Special Gifts

Two years ago, I joined a ladies Bible study group at my church. We read the book, Lead Me, Holy Spirit, by Stormie Omartian.

She shared a story in her book that I’ve been reminded of often. On a snowy morning outside her window, there were thirty to forty redbirds perched in a tree. She compared the scene to a Christmas tree decorated with red ornaments. She tried to discover what God was revealing to her through the beauty of the moment but couldn’t quite grasp the meaning. When a pastor friend stopped by, she asked him what he thought God was showing her. The pastor said, “It was a gift to show His love for you.”

How often does the Lord give us gifts to show His love for us? Happens more than we realize. I’d like to share one He gave me.

A lover of worship music, I was looking for songs to download and came across a worship CD from my alma mater, Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. I purchased the entire album and listened often. There was one song that became my favorite—“Hope Is Rising.” For some reason, I wanted to know who sang this song. I checked the website for LeeU Worship but couldn’t find anything about the featured singers.

Eight months later my husband and I took a trip to Ohio where I grew up. We visited our home church while there and met the worship pastor. I learned he was the singer of “Hope Is Rising.”

There was no reason for me to know who sang this song, but God knew it was important to me. God gave me a name and allowed me to meet the singer.

God’s gifts are everywhere. How has He recently shown His love for you?

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Blog first posted in November 2018.

Omartian, Stormie. 2012. Lead Me, Holy Spirit. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers.

https://www.leeuworship.com/

Photo by Robert Thiemann - Unsplash

Indescribable Beauty

This past week, I crossed three more national parks off my bucket list. My husband and I visited Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. If I had to sum up the experience in one sentence, it would be this: I serve an awesome God who created an amazing earth filled with indescribable beauty.

My first visit to Montana did not disappoint. We beheld snow-covered mountains, trees of red and yellow amidst the evergreens, along with lakes and rivers. We observed a bald eagle as he left his perch and took flight. Although temps were lower than what I expect in early October, we dressed in layers and enjoyed the outdoors.

Snow and the scent of pine trees put this New Mexico girl in the mood for Christmas decorations. Something that rarely happens until a week before Christmas. We may decorate early this year even though, as I write this, our current temperature is 81.

Inside Glacier National Park, we photographed waterfalls, hiked along a clear stream and mossy trail to Avalanche Lake, and enjoyed a view of the mountains from Lake McDonald.

My favorite sights in Yellowstone weren’t the hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, or geysers. Although they were remarkable, I loved the wildlife. Plenty of elk and bison. Disappointed we didn’t find a moose, but we saw our first grizzly bear. Exciting, since he was far away!

The Grand Teton National Park offered magnificent sights of snow-covered mountains, lakes, rivers, and autumn colors.

Once again, I thank you, Father, for your creation. You’ve given us so much to enjoy.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15, NKJV

Where do you like to travel to view God’s indescribable gifts?