Thank You, Lord, for this new day and for this new year. Thank You for the gift of repentance, for forgiveness, and for fresh starts. Thank You for Jesus who is ever and always with us, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whatever the day and the year. And thank You for Your Word that is ever fresh, ever new, ever invigorating, ever convicting, ever encouraging, ever guiding, ever strengthening, ever empowering.
It's early morning, and I'm sitting here on our little porch in this beautiful land of blowing palms and sea breezes and equally beautiful and kind people. Even as I type these words, a man came by to knock down coconuts from the trees all around us. On the beach, they use machetes to cut off the tops and then stick straws in them for folks to drink the coconut water. Every little thing in God's creation amazes me--imagine just whacking off a bit of that hard shell and being able to drink that nutritious and delicious milk right then and there!
But as he saw me out here with my Bible and computer, he smiled broadly and said a hearty "Hola!" He then motioned that he wanted to give me a coconut. He brought it over, whacked off the top, and viola, an infinitely better-than-coffee breakfast pick-me-up! But it was his quick kindness and friendliness that really struck me. Oh Lord, make me more and more that way--quick to love, quick to share, quick to encourage with my words and actions.
About five years ago, I began the habit of daily reading The One Year Bible (where you read through the whole Bible in a year--a portion of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm and Proverbs each day). So with the start of the new year, we're back to the creation story in Genesis, and boy, God's glorious creation is on full display here in the Dominican Republic.
Just last night, we looked up at the stars--glory happening! The dark night sky shimmered with countless dots of light. Yes, "The heavens declare the glory of God!" And in Genesis, we're told that "Then God made two great light: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also." (Gen.1:16) What?! It's as if the Word is telling us, "Oh by the way, you know all those billions and trillions of magnificent stars shining out there in galaxy? Yeah, He made those too. Nothing to it." Because He's GOD ALMIGHTY, Maker of heaven and earth! Such power! Such creativity! Such stunning glory! How can you not praise and worship such a Creator who made everything you see and touch, made you and every person on the planet, made every remarkable creature, every roaring sea, every towering mountain...and oh yeah, He made the stars also! Look around you people--glory is happening everywhere, all the time!
So I'm back where I started--thank You, Father, for Your creation. Thank You for eyes to glimpse it. Thank You for ears to hear the wind in the trees and the birds squawking. Thank You for the wonderful gift of being here with those that I love to enjoy this life You've given us. Thank You for Jesus, for Your Word, and for the infinitely wondrous gift of salvation. In this new year, Father, open our eyes and ears and hearts to Your relentless goodness and grace. In the hard times, keep us focused and faithful, always looking to You. Keep us constantly grateful and thanking You in the good times. Keep us contented and peaceful in Your ways and plans for us. Daily feed us from Your Word and help us to delight in You and Your Word.
As John Piper says, "We weren't meant to be somebody--we were meant to know Somebody." Oh Father, help us to know, love, and rejoice in You ever deeper and greater in this new year. To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment