Glory
Consider the lilies, how they grow
Glory
I’ve heard a lot of people say they feel closer to the Lord when they’re out in the woods or gardening or fishing or hunting. Just out in nature in some way. I’ve felt this way myself. Sometimes I’ll sit on the front porch with my laptop to write. That’s what I’m doing at this moment. It feels, somehow, like I’m closer to the One who breathed life into my lungs.
Why is it that so many feel closer to God when outdoors? Is it the breeze, the sunlight on your cheek, the rain or dew or mountain streams? I believe it is more than merely the touch of wind or the embrace of sunlight. It is the realization that we’re looking around at the world He created.
Yes. God gave us wisdom and inspiration for creating all those manmade things like houses and barns, roads and highways, computers and laptops. But, (a big but here) we feel closer to Him when we’re surrounded by the things He created. The natural things. The things that we aren’t capable of crafting ourselves… the trees, the mountains, the meadows, the stars, the moon, the sun, the ocean.
We may not understand how He did it, but we know one thing for certain. We’re incapable of doing what God did. We may be strong. God may have given us a vast amount of knowledge. We might possibly have an IQ far exceeding the norm. But, we are still so very small in comparison to the great Creator who breathed life into our souls.
Yes. I feel closer to God when I get outside. I feel like I’m holding His hand when I feel the wind’s lullaby. I seek Him in the dawn, in the twilight, in the melody of a raindrop’s restorative song. I seek Him in the wonder of flowers, the blessing of the seasons, the beauty of each leaf. I seek Him in prayer and in spirit as I wander over the edges of this beautiful land He’s created.
Mostly, though, I feel like He is with me – melting away the shadows of darkness and doubt, as I sit in the sun or in the shade, as I feel the waves pour over my feet and legs, as my spirit soars at the beauty of deer or rabbit or fox, as I listen to the gentle tune of birds who like to bless us with their songs – when I feel His presence in these moments it truly feels like my cup runneth over.
He is the music in my heart, the rhythm in my hope, the wonder in my soul. He wrote His light all over the wind’s breath, the mountain’s peaks, the stream’s clear and graceful stroll over stone. He wrote His story in our hearts and it is when I seek Him most heartily that I hear the music of true thanksgiving fall from my lips.
Yes. I’m so thankful, so very thankful. And nature seems to elevate my spirit so that thanksgiving comes more naturally than it might have if I’d chosen to stay in the confines of a room or house.
Let Him prepare your heart for thanksgiving with the blessing of His Spirit, His grace, His love. He is always with me, yet in nature I seem to notice the miracle of Jesus even more than I might have.
I hope you might feel encouraged to take a moment to feel the blessing of nature that He created for us to enjoy. His blessings are new with each new morning. His blessings are more beautiful with each new moment. His blessings are more alive than we can even know.
Seek Him in the dewdrop, in the fireflies, in the warming of sunrise. Seek Him and know that our praise will bring Him glory.
I can hear the white-throated sparrow now. Sending out his pure sweet call, filling the air from his tiny syrinx with the song he was made to sing, an offering good and acceptable and perfect to his Maker—a fact which, unless the sparrow is equipped to doubt, he need never struggle to believe. Like the sparrow, I’ve got a song to sing. Unlike the sparrow, I must sing mine by faith.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Love Has a Price Tag: . . . And It’s Worth the Price (p. 55). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Luke 12:27
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
God is…
God is with me, amid the darkest days
He is beside me as my soul softly prays
God is inspiring me, when hope feels drained
He is lifting me up, with hands that are bloodstained
God is blessing me, even when I feel alone
He is there to guide me, a voice from His throne
God is always providing, a way, a hope and a prayer
He is ever abiding, a silent grace that is always there
God is wise and His wisdom keeps me on the right track
He fills my heart with joy, and always has my back
God is pouring out His love on my heart and soul
He is anointing me with His Spirit, making me feel whole
God is listening to every dream, every hope and tear
He is a light that shines through the darkest fear
God is the wonderful Presence – stilling my anxieties
He is whispering life when I feel lost in our worldly societies
God is the answer to every prayer I pray
He is my comfort and the light in each new day
God is in the moment when my breath began
He is the spirit that brought about each plan
God is with me, and He’ll see me through death
He is there to ease my fear when I take my last breath
God is the answer, when you’re seeking the honest truth
He is who embraces a soul, always there from their youth
God is the kindness that restores me when I’m down
He is the lifeguard and He’d never allow me to drown
God is the Creator of everything in heaven and earth
He is the great wonder and I know what He is worth
God is the stillness of a summer day,
He is the ear who hears what I say
God is the promise for those of us who believe
He is the sweetest Spirit, who I don’t want to grieve
God is the assurance that we have a second chance
He is the music that plays as my spirit tries to dance
God is the miracle worker, the lover of my soul
He is always with me and His love will always console
God is the kindness in every heart who can trust
He is the breath of life who created us all from dust
God is giving me the best there is, with His gentle grace
He is filling me with a love that nothing on earth can erase
Cancer’s Hell When I don’t know how to pray And everything I could think of to say Has been whispered, a supplication Entreating Jesus, my life’s foundation… I feel a tear slide down my cheek And God knows the healing I seek Will He answer with a cure? I believe His grace will endure When I don’t understand this disease Cancer tells my spirit to fall to my knees No one I know can explain this war There isn’t a doubt it’s a grief I abhor I feel the pain grow in my soul Yes, it’s true that cancer stole Pieces of my peace, my hope and belief Will our lives ever know sweet relief? When I don’t know what is happening And the dread in my spirit – battling This darkness, these shadows, this fear All my life has changed – but God is still near I feel the lost that colors me gray I bow to Him who is love and I pray For God to heal this disease, this war These are feelings we can’t ignore When I don’t know how to seek His grace I listen to the Psalms, feel His warm embrace Rising from the fear that leaves me yearning I rest in the promises of a love that’s burning I feel like he’s gone through the worst of the worst And I know that he must be feeling like he’s been cursed But there is Jesus and He shows us that there’s hope If we’ll only listen in faith, He’ll help us to cope When I don’t see my blessings for the shadows of doubt I know that my Father is still seeking me out And though I may not understand the why or how I believe God is able and He’s with us right now I feel alone sometimes, like I haven’t a chance But I look at the darkness of this circumstance And I know that Jesus can kill cancer completely I know He can heal and I feel His love so deeply When I don’t know the way and I just can’t say What it feels like to face this – oh, I just pray Whatever happens, in the day or night There is a Father who makes all things right I love my husband and I pray that I can be his helper In this dark time, I hope he feels I’m a shelter And I seek the Savior with prayers and praise Knowing that He is worthy – His love can still amaze So if you can take a moment to say a quick prayer Please pray for God’s healing – I know you’re aware Cancer is a killer and we’re praying it won’t prevail Pray for God’s grace to destroy cancer’s hell
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I love, love, love this particular image and the way you worded it: "the stream’s clear and graceful stroll over stone". Thank you.