Tag: Delight in God

We Are Loved

We Are Loved

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit.

The view across the open prairie looking up towards the Teton Mountain Range is breathtaking.

we are loved

This unforgettable landscape is just one of countless stunning examples of God’s glory on display.

His creation is truly a miracle.

I stand amazed . . . and thankful.

The whole universe reflects His majesty. 

How extraordinary is it that Creator God, who made Heaven and Earth, thought the world needed you and me before we were even born?

It’s a powerful truth, the depths of which are beyond our human comprehension.

What’s even more amazing is that God cares for us.

He knows when we’re filled with joy, and He knows when we’re hurting.

God isn’t influenced or moved by anyone’s fame or status.

He knows exactly who we are and we are loved.

Lessons From Creation

God cares about every aspect of your life.

We were made in His image.

Remember the powerful words of Jesus during His Sermon on the Mount.

We are much more valuable than the birds of the air. One more magnificent reason we should delight in God.

Fellow Christian writer Louis Gander wrote a lovely poem about God’s grace that I wanted to share with you. The last line, for me, “God holds” is very comforting.

An Amazing Miracle

by Louis Gander
04/01/09

Creation.
An amazing miracle.

A miraculous life as faith in God grows.
The greatest forest withstands the storms –
but when an acorn falls, God knows.

Creation.
An amazing miracle.

A miraculous life of piloted prayers.
A flock of birds protect each other –
but when the sparrow dies, God cares.

Creation.
An amazing miracle.

A miraculous seed crushed under strife.
The tomb was dark, the stone was sealed –
but God delivers eternal life.

Creation.
An amazing miracle.

A miraculous life as grace unfolds.
A family weeps, kisses, and loves –
but when their father sleeps, God holds.

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Poem copyright 2019 by louis gander. Poetry for sermons, story poems and more…If you love story poems, then you’ll love ganderpoems.org / no ads, no sign-up, no tracking.  Just free inspirational poetry.

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New Year New Plans

New Year’s Resolutions

Welcome 2019, and welcome to all of you who have found this blog!

Do you have any special plans or resolutions?

I’m guessing a “new diet” is in there somewhere.

Trust me, I completely understand.

Christmas cookies

Colorful Christmas cookies and homemade pies are “oh so tempting” around the holidays, and very hard to resist.

So, I didn’t!

Starting The New Year Off Right

Bible reading plans

From a Christian perspective, the new year is just the encouragement you need to you to start a new Bible reading plan.

There are so many good ones out there, like this one.

If you’d like another option for a reading plan, I wanted to share this additional resource with you that you may not have seen yet.

If you click here, it will take you to Bible Gateway. At the top, click on the word “Study.” There you will find a series of reading plans to choose from.

Even further, you can also sign up for their devotionals. I found two great ones that I enjoy reading though every day. They are so encouraging!!

New Year, New Plans

There are countless searches online asking the question, “Why should I read the Bible?”

If you haven’t taken the time to read through Scripture, please consider this.

The year 2019 starts a new chapter in your life,

and a renewed time to delight in God.

Why not start the new year off right by reading daily the inspired Word from Almighty God – the One Who created you out of nothing?

No doubt, this new year will bring its share of challenges, as well as victories.

Are you ready?

“The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” – Warren Wiersbe, International Bible teacher and author.

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* Warren Wiersbe quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info

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Our Creator And King

The Wonders Of Our Creator

There are countless reasons to delight in God – our Creator and King.

He is the maker of all things, including you and me.

Creator and King

The sunrises and sunsets that we enjoy today, wouldn’t happen were it not for His commands during the creation of the world.

16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. – Genesis 1:16-19., (ESV).

All living creatures – from the dinosaurs of old to your family pet sleeping over there on your couch, to every amazing creature that ever existed in the wild – all designed by God for His great pleasure.

And He put us in charge, under His Sovereignty and reflecting His glory.

It’s very humbling, if you think about it.

That’s why I love the videos I’ve seen from Illustra Media. I’ve only watched a few. They’re not only intellectually stimulating, but also amazing visuals pointing to God’s creation.

Allow me to share a short one about hummingbirds with you.

God’s Exquisite Workmanship

His exquisite workmanship

Have you ever seen a hummingbird lighting on a tree outside your window? We have one who visits us occasionally.  When he flies by, I have to stop everything I’m doing just to watch in awe.

Hummingbirds are not only beautiful, if you consider the fact that they beat their wings over eighty times a second, all day and every day, their very nature is extraordinary.

We know “Who” we have to thank for their amazing design.

Please enjoy.

God bless

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* Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Like A Little Glimpse Of Heaven

I don’t know about you but come winter, I long to see snow.

We’re talking about a deep longing, like when I see a chocolate chip ice cream cone.

Texas had some winter precipitation recently, but it just wasn’t the same.

I’m talking about finding some bundle-up, go-outside, throw-some-snowballs, kind of snow.

What to do, what to do.

And then it hit me.

“Eureka!”

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

If you’ve never been to Eureka Springs, Arkansas please check it out.

You may want to consider it for your travel plans sometime.

It’s a fun destination, about an hour north of Fayetteville.

The downtown area is charming, and the food is delicious.

Eureka Springs

Best time to go?

Opinions on that vary, but for us, we prefer the winter months.

Let it snow

This trip would be our third time for a visit – that’s how much we like it there.

Some of the town’s attractions shut down for winter, but there’s so much more to see and do.

variety of wildlife

We also like to go there to see the variety of wildlife, the picturesque landscapes, the cozy cabins, and the SNOW!

Where to stay?

This trip, we chose a secluded cabin in Cinnamon Valley, just minutes from downtown.

Cinnamon Valley

Cue the happy dance.  🙂

God’s Spectacular Design

As predicted, snow started falling.

Delicate flakes blanketed the trees surrounding us.

It turned cold fast, with a capital C.

The temperatures dropped below freezing, as did the wind chill.

plenty of wildlife

Every day was a new adventure.

Spectacular views greeted us on our hikes through the woods.

We even saw a bald eagle soaring above us!

His creation is just one of the many reasons I delight in God.

It’s so beautiful, I can’t help but say a little prayer.

Thank You, most gracious Heavenly Father,

for who You are.

The wonders of Your creation never cease to amaze me.

Who are we to deserve such a gift?

Thank You for sending us Your Son,

and thank You for providing us

with glimpses of Your perfection,

through Him, and through Your creation.

How Beautiful Is Heaven?

My husband and I made quite a dent in the walking trails.

At one point during a morning hike, the property owner drove up and told us about a black bear that was spotted a month earlier making itself at home on top of another camper’s car. He also pointed out that some of the tracks we saw belonged to some mountain lions that frequently hang out in the area after dark. 

Hmm…it might be time to go back to the cabin now. We don’t want to be on the menu.

Here’s my handsome (and freezing) husband beside the frozen pond.

temperatures dropped

Can you imagine how beautiful Heaven will be?

No one creates a masterpiece like the Master Creator does, and no one is mightier than Almighty God.

When we see the spectacular displays of His creation and power, it should remind us that…

5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He seals up the hand of every man,
    that all men whom he made may know it. – Job 37:5-7, (ESV).

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*Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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The Hands And Feet Of Jesus

Walking Examples of Grace and Mercy

I hope you all had a blessed Labor Day.

It certainly was newsworthy.

Flooding in South Texas

*Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez. Port Arthur, Texas, August 31, 2017. U.S. Air National Guard.

The devastating pictures of Hurricane Harvey’s path of destruction in South Texas, plus the threat of two new storms, Irma and Jose, has a lot of people on edge.

It’s understandable to ask God “Why?” and “When are things going to calm down?”

I wish we had all the answers right now, but life doesn’t work that way.

The Hands And Feet Of Jesus

Thank You, Jesus, for what we DO know.

hands and feet of Jesus

Guaranteed, in the midst of this tragedy, His light is seen in the darkness. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.

  • A big thank you to the dear people from all over the country who are donating money and supplies.
  • Thank you to the convoys of trucks, cars pulling u-hauls, and boats headed to the flood zones with food and necessities. (A shout out to the Louisiana Cajun Navy. I’d never heard of them before, but I’m now a big fan.)
  • Thank you to the emergency responders working non-stop and putting the lives of others above their own.
  • Thank you also to the churches and individuals who prayed and are continuing to pray for the relief efforts.

If any of these bullet points describe you (and I bet one of them does), you are not just a bullet point.

In these instances, you are acting as the hands and feet of Jesus. One of the best ways to delight in God is to serve others. Your selfless actions do not go unnoticed. The following verses from the Apostle Peter were written to encourage Christians of that time to use their gifts for serving others. Peter’s message also rings true for us today.

**10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:10, English Standard Version (ESV).

Glorifying God, Despite the Odds

Sharing the love of Christ to those in need glorifies God.

But, how can we glorify God when we are the ones who are suffering and in need?

The hands and feet of Jesus serving others

Share the love of Christ with those in need

Fear about our circumstances is emotionally painful, and we don’t understand why it’s happening to us.

Someday we will know, but in the meantime, blaming God is never the answer.

It may be hard to grasp this, but suffering refines us into a deeper fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus, who suffered more than any human being on earth, understands our pain.

As you pray, ask for His comfort, strength, and peace.

As you walk with Him through your difficulty, no matter how long your emotional or physical pain lasts, you will have a testimony building of His grace.

I believe Nick Vujicic is an excellent example of this. Nick was born without arms or legs. And we think we have difficulties?

Instead of giving up and blaming God, Nick uses his challenges to magnify God’s purpose for his life.

Look Around

Whatever you are experiencing, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Please don’t let your suffering and self-doubts swallow you up inside.

Pray your own prayers to God, ask Him for His mercy and guidance going forward, and reach out to your Christian friends for support.

Support and love from those acting as the hands and feet of Jesus can be a lifeline as we wait for His glorious return.

Jesus is our only Hope.

God bless

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*South Texas flooding photo, courtesy of SC National Guard (170831-Z-AH923-081) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez.
**Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
***Video clip, courtesy of “Heart of the Artist.” Uploaded by Storytelling Pictures. Published Friday, April 12, 2013. Online video clip. Vimeo. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/63902097. Web.

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