Something New, Beyond Our Own Imagination

Glory belongs to God, Whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
-- Ephesians 3:20 (GWT)

My mentor, James, gave me a blank journal in January for the purpose of recording God-thoughts and especially for writing down new things the Lord is allowing me to see. When he gave me the book, James said, "Ask the Lord everyday to show you "something new" that you have never witnessed before."

Well, I've been seeing new things and recording some of these sightings as well. One way the Lord is showing me "something new" is in His marvelous Creation. For example, a few weeks ago while on our pastoral staff prayer retreat I saw for the very first time Shoveler ducks on the water. It was a cold day and the waters were iced over in many places. Suddenly these rafts of these beautiful Shoveler ducks were everywhere. (If you look at my digital images associated with this blog you will see a picture of two drake Shoveler ducks in flight over the cold, placid waters of Assateague Island, Virginia.) For a coastal boy, it doesn't get any better than seeing a new species of ducks never before witnessed up close and personal.

My prayer for you today is that the Lord will show you "something new". I want His glory to bring awe into Your soul for His intricate involvement in Creation, even in yourself. Whether He speaks to you through the whispering wings of ducks or in some other unique way, I invite you to live with your eyes and ears wide open.

Lord, Your glory is all around us and even within us. May we be amazed in Your presence. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear "something new" today, yes, something beyond our own imagination. In Jesus' Name. Amen and Amen.
Grateful     

New Life

Recently, I was blessed to make an early morning boat trip to Cape Lookout Lighthouse along the crystal coast of North Carolina. It's the most beautiful of all the east coast lighthouses in my estimation -- a beautiful beacon painted with a black-and-white diamond pattern. As a boy, I was raised on the interior island, Harkers Island, very near this inspiring lighthouse. My childhood home is only about a 20-minute-boat ride across the sound to what locals call "The Hook of the Cape".

I am always rejuvenated when I visit this lighthouse location, but on this particular visit the lighthouse was secondary in inspiration, because one of the Shackleford Banks wild ponies had given birth in the night to a precious foal. We were likely the first humans to view the breath-taking vision of this new life on the shoreline.

I climbed out of the boat near "The Short Turn" and walked with my camera towards the mother and her newborn standing for the first time on shaky little legs. In amazement I clicked priceless images. Take it from me, witnessing new life is an unmatched gift on planet earth. The only event that compares to and surpasses physical birth on planet earth is witnessing what Jesus called "being born again".

Thank you, Creator God for new life -- physical and spiritual. We are speechless in the presence of Your creation and re-creation. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 3: (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (NKJV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

God Desires to Be Known

God desires to be known by His creation. -- Robert Coleman

I desire to know and to be known by my Creator God. -- Kerry Willis

The words of this Steve Green song say "it" quite effectively:

Just the time I feel
that I've been caught
in the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
my mind's been bought
by worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
to blow, I know
the Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
cries that say I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.

Oh, I want to know You more.
When my daily deeds
ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race but set my own pace
and face a shattered soul,
Now the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hunger to be whole.

And Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breath
to know You in Your Death and Resurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.

Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more...

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Stop And Feed The Horses Along the Way

Pastor Jim is a partner in minstry alongside me. Pastor Jim's specialty is caring for others. Recently, my wife and I spent a day with him and his wife in Oberrammergau, Germany. We were there to attend the world famous, 400-year-old Passion Play that communicates the last four days in the life of our Lord, including His Crucifixion and Resurrection. While the play is an amazing event of inspiration, a highlight for me happened as the four of us walked towards the Passion Play Theatre. It was a simple moment, but full of wonder for me. What happened? Pastor Jim, who is known for his love of Creator God and also for his love of God's creation of horses, stopped along a fence line to feed four of his newest four-legged friends. Yes, grabbing big handfuls of tall grass along the outer side of the fence, Pastor Jim provided each of the four, four-legged animals a mouth full of unexpected nouishment. Somehow his spontaneous act of kindness touched me deeply. Yes, he obviously fed the horses' stomaches, but he also fed my soul. Maybe it was his boyish grin that inspired me most. All I can say it this: It's all joy to spend time with a person who loves Creator God and cares for God's creation, whether the creations happen to be two-legged or four. If you ever get a chance? Stop and feed the horses along your way.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Look At The Birds!

Seven words in Psalm 50:11 (NIV) speak powerfully to me about our God's compassionate attention to His Creation: I know every bird in the mountains...

Jesus then says in Luke 12:24 (NIV): And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!

Lord, I pray that we would trust You like the birds do. You challenge us to have confidence in You with these words You spoke in Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your Heavenly Father feeds them."

Like the birds, Lord, let our lives be characterized by worship, not worry. We should not dwell in sorrow, but we should instead sing of Your love forever. Amen.

ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful (P.S. Added Later in the Day Below)

P.S. This morning after I wrote and posted this blog entry, I sadly found a frozen mourning dove in the midst of black-oil sunflower seed that I keep plentiful in my yard for my winged-friends. I buried the beautiful bird in the ground underneath the snow at the foot of the Manger in our outdoor Nativity Scene. (Because I know the symbolism of a dove in the Bible and because I know that God's Son was born to die, burying the breathless, beautiful dove was a very deep and agonizing moving experience for me.) Still, it was an amazing experience for me,too, in that I had just read Psalm 50:11 late last evening. Think about it: The God I love, knew this dove. When the dove died, I can vouch that it was not hungry, but when it breathed its last breath, our compassionate Creator God cared. And how much more valuable are we than birds. An inspiring illustration for my soul.