creation

In Awe

My husband and I took a vacation in September. I wrote what follows from my hotel room while I enjoyed the view as I gazed outside. Below, I’ve included photos from our trip to the Oregon Coast and Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California. I’m in awe of the Lord’s creation. He’s blessed us with an amazing world to enjoy.

From our hotel window and to the left, a river flows through Seaside, Oregon. Seagulls fly overhead and squawk their cries, and a lovely heron awaits its next catch from a dock along the Necanicum River. Beyond are hills covered with shades of green.

To my right, other hotels line the street and evergreens emerge from the fog on a hill behind them. The sun tries to sneak a peek at the people below after hiding behind dark clouds that poured down rain the day before and overnight.

Although I can’t see it from my window, past the hotels and a block away, the Pacific Ocean calms its rumblings from the overnight storms. Beach sand settles after blowing across the shore like a soft snow that formed tiny craters along the beach.

Peace fills my heart as I sip my café mocha. The setting reminds me of a dream I had in the wee hours of the morning on September 16—the day we traveled here. I saw beautiful hills and beyond them the sea, and I heard joyful singing. My thoughts turned to heaven. But I doubt the angels will sing The Sound of Music—the song in my dream.

What have you seen in recent months that caused you to be in awe of Creator God?

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
Psalm 65:8, NIV

Prized Possession

I love God’s creation—His prized possession. Not only people, but the beautiful mountains, rivers, and yes, even the deserts. I enjoy seeing the many animals He created and love traveling and experiencing all He has made. My husband and I recently traveled to West Texas and made stops at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch and Big Bend National Park. Our most recent excursion took us to Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge located in Central New Mexico.

The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is in San Antonio. Their website boasts that they offer an African safari—Texas style. Over 500 animals and 40 species from around the world live on the ranch covering 450 acres. This was our second time to drive through and view the many animals from the safety of our vehicle.

Big Bend National Park consists of over 800,000 acres, including canyons, desert, mountains, forests, and the Rio Grande River. We only spent a day there and explored by car. We hope to return one day soon to hike and enjoy the outdoors. The Rio Grande at Santa Elena Canyon was our favorite site.

This was our second trip to Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife area of over 57,000 acres is a temporary home to water birds who spend their winters here. The refuge offers a 14-mile Scenic Drive around various lakes and marshland. We saw cranes, geese, ducks, herons, roadrunners, hawks, eagles, deer, and turtles.

What amazes me is that in all of God’s creation, all the beauty that surrounds us and all the creatures of the earth, nothing comes close to His love for us and our importance to Him. Although I stated above that God’s prized possession is His creation, more specifically we, His children, take first place with Him.

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.
And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

James 1:18 (NLT)

God's Creation Makes Me Smile

For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” 1 Corinthians 10:26. I’m in awe of God’s creation and all He has given us to enjoy.

There’s something about trees. I smile when I see twisted branches, varied colors and textures of bark, above-the-ground root systems, and leaves of many sizes and shapes. My favorites include palm, aspen, banyan, maple, and baobab (Africa).

My husband and I vacationed in Florida last week where I enjoyed both palm and banyan trees.

I smiled as sandhill cranes, fox squirrels, and various water birds gripped my attention at Moss Park in Orlando. A white ibis and alligators fascinated me at Trimble Park in Mount Dora.

We visited Skyway Fishing Pier State Park in St. Petersburg where pelicans entertained us. At Myakka River State Park, alligators, birds, and lizards wowed me.

Two stunning sunsets dazzled us on the Gulf Coast: Fort Myers Beach and Sarasota’s Lido Key Beach.

At Lido Key, hundreds of black skimmers, in their protected nesting grounds, barked their call. We watched in amazement as they swooped with opened bills, skimmed along the top of the water, and snatched their prey.

Bayfront Park in Sarasota offered a relaxed setting where we enjoyed the bay, squirrels, lizards, and banyans. 

I smile at the beauty of God’s creation. Which of God’s wonders makes you smile?