Stand in Awe

Do you remember the last time you stood in awe of God’s creation?  We are often so consumed by the busyness of our lives that we fail to observe the art of the Creator.

 

Genesis 1:1 is a very familiar verse to most, but let’s not overlook it.   “In the beginning God created the   heavens and the earth.”    Have you ever sat and really pondered that?   God created the world.  Look around at the beauty of nature.  Everything is made just perfectly.  The food chain, plant growth, and the human body all point to the Creator.  Be aware of the work, beauty, and complexity of God. 

Consider our Solar System.  The sun, Earth, stars, and planets are positioned in the same place every day.  The Earth rotates on its axis day after day…if it rotates any faster gravity would be such that we would be too heavy to move…if it rotates any slower gravity would be such that we would float away!  All the while our Earth is orbiting the sun year after year.  If we were any closer to the sun we would burn up…if we were any farther away we would freeze!  Did this just happen or was it strategically placed there by an Omnipotent CREATOR??     

Read Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV).  David, a shepherd who worked outside with his sheep day after day, night after night, wrote this Psalm.

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 display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens, He has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.   

  

We are not to worship creation!  Rather, we are to worship the perfect God who designed it.  Take a moment, stand in awe of His creation, and worship Him.

I remember one morning as Dawson (2 at the time) was eating breakfast, we were discussing the day.  I made the comment to Dawson that we needed to thank God for the day because He made it.  Dawson replied, “God made the day?”  I said, “Yes, God made the day.”  He said,”God made the sun too.”  I replied, “God made the sun and God also made you!”  He looked at me in awe.  His blue eyes became so wide as he exclaimed, “God made me???”  Before I could respond, Dawson had climbed down from the chair and was running into Tad’s room screaming, “Bubba, Bubba, God made me!”  

 Shouldn’t we all have that excitement for God?

What keeps us from that?  In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to constantly remind ourselves of Him.  

Romans 1:20 tells us that through creation we see His invisible qualities and divine nature.

Does creation cause you to want to worship?

Do you ever want to sit still and admire the Creator? 

Just look at this picture.  It was taken from my front porch.  God has left his signature over all creation!  Take a moment to stand in awe!

Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe,  I pray that I will pause from the busyness of the world in order to see You in creation.  Amen!

The Daily Grind

The daily grind…what does that make you think of?

It is usually the name we give to everyday life…getting the children to school, going to work, helping with homework, cooking supper, doing the dishes, doing the laundry, bathing the children, feeding the dog, putting the children to bed, making your husband happy, …you get my point.  That same routine we do over and over, day after day.

The daily grind...Have you ever stopped and wondered if anyone ever notices everything you do?  Is anyone aware that you have washed, folded, and put up 3 loads of laundry?  Did anyone notice the clean base boards? What about lunches you pack every night? God observes all of these things.  He sees every day, the things we think go unnoticed.  That’s why the Bible says “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31.  

All of my actions should be done to the glory of God. Should I buy that outfit, drink that beverage, watch that TV show, go to that place, say that comment? Does it bring glory to God? Does it point to the superiority of His name? If so, then I can do it.

Colossians 3:23 says “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”  How much better would you perform your job if you were working for the Lord instead of your boss?  You see, there is a difference between working for men and working for God.  God always deserves our BEST, for He is worthy!  Many times our sin nature tells us that our employees/employers/coworkers aren’t fair to us.  As a result we will only do enough to get by and keep our jobs.  However, when we work as if we are working for our Heavenly Father, our labor becomes a beautiful offering to Him.

After arriving home from a long day at work, my husband greeted me at the door.  “Hey honey.  Did you have a good day?  How about coming outside with me and pulling the weeds in the flower bed while I cut grass?”  Now maybe working in the flower bed is relaxing to you, but it is the LAST thing I want to do.  I immediately replied that I needed to help Tad with his homework.  I had a great excuse not to help with the weeds!  Fifteen minutes later when the homework was complete, I peeked outside and saw my sweet husband on the lawnmower.  I knew that wasn’t exactly what he wanted to be doing after an exhausting day of work either.  I felt guilty.  With a bad attitude, I put on my garden gloves and began pulling weeds.  Immediately, God spoke to my heart, “do it all for the glory of God…you are working for Me.”  I thanked God for convicting my heart.  I began praising God in the flower bed.  I praised Him for giving me the health to be on my knees in the flowerbed, for giving me a flowerbed to be able to weed, and especially for being able to watch my children play as I pulled weeds.  It is amazing how much more enjoyable a job can be when you allow Christ to be part of it.

Dear Lord, Thank you for seeing me even when it doesn’t feel like anybody else notices.  I pray you would meet with me in the ordinary so I can approach everyday with abundant joy, a Christ-like attitude, and without growing weary.  Amen

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Welcome!

Hello!  Welcome to my blog and my very first post!  I hope to make this a place you (ladies especially) can come for encouragement from Scriptures.  I have named my blog “Strengthening Me” because of a Bible verse that I hold very dear to my heart.  Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  

Have you ever thought that you weren’t qualified to do something God was asking you to do?  Maybe your first thought was someone else could do it better.  Well, I have great news!  You can do it!  You have all you need to fulfill your purpose.  How do I know?  Because if you are a child of God, God is in you!  He created you just like you are, lacking nothing!  (I’m taking this advice and beginning this blog even though I do not feel qualified to write!)  I once read “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”  He looks for that brave soul who will make herself available for His purpose.  

When my cherished friend, DeShay, was fighting cancer she never said to me, “I can’t do this”.  Instead, she clung to this Scripture.  She told me once, “I don’t know why this is happening, but I know God has a plan.”  Through her 5 year battle, she encouraged others with this verse.  I’m not sure how many cards I received from her because I simply had a cold or a bad day.  She always included this Scripture on my cards.  I truly believe she won…not the cancer.  She is the one walking the streets of Gold with our Savior!  DeShay, this blog is in memory of you and dedicated to all the women out there who need a getaway from this fast paced world! 

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me to use Your Word to encourage others.  Speak through me.  May my words be glorifying to You!  In the precious name of Jesus I pray.  Amen

Follow me and return for weekly blogs!  I look forward to God strengthening me through His Word.  How about you?