He's on display - you see him?

The celestial realms announce God’s glory; the skies testify of His hands’ great work. Each day pours out more of their sayings; each night, more to hear and more to learn. (Psalm 19:1-2 VOICE)

As a child, I'd lay under the shade of a big tree's shadow just staring at the clouds passing overhead. If I was with friends, we'd try to imagine the shapes were dogs, cats, horses, or some such thing. If I was alone, the geek in me would come out and I would ponder how they came to be made, what caused them to move so rapidly, why they changed appearances as they did. Way out in the desert at night, the skies would be pitch black, stars aglow in massive quantities. The heavens did declare something of God's glory, even back then, and they continue to do so now.

His 'great work' is on display for us in the skies overhead, although we may miss it if we don't stop long enough to ponder it. That simple activity as a child was possible because I had nothing but time! As an adult, I must slow myself down long enough to actually ponder the many works of God all around me. How about you? Do you find yourself so rushed through life that God's handiwork doesn't even phase you any longer? The crags in the mountainside, the mounding of the ant's hill, or the renewal of the tree's leaves each season are there, but do we stop to consider him in them?

The tiny grain of sand on the seashore tells of his endless 'rewashing' of the sea's floor. The bird's song high up in the tree whispers of his call to take notice. There is so much to consider when we look into nature, but there is much more to consider when we look into his Word with such interest! We might find it declares his glory, but also his mercy for the sinner and his inability to disregard sin. Consider God in all things and you will learn much about who he is, how he moves, and who he uses. Consider him in the things around us and we will see he isn't absent at all - he is right there for all things exist because of his great care.

Each night brings the stillness and quiet our souls need in order to regenerate for the next day. Each morning brings the opportunity to stop just a bit longer and linger in his presence. Do we 'indulge' in that practice, or do we bound out of bed and head straight into our day? I think those who 'indulge' in his presence for a while each day find their day's activities take on a new energy and purpose. There is just something about 'pondering' him, allowing his presence to invade our space for a while, that brings a 'freshness' and 'fullness' into our day. It isn't a practice to be taken lightly, but one that is to be purposeful and practiced without fail. Just sayin!