Tuesday September 20 2016  FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS

What an incredible storm we had last evening and into the night.  Yesterday as I was working on the photo album for my sister I looked out the window and noticed how late it had become.  It was totally dark.  I wondered how I had been in my craft room for so long and had not realized it was getting so late.  I didn’t have long to wonder.  All of a sudden the sounds that came from outside made me realize that something more than nightfall was going on.  It wasn’t night at all, but rather a dark storm.  I peeked into the darkness and I could see and hear the pounding of rain as I watched the torturous twisting of the large limbs of the oak tree right outside the window.  It was fierce!  I later told my husband, “I was really praying”.  One thump on the roof from either a broken limb or the bowing of a branch knocking against the roof was all it took to focus my attention on the storm.  The rain came down in torrents.  Dave was not home and I knew I was all alone, that is except for God!  He is a great companion during times of storms. 

And God has been that companion to me through life storms as well.  When things are going well and you feel as if you are on the mountain top of life, and the view of your life stands comfortingly before you, it is often easy to disregard God.  When not in stress or dire circumstances why do you need to turn to God?  It’s becomes ever so easy to take off on our own path and forget that God wants to be your friend every day.  And only when the path leads back down to the valley, and the fog of life blocks out your view and you don’t know which way to turn, do you then turn once more to the God who so desires to walk hand in hand with you.  And so quickly our circumstances can change.

When I looked out the kitchen window this morning there was a shroud of fog that blanketed the entire view from our house.  We live on the downside of the hill.  When I look out the kitchen window I am looking uphill.  It was foggy all the way up with beautiful shards of light permeating the fog and shining across our driveway and lawn.  It was etheral.  I hopped in my car and drove up the hill through the wooded acres all around me.  I traveled about ¼ mile to the stop sign and turned left onto a two lane country road.  I was greeted with clear blue sky, picturesque corn fields laid out before me in pristine light, and not a cloud in the sky.  My little Kia Soul climbed to the top of the “mountain peak” (actually just a higher hill) and the vista was so awesome it took my breath away.  From the advantage point of my “mountain peak” I could see the farmlands rolling off to my right with the lower hills covered in magnificent forests.  I could see the highway about two miles away and all along the ridge of the highway (another two lane country road) was a mass of fog that had settled all along its edges.  Even further out the fog turned to a brown covering shrouding everything from view.

I was on top of everything and visibility was clear.  Life was beautiful.  The sunshine was brilliant.  As I descended into the valley and looked off at the lowlands on my left side, the mist of fog eerily masked the crops; as if God had spread an iridescent veil on top of everything.  The road was clear and sun was still shining on me but I wouldn’t have wanted to have been lost in the shroud of murkiness off to my left.  And again I saw the parallel between the beautiful scenery, and life.  When we follow God it may be dark and dank around us but He will keep our path clear and visible when we trust in him.

Personally, I enjoyed the visual contrast of the beautiful creation around me.  I see the world as a masterful creation of God.  I take it very personally because sometimes I really do think He makes some moments so awesome because He knows that I will be coming by at exactly that time.  Perhaps that sounds selfish and prideful.  I mean neither.  But I do believe His handiwork is in all of creation and I will enjoy every moment and every experience possible to me; and take great pleasure in it.  God is known to me in all His creation.

“Psalms 19:1-4

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”

 

GOD IS KNOWN TO ME IN ALL HIS CREATION

By Kathleen Martens

September 20, 2016

 

God is known to me

In all His creation.

I view His masterpiece

With exhilaration.

 

What I see

Each day in my view

Is always unique,

Created anew.

 

Fresh flowers bloom,

New clouds appear.

New songs are sung

By birds in the air.

 

The beauty of light

A paintbrush in action

Illustrate new hues

With deep satisfaction.

 

Overjoyed by splendor

That alights my vision

To enjoy God’s creation

My daily mission.

 

To feel the freshness

After a night of rain

Giving praise to God,

How can I refrain?

 

I see Gods workmanship

In the sunset glow,

And in sparkling loveliness

As lightening bugs show.

 

From the mightiest waterfall

To the drip of rain,

To savor each moment

Is for my gain.

 

When I experience creation

It’s God’s love I see.

I know He designed it

For both you and for me.

 

Thank You God for the beautiful afternoon drive today.

Thank You for creating the world with such beauty.

Thank You Lord that You love me.

Thank You for my vision.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU. 

“Romans 1:20 NIV

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”