Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Night Skies
By Lisa T. Bergren
Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.
Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits…
God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot,
His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need.
His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all!
His love never quits!
–Excerpts from Psalm 139, The Message
On Emma’s birthday last year we were in Montana, at my folks’ lake place, where we spend time every summer. Late that night, she came to me, unable to sleep. We cuddled for a moment and then I whispered, “Do you see those stars out the window? Would you come down to the dock with me to look at them?”
She leaped at the idea, of course, and we slipped on shoes and sweatshirts and made our way in the dark to the beach, then on out the dock. To either side of the dock were dark waters, glittering with reflected starlight, and at the end, where we laid back to peruse the skies, was a mass of stars above us. “Whoa,” Emma said, “I had no idea there were so many!” We sat there for a while, staring at the wash of the Milky Way, satellites slowly trolling in orbit, and made out a few constellations. I wished I could remember more from my college astronomy class.
We talked about how in Colorado Springs, where we live, we can only see the brightest stars, because of all the light pollution. And it sent a pang of sorrow through me that although we share the same skies with Montana, our view is so limited, eleven months of the year. Same skies, different view. And it made me think about how that’s like faith. We all have the same opportunity, day after day, night after night, to see our God, but something might obscure it nine times out of ten.
So, what’s keeping us from seeing God today? What’s keeping us from recognizing Jesus in a neighbor’s comment or a song on the radio? Are we like the still waters of a lake at night, reflecting His light in a brilliant, moving tapestry, or are we but a dim reflection? God is with us, whether we can see Him or not. Sometimes, we just have to move to a spot to get a better view.
God of light, thank you for enduring, for never quitting, even when I fade out on You, now and again. I long to see You clearly and be a reflection of You in our dark world. Remind me that You are closer than I sometimes think. Surround me, overwhelm me with Your presence. Help me to not forget that You are always with me, always Magnificent, always Holy, always More-Than. I adore You! Amen.
Feel free to forward this devotional to friends–just remember to include my author name with it! Thanks.
Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.
Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits…
God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot,
His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need.
His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all!
His love never quits!
–Excerpts from Psalm 139, The Message
On Emma’s birthday last year we were in Montana, at my folks’ lake place, where we spend time every summer. Late that night, she came to me, unable to sleep. We cuddled for a moment and then I whispered, “Do you see those stars out the window? Would you come down to the dock with me to look at them?”
She leaped at the idea, of course, and we slipped on shoes and sweatshirts and made our way in the dark to the beach, then on out the dock. To either side of the dock were dark waters, glittering with reflected starlight, and at the end, where we laid back to peruse the skies, was a mass of stars above us. “Whoa,” Emma said, “I had no idea there were so many!” We sat there for a while, staring at the wash of the Milky Way, satellites slowly trolling in orbit, and made out a few constellations. I wished I could remember more from my college astronomy class.
We talked about how in Colorado Springs, where we live, we can only see the brightest stars, because of all the light pollution. And it sent a pang of sorrow through me that although we share the same skies with Montana, our view is so limited, eleven months of the year. Same skies, different view. And it made me think about how that’s like faith. We all have the same opportunity, day after day, night after night, to see our God, but something might obscure it nine times out of ten.
So, what’s keeping us from seeing God today? What’s keeping us from recognizing Jesus in a neighbor’s comment or a song on the radio? Are we like the still waters of a lake at night, reflecting His light in a brilliant, moving tapestry, or are we but a dim reflection? God is with us, whether we can see Him or not. Sometimes, we just have to move to a spot to get a better view.
God of light, thank you for enduring, for never quitting, even when I fade out on You, now and again. I long to see You clearly and be a reflection of You in our dark world. Remind me that You are closer than I sometimes think. Surround me, overwhelm me with Your presence. Help me to not forget that You are always with me, always Magnificent, always Holy, always More-Than. I adore You! Amen.
Feel free to forward this devotional to friends–just remember to include my author name with it! Thanks.
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