The other day, I joined a couple of friends for a walk on the greenway. First of all, can I just say, I love the greenway? It's a little slice of God's lush wild creation right smack in the middle of the city. Old Moses and I have seen countless deer, foxes (in fact a whole family of foxes one time), rabbits, snakes (okay, not as delightful to see them), blue herons (on the other hand--wonderfully delightful), a coyote (not delightful, though remarkable), and countless cardinals (delightful, once again), blue birds and on and on.
Then, of course, there is the constant joy for Moses of dogs and more dogs... and the smells. I've heard it said that sniffing the unmentionable stuff dogs love to sniff is their version of happily reading the morning paper. hmm, God has a purpose for everything, doesn't He... well, except roaches.
And this is all for FREE! Can you believe that? "There is no free lunch"--HA, wrong! Go walk on the greenway and breathe deep just after the rain has washed the earth clean and new. O, and don't forget to enjoy the sweet scent of the honeysuckle--and thank the Lord He just enabled you to take that air deep down into your lungs.
Anybody around here know how to create lungs that allow you to take that next breath or smell that scent of that honeysuckle... or that newborn baby... or that mint? Didn't think so.
The greenway beckons-- so we can listen to the symphony of birds on either side of the woods and marvel at the incalculable gift of sound and music. And ears that allow us to hear them. And hearts that allow us to feel wonder and gratitude.
Free, all free and courtesy of a God who adores us. "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:3)
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Ps.24:1)
So today, might we rejoice in God's beauty all around us--His gift of creation, His gifts of hearing and seeing and smelling and feeling, and His gift of His Son through Whom He has given us the greatest of gifts: eternal life--
"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether throne or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Col.1:16-17)
When we smell the rose or the freshly cut grass or the gardenia, might we rejoice in Him who created all things. And when we see our loved one's face or hear the sound of our child's laughter or gasp at the striking beauty of a pink-painted sunset, might we immediately thank Him and hand all the glory to our Lord. He is the One who sustains all creation and holds together every cell, every emotion, every thought, every person, and every entity on this planet, whether seen or unseen, by the power of His Name.
And He knows your name.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the common, everyday graces with which You surround our lives. Forgive us for so often forgetting that You are the Creator of all good gifts. Forgive us for taking so many treasures in our lives for granted.... for the free treasures in our lives are the greatest and deepest ones. Open our eyes, Lord, to the beauty and the wonder and the grace You shower upon us daily. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving to You and for You. Replace our restless hearts with hearts that rest in You.
And, Father, break our hearts with the things that break Yours--the need, the hurt, the emptiness, the sorrow, the fear. So many around us are hurting. Replace our hard hearts with Your tender heart. Give us gospel compassion and grace that pours out Your love upon those You made in Your image.
To God--our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer--be all the glory.
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