org/power-of-God/.

² Matthew Henry Commentary, Genesis 1, courtesy of https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/genesis/1.html, n.d., para. 6. Web. Accessed 3 September, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/genesis/1.html

Our Exceptional God

Cochren and Company Who Can

June 9, 2020 Gracie

Cochren and Company

Cochren and Company “Who Can” – Powerful New Single

A couple of weeks ago, Cochren and Company released a powerful new single called “Who Can.”

After listening to it several times, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the powerful lyrics.

They seem especially relevant, considering the world is in chaos right now with a pandemic and people of every skin color are hurting and broken.

We need the Lord, and His blessed affirmation that He will forgive us if we sincerely repent and seek Him with all of our hearts.

See if the uplifting lyrics to “Who Can” encourage you this way too.

“Only You can hold my head up, only You can help me see,” Michael brings the verse home with, “Only You can break the grip that sin had on me.” – Song lyrics, Genius.com.²

Stylistically, Michael Cochren’s soulful voice never fails to disappoint.

I became a fan of Cochren & Company in October of last year when I first came across their song, One Day, and started listening to their whole catalog.

You can learn more about Cochren & Co here.

Does Your Spiritual Life Feel Like a Mess?

So many worldly distractions – all, at their root, designed to take our minds off of God.

Do we think Satan doesn’t know what our weaknesses are?

Idolatry

No time for God

Fights on social media

Wrongful Pride

Social status

Do any of these sound familiar?

What a mess you are!

No, that’s not what I mean.

What a mess we are.

But, as messy as our lives are sometimes, we have a Sovereign God Who can love us like no other.

I delight in God because, like the song says, “I’m a mess, I confess, but You carry me through.”

Cochren and Company Tour

Cochren and Company is touring again, starting in late June with 18 upcoming concerts.

Here’s a fun idea for you to consider. Their first tour date is aboard the Summer Hits Cruise departing Galveston en route to Cozumel, Mexico. The lineup will be incredible. They’ll be sharing the stage with other top-named acts such as TobyMac, Danny Gokey, and Tauren Wells.

After that, the group returns to the States with stops in Ohio and Texas, to name a few of the venues. You can check out all of your opportunities to see Cochren and Company Live here!

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¹Cochren & Company opening photo, courtesy of cochrenmusic Facebook post., 12 December, 2017. Accessed 8 June, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/cochrenmusic/photos/a.384165171613570/1932707970092608/?type=3&theater.

²Song lyrics, courtesy of Genius.com.

Our Exceptional God

Is There Good News Today?

May 26, 2020 Gracie

Is There Good News Today in the World?

there is good news

Yes, there is!

Today, and every day.

Even though the world is dominated by negative stories in the mainstream news media, there’s an antidote for that.

But, you have to do some digging.

Online, that means you have to search a little harder for stories that are uplifting and joyful.

Let me start.

Here’s a recent real headline, for example, that made me smile.

A friend mentioned it to my husband the other day and I had to check it out for myself.

Coronavirus outbreak spurs record Bible purchases: ‘People are looking for hope’ – Fox News, April 2, 2020.

By the way, a similar headline was also shared on the Christian Post on April 7^thof this year.

Bible sales have gone up!

More and more people are turning to the Bible during these unsettling times.

People are looking for real answers today, not a temporary Band-Aid.

We can’t put our hope and trust in so-called experts and politicians who send mixed messages every day.

Our hope and trust is in God alone.

We Must Keep Our Eyes On Christ

Remember the Lord’s command to Israel through His servant, Joshua.

He is also with us!

In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord’s command and promise to Israel was not, “do not fear, for I am with you [unless there’s a plague.]”

God is our Sovereign Promise Keeper, from biblical times through today’s virus fears.

“Be Strong and Courageous” – let that be our rallying cry in what is ultimately a spiritual battle unfolding in front of our very eyes.

The tender love of God for His servants makes Him concerned for how they feel inside. He wants them to be courageous. Some people think it is okay for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God does not think so.

From this text, [Joshua 1:9], it is clear that our Master does not want us entangled with fears. He desires for us to live without fretfulness, doubt, and cowardice. Our Master does not think as lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are despondent, we are subject to a grievous ailment that is not to be trifled with but instead taken at once to the beloved Physician. – Alistair Begg, Christian pastor and author.²

Time To Dig – There’s Good News Today

Seek out the good news online to get a much-needed break from the bad.

In an earlier post on Delight-in-God, I suggested one option – the website called InspireMore.

There are also some very positive posts on YouTube.

Here’s a sweet video that came up during my searches that I just fell in love with.

I can’t speak the language, but no matter.

This marriage video of a special needs teacher is touching in so many ways.

Here’s a dose of happy for today!

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² Quotation from Alistair Begg, Christian pastor, author, founder of Truth For Life Teaching Ministry. Web. Accessed 20, May, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/truth-for-life/truth-for-life-may-12-2020.html.

Our Exceptional God

Seeing 20/20 In 2020

April 28, 2020 Gracie

The Eyes of Faith – Seeing 20/20 In The Year 2020

having clear vision 20/20 in 2020

We used to love watching hawks fly around at our old house.

Have you ever seen a hawk up close?

They are truly fascinating birds of prey.

Fascinating, but take it from me, they don’t pick up after themselves.

Seriously.

Once we saw a hawk with a snake in its mouth land directly on our back fence.

We quickly grabbed our binoculars to see what cool thing it would do next.

It didn’t take long.

It dropped the snake in our yard, and then flew off.

Hey, not cool.

You can see one of our frequent hawk visitors in the center of the picture below.

seeing clearly in 2020

Did you know that hawks can see eight times better than we can? That works out to about a 20/2 on the vision chart.

That’s pretty amazing.

My 20/20 pales in comparison.

I want to always see the world around me through the eyes of faith.

Seeing 20/20 in 2020

The other day, I came across the following verse in my Bible reading, located in 1 Samuel 16:7.

God is with the prophet Samuel in Bethlehem. God had a clear message for what Samuel was to look for in the search for a new king over Israel.

Check this out.

through God's eyes

The Lord looks at the heart

He sees us, not just for what we are on the outside, but more importantly, who we are on the inside.

Have you ever noticed in your Bible readings whom God chooses to use for His glory?

Did He always choose the most attractive, richest, strongest, and powerful people?

God often chooses unlikely people to do His work, so that all know the work is God’s work, not man’s work. He wants to work in a way so that people regard His servants as they regarded Samson: they wondered at the secret of his strength. (Judges 16:5). – David Guzik, Christian pastor and author. ²

Don’t you love that?

The Eyes of Faith

Delight yourself in the Lord, take shelter in Him, and see everything going on in the world with a Godly perspective.

Things may appear impossible right now, but through the eyes of faith, we know that, in God’s timing, everything will fall into place.

And then it will all start to make sense.

As hard as it can be sometimes, we have to try and look beyond our circumstances.

Choose to view life through God’s eyes. This will not be easy because it doesn’t come naturally to us. We cannot do this on our own. We have to allow God to elevate our vantage point. Start by reading His Word, the Bible…Pray and ask God to transform your thinking. Let Him do what you cannot. Ask Him to give you an eternal, divine perspective. – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor and author.³

Amen!

If you feel any of my posts would be helpful to someone else, please feel free to use the sharing buttons.

God bless.

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² Quotation from Christian pastor David Guzik. “1 Samuel 16. God Chooses David.” n.d., Web. Accessed 26 April, 2020. Retrieved from https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-samuel-16/

³ Chuck Swindoll, influential Christian pastor and author. Swindoll quotation, courtesy of AZquotes.com.

Our Exceptional God

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