| So I am sitting here in Detroit, scared to death (you know how I am with crowds…) and waiting on my flight to Providence RI (9:00). On my way to find my next terminal, I was looking for food options. I think the only place more expensive for simple foods is on the Ski Slopes and at the Bristol Motor Speedway. It is ridiculous!!!! Anyway- I find this place that says “Internet Cafe” and I get super excited because I have my laptop and wireless internet! I get in and sit down and along comes downer number 1…NO SWEET TEA… ugh- now I remember the only proof people have that I am NOT from the up north, I love sweet tea and they just look at me funny when I ask for it. I get in and order my pink lemonade, when I open my computer to sign online; it comes to this screen that says “first time trail, 5.99 for 15 minuets”.I THINK THE INTERNET IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE FOOD!!! So I am writing this in word processor and I will copy/paste it later. At least everything should be spelled correctly! The flight up here was amazing. The view I had of God’s creation. It makes me think “show off”. It was amazing to have the aerial view of the mountains and lakes. It looked as if the smaller mountains were scattered like water droplets; randomly placed in between houses and farms. And when we got further north, to see how the snow covered everything- nothing was showing through the blanket of snow. I started thinking of that one verse in Isaiah 1:18 – “come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” To see how the white snow covered everything- it didn’t matter how much dirt was underneath the snow, there could have been a hill of deep, red clay, and still, the snow covered it and all you saw was white. All that I could think about was my life and how much he has covered me with his love and his mercy and his grace to make me white as snow. And I am, there is not a smear or smudge or smallest little hint of dirt showing on my surface, because God has covered me- completely. Amen I love it when God illustrates his mysteries and his love to tangible, stubborn people like me. He never ceases to amaze me. Here I am in the middle of a bible study that is on the week about Grace; and God brings up a picture that illustrates his love better than any book or fellow Christian or pastor could describe. I guess being able to actually see proof of God is a blessing in its self. Hebrews 11:1 – “Now Faith is being certain of what we hope for, and sure of what we do not see.” A Christian’s life is based on Faith, or so we thought. Even though we are supposed to have faith that our God reigns, He gives us little peeks every day of his glory and splender. Talk about a God who knows his people! God knew from the start of creation that we would be a “tangible” kind of people; which is why he made earth so beautiful. Think about it: why would God make earth as extravagant and amazing as he did? He doesn’t live here, he doesn’t walk the earth to admire its beauty; why make it so gorgeous then?
Romans 1:20 “ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” What this verse says is that, God, intimately knowing his people, knowing them so well that he knew they couldn’t believe on their own. He knew us so well that he made this world, the mountains we see everyday and the beautiful sunsets the paint our skies by night, he made them all so that “man is without an excuse”. God made everything so complex that his “invisible characteristics” can be seen through his creation. God shows us, sinful humans, his awesome power and glory EVERYDAY. How cool is that? How much does a God have to love his followers to daily give them a glimpse at his Divine Nature and Eternal Power? And when does God bless us with the most beautiful views? The first thing in the morning, the first thing we see and the last think at night, the last thing we see before we go to bed…The Sun Set and the Sun Rise. I think this was designed this exact way by NO mistake. God wanted us to think of Him first thing in the morning, to wake up praising him, and then for him to be the last one on our minds when we go to sleep, as we watch him paint the night sky with colors that only he can create and to fall asleep with him evading our minds and thoughts. It’s like everyday he tells us “I made this so you could know I love you.” It is our own personal “I love you”, and we receive it everyday, without question, without doubt. What a thought- This is how much God wants us to be in a relationship with him. It blows my mind at the lengths that God has gone to in order to obtain our attention- and that are just mankind as a whole! I can think of numerous times where God has gone the extra thousand miles to show me that he loves me. This weekend being one of them, seeing the blanket of snow that covers the dirt so entirely that looking from the outside, all you see is white, pure, holiness. For the longest time I have been struggling with some things that are lingering in my past. I know God has forgiven me and I know that he still loves me, but for some reason I still feel dirty. I still feel like I have some dirt showing around some corners in my life and that possibly God missed a spot…humorous thought I know. After seeing the snow and after seeing Gods “love letter” it has reminded me that I am priceless to Him. Jesus died once for ALL sins- he covered eternity with a thick blanket of white snow. He loved me when he hung there; he had my picture and my life on his mind when the nails were being forcefully driven into his body. Why would he go through all of that, just to miss a spot? Exactly; he wouldn’t. Amazing Grace, I’m washed White as snow “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood, his mercy reigns: unending love, amazing grace”—Chris Tomlin |
