Beautiful world

Life is busy! Life can be extremely busy, but I think most often it is because we allow it to become that way. One thing I've been really trying to do is to learn to say no to myself. I'm probably the one who's the most responsible for my super long to do list, so I'm trying to prioritize the things I need and would like to do. Anyway, this week I was reminded of how much I've been missing because of all of this running to and from.

First I must admit that it has taken quite some adjusting moving from Alaska back into the lower 48, especially because we're back in the city. There are more cars, more houses, more people, and fewer trees, and it's easy to become distracted with the many things that are constantly happening around me. However, one of the things I learned in Alaska was how wonderful it is to focus and learn from nature and even though up north it was all around me, I know there is beautiful nature everywhere!

One of the things I've always loved about Texas is how big the sky is here. I love how the sun rays gloriously peek through the clouds during sunrise, how orange, red, and gold the sky is at sunset, or how filled with stars it is at night. Breathtaking! 

Well this week I was getting ready to go to sleep and opened the back door to let our dog in when I decided that I hadn't been outside at night in a while. I pulled up a chair and sat down looking up at the beautiful dark sky. Millions of stars were shinning and I realized how much I had missed the sky. My heart was naturally drawn to God. I wasn't there probably 2 minutes when a star flew across the sky leaving a trail of sparkling glitter behind. Wow! I was so excited and thought to myself that I've been missing a lot by staying inside so busy with daily life. Then I just stayed outside enjoying the quietness of the night and how beautiful it was.

Now I'm taking time to go outside every night to look up and admire God's beautiful artwork and to thank Him for having given me another day. Truly the heavens declare His glory!

A new week is starting and I would like to encourage you to take time from your busy life to admire the beautiful things God has created. There's always something we can admire and learn from nature, even in the big city. It could be the sky, the beautiful houseplants that decorate your home (some of mine had mushrooms growing around them. Go figure!), it could be the little tough weeds that grow through the cracks in the cement, the little bugs and butterflies that fly around, or the birds that cross the sky or in our case crowd our feeders. I truly believe all the birds of the neighborhood are here in our backyard! I love it! :) All I know is that God has an amazing natural world out there for us to enjoy. Take advantage of it!

http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/116462/taurus-1-starry-sky.jpg

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

Whiny Christians

I had to chuckle when I read the beginning of James 4 this week. The Bible actually talks of whiny Christians! Right in the first few verses the author speaks about the fights and quarrels that happen in God's church. Interesting to know that this was a problem even way back then, but it was a problem nonetheless and it was a reflection of a poor relationship with God just like it is today. James was encouraging God's followers to stop quarreling for it displeased God. James also explains that the reason we fight and quarrel among ourselves is because of our desires. If we don't get what we want, we complain and argue. In other words, we whine! 

In a previous post I spoke about a study on the world's most annoying sound. Participants in the study couldn't even solve simple math problems when exposed to whining, it didn't matter the language. The sound can be extremely irritating and distressing. No wonder when Christians whine there can be so much confusion and distress in God's church. 

God calls the fighting and quarreling friendship with the world (verse 4), and that when we do that we are speaking against His law therefore breaking the law (verse 11.) What an awful and somber thought.

The good news is that the Bible is filled with stories of followers of God who solved their fights and quarreling with the help of the Holy Spirit. Even though the devil does all he can to cause division among God's people, if we are humble and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, God will bring peace and love. That's because the fruit of a life filled with the Holy Spirit is among others, peace, and love, self control and gentleness. 

I am asking God to help me never cause any quarreling simply because I'm not getting my way. I want to be humble and glorify Him in everything I do and say. I want the fruit of His Spirit to overflow in my life and I want Him to help me fill my mind and heart with things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Why don't you ask God the same? Let's do it and stop our quarreling, fighting, and whining! 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

Intense love

If you are a parent, do you ever wonder if other parents love their children the way you love yours? I do! The love I feel for my child is so deep and profound that sometimes I wonder if other parents can love their children this same way. It just feels that no one else can love their children like I love mine own, that there can be no stronger love than the one I feel. But then, as I look at other parents I notice that they also love their children with all that they are. There is that same intensity and care that I also feel.  We love our children with our own lives!

I have to ask then, if we, imperfect human beings, love our children this way, why do we think that our Heavenly Father, who by definition is love, doesn't love us? Why do we think that He's out there to get us? 

If you are feeling that God doesn't love you, stop that thinking right now. God loves you more than parents can love their own children and there is absolutely nothing you can do, and nothing can happen, that will separate you from His love. You are His child, His most treasured possession. Hold on to that truth with all that you are!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

"nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:30