Friday, February 20, 2009

Drawing Near

Align Center

Springtime is drawing near here in the Willamette Valley.The signs are everywhere.The weather is improving.We had 3 days of sun so far this week.The birds awaken us each morning with their lovely songs.And I see signs of tulips and daffodils aching to bloom as they send their slender green stalks heavenward through dark earth.Yes,spring is drawing near and I am rejoicing.For it's arrival gives me hope of better days to come.It reminds me of rebirth and resurrection.It warms my spirit even as it's arrival begins to slowly warm the earth around me.It is as if all of heaven and earth celebrates at this time of year.What a lovely gift from God.

"See!The winter is past;the rains are over and gone.Flowers appear on the earth;the season of singing has come..."
~Song of Solomon 2:11-12 NIV ~

Blessings abundant~Sharon


Sunday, February 08, 2009

Divine Declaration

He who made the Pleiades and Orion,who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night,who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land-the Lord is his name...
Amos 5:9 NIV

When I was a girl I used to gaze up at the inky,black expanse of nightfall and watch a million twinkling jewels with rapt attention.And I would imagine.I would imagine that this ebony sky was a dark blanket cast over the earth.And that the glittering,dancing stars were but tiny openings,pin holes in the finely woven fabric of this blanket of darkness.And I would imagine that if I could fly,I would fly right up there and peer through one of them.And there I would see all the beauty,all the glory,all the incandescence that is heaven!The Bible says that"the heavens declare the glory of God(Psalm 19:1).They shout to us His existence,His presence,His faithfulness and His beauty.God Himself is woven into the very fabric of all He created.From the tiniest single celled organism to the vastness of His heavens.From the highest mountain peaks to the deepest ocean's caverns His presence is there.David,in Psalm 139:7-10 says"Where can I go from your spirit,where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens you are there;if I make my bed in the depths,you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn(I think that's a lovely word picture);if I settle on the far side of the sea,your right hand will hold me fast."There is no place where we can go that does not pulsate with His presence,His reality,His life.And that encourages me for it lets me know that no matter what I face in this mortal life and no matter where I go His presence is there.Watching over me,a part of His glorious creation as well.And,it's the same for you as well,dear reader.You too are a part of His glorious creation.And He watches over you too.No matter what.No matter where.He is there.His very creation,us included,is a divine declaration.A declaration of His presence,His power,His glory and His love for you,His child.Be encouraged child of God.
Blessings~Sharon