October 12, 2010

Nature's Beauty Portrays the Radiance of Christ.

Beautiful snow - barren ground's warm blanket, soft and sure, turning the darkest night alight with beauty. Winter's wonder land - tinkling with ever trickling white, a sudden whoosh to startle some sparrow's fair head. The sheer lattice on leafless branches. The comforting cloak warmly laid on silent homes. Light transforms this glowing wonder to reveal shimmering crystals of the rainbow glancing and bouncing into every drear corner and crevice, making light every soul with breathtaking majesty, and empowering the dead of winter to compete with the life of summer. The crunch of every step, the puff of every breath, the every tree shimmering like a refined diamond. The still water - the smoothest glass. Every soul shines forth with winter's brightness, warming the heart with one simple glance. 

God's masterpiece is here complete and is made to show forth the clear unblemished wonder in which is compared the cleansing of the sinner. Beautiful, wondrous, majestic it may be, but still dull and bleak when placed next to the glorious work of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The sinner, once dark and soiled by his very own sin, is now made whiter than snow. Through his now transformed life, the glory of Christ shines brightly to illumine the darkness of this present world. When the final day shall come, no spot or imperfection will be seen on this redeemed sinner, but only purity, light, radiance, and majesty shall burst forth, and he shall portray the glory and great love of his Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vibrancy, Life, and Peace in God's Presence

Psalm 139
My ways are continuously before You, O Lord.

If I could take flight into the darkness of the night and fly unto the deepest midst of a vast wilderness, You would be right beside me. In times of pain and fear how comforting it is to have a loving God right there with you. But when we have erred from the path of light, how shameful it is, for before God’s very own perfect and holy eyes we have sinned against Him.

How wondrous it is when you walk under spring-budded trees and stop to inhale the sweet fragrance of a newly opened bloom letting the sweet breath of God rest upon your weary soul; to live for the moment, to enjoy each second, having no cares but to relish in God’s uplifting presence. Moments like that revive the weariest of souls, preparing the spirit for the world’s heart-wrenching acts.

Just stop, breath, relieve your mind with the loving thought of Jesus. He is our Shepherd. He cares for every need, leading us beside calm waters, finding us the greenest hills, and all the while He is loving us, protecting us from our enemies, and saving us when we wander and lose our way. He is our light, our path, the very air we breathe.

The gurgling brook: it continues but it does not rush. It searches out every rock and crevice to flow over and in, and playfully travels the long voyage. Life may be hard, but God’s presence is always with us. He has created so many wonderful things for us to search out and discover; He longs for us to overflow with joy and gladness, and He is caring enough for us that when we get weary He picks us up and carries us.

May He continually be praised for His comforting, life-giving presence. Amen