The Beauty of Intentional Design

I look at the heavens You made with Your hands. I see the moon and stars You created. And I wonder, “Why are people so important to You? Why do you even think about them? Why do You care so much about humans? Why do You even notice them?” – (Psalm 8:3-4, ERV)

I look up at Your macro-skies, dark and enormous, Your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do You bother with us? Why take a second look our way? – (Psalm 8:3-4, MSG)

When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation – on the moon, stars, and all You have made, I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals – sons and daughters of men – specks of dust floating about the cosmos. – (Psalm 8:3-4, VOICE)

Between living in the Pacific Northwest, and having been blessed with numerous opportunities to see new locations around the world, I share David’s sentiment of awe and wonder at how people are considered the priority to God, who created so much magnificent beauty. We are but a speck of dust in comparison to the entire universe. The glory that surrounds us in His creation is clear evidence of God’s existence. As humans, we are still learning and discovering just how vast God’s creation actually is, and I imagine the discoveries will not end. God, who is timeless and endless, created more than our minds can conceive, yet intentionally hand-crafted each one of us to be unique with strengths, talents, personalities and more. We all were created with purpose and possibilities, accompanied with a free will to determine just how we might use what we have been given. The more I learn, the more I desire to honor and serve the Lord. His goodness and love are as vast as the universe, and His capacity to care for us knows no end. May we ever seek the Lord to reveal more and more of who He is and all that He has done so that we might recognize and honor God as we should.

May we choose look up,

No filter, Sunrise in Belize taken on my phone…<3

Survey all we see;

All that surrounds us,

God’s own majesty.

The stars in the sky,

Created and known;

The mountains and seas,

The Lord’s power shown.

Each work of His hand,

Intentionally;

Formed with a purpose,

Beyond what we see.

Each human on earth,

Is by God’s design;

Made with a purpose,

His love intertwined.

May we stand in awe,

Of all that He’s made;

Give all thanks to Him,

The Ancient of Days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift of all that You have created! Thank You for so much beauty all around us. Forgive us for making You too small, for the God who created everything and everyone is able to do abundantly more than we could hope or imagine. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times, even when things around us seem crazy or impossible. Show us how to love, encourage and support those around us well, so that they may recognize Your heart for all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we stand in awe of how You love and care for us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. – Psalm 19:1

The Work of His Hands

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers – the moon and the stars You set in place – what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? – (Psalm 8:3-4, NLT)

 

I so appreciate David’s grasp of the greatness of God. It is easy to get so caught up in our busy lives, that we forget to take pause and look around us. When we do, we cannot help but stand in awe at the mighty work of His hands, and revel in the remarkable that He who created all that is around us, would care for us, individually. The very same God who hung the stars in the sky, knows the number of hairs on our heads… That can only be known by One who is as near as our next breath. Love that sacrifices unto death on a cross, for even those who will never love in return, incomprehensible. May we take time to behold the beauty that surrounds us, and remember that He who created it all, knows and loves us, individually.

 

The moon and the stars,

image by bibleabc.net

were hung into place;

the work of God’s hands,

in power and grace.

The very same God,

Who called all to be;

both knows and He loves,

all humanity.

Not just as a whole,

but personally;

He knows minds and hearts,

and longs to set free.

May we stand in awe,

as others have done;

at all that God is,

and hope that’s to come.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the mighty work of Your hands that is both in us and all around us. Thank You that You who created everything, care about us individually and personally. Forgive us for losing sight of Your greatness, and help us to keep a proper perspective of Who You are and how amazing Your love is for each of us. Teach us to see the world and others through Your lens, so that we might continually see the beauty all around us. Show us how to love others, as You so tenderly and intentionally love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pause and take in all that You have created around us, and go forth loving all that You have made as You do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you.” – Exodus 33:19

In the Press, Pray

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? – (Psalm 118:5-6, NIV)

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? – (Psalm 118:5-6, NLT)

 

When the pressure of life begins to close in and the burdens seem too much to bear, our help and our hope is but a prayer away. We are not meant to muscle our way through the waves that come, but rather we are designed to depend on the One who sees and hears and knows best how to help in all things and at all times. The Lord answers when we earnestly seek Him. He sets us free from that which keeps us bound. What is impossible for us, is possible with God. Though people can cause pain in the present, there is nothing that they can do to take away the promises and the hope that we hold for all eternity. The only thing that should truly be fearful, is the thought of a forever without Him. May we remember to call on the Lord in our times of trouble, as He is our help and our hope. Let His love lead us out of fear and into the place of holding fast to the promise of life everlasting.

 

When trials press in,

and fear starts to rise;

cry out to the Lord,

where hope’s realized.

He answers each cry,

and sets our hearts free;

from fears that hold us,

so truth we shall see.

We need not fear men,

for His hope is ours;

cannot be taken,

as He bore our scars.

May we choose delight,

in our God above;

knowing we’re set free,

by His lavish love.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we are hard pressed or in distress we can cry out to You and be heard. Thank You that You answer us and bring us to a place of freedom from our fear of what we are facing. Thank You that You are greater than anything that comes against us, and anything that we are called to walk through. Thank You that You are for us. Forgive us for our fearfulness in the face of adversity or the unknown, and teach us to trust You more. Show us how to hold onto the truth that You are far greater than ALL that we face. Lead us to love others with Your lavish love, so that they too, may come to delight in who You are. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pray to You and trust You to answer. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence. – Acts 2:28

To Honor the Dream

Today, many of us are the recipients of an extra day off.  This day is in honor of the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Were it not for him, and the myriad of others who joined in the fearless fight against the injustices taking place in these United States, the face of our nation would not be nearly so beautiful, as it is today.  My classroom, which is a melting pot of countries and cultures, seated together, learning from each other, would not be possible.  What a travesty indeed it would be, to miss out of the blessing of living out the dream, of Dr. King.

Our charge, as humans – God’s created, is to love one another.  If we truly love, then the dream that Dr. King and so many others fought for, is alive and going strong.  It is when we choose to allow individuals to taint the face of an entire people group, that barriers are built up, and all that was fought for, is for naught.

“I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals – sons and daughters of men – specks of dust floating about the cosmos.  But You placed the son of man just beneath God and honored him like royalty, crowning him with glory and honor.  You ordained him to govern the works of Your hands, to nurture the offspring of Your divine imagination; You placed everything on earth beneath his feet.” – (Psalm 8:4-6 – The Voice)

May we learn and grow in how to nurture and govern well, in a manner that is pleasing unto God.  Let us choose love, even in the face of adversity or fear.  Our strength to live and love, comes from Christ alone.

To honor the dream,

of a faithful man;

to live out our lives,

in line with God’s plan.

He calls us to love,

to choose to embrace;

regardless of creed,

religion or race.

May we truly show,

what love really is;

so many may come,

and long to be His.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for men and women of faith who have gone before us and modeled love, and fought peacefully to end injustice.  Thank You for the progress that has been made in this nation, so that all people have opportunity to learn and grow, dream and achieve.  Forgive us for any personal barriers we may be bearing, and please break them down with the wonderful weight of Your love.  Lead us and guide us, so that we may love and embrace all who come near, regardless of whether or not their values and beliefs align with ours.  You dined with outcasts, and spoke freely with sinners – trusting the Father, never concerning Yourself with social norms, nor societal expectations.  May we have the very same trust, and continue to grow the dream.  May many come to know You as their Savior, as a result of our loving kindness.  Be glorified in all that we say and do.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.