Enjoying His Handiwork

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered. Psalm 111:2-4, New International Version

Oriental Lily

Driving around the country, I am always amazed at the majesty and splendor of all of God's creation. Everywhere I look, I see His handiwork--in the fields and in the mountains, along shores and streams; even the flowers in my own garden possess a beauty that cannot be recreated by the human hand, although men have tried.

One of my favorite places on earth is Multnomah Falls, just a short drive east of Portland, Oregon in the Columbia River Gorge. It is one of many sites of natural beauty that can be found in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and probably one of the most photographed by visitors from around the world. The falls are fed from an underground spring in Larch Mountain and run highest in winter and spring. The water cascades down the side of the mountain, dropping 542 feet to the first level and an additional 69 feet to the bottom, into a small pool, where the water continues to runoff into the Columbia River. The falls continue to drop year-round due to the underground spring, rainfall, and snow pack.

And God's most wondrous creation of all? Well, no words are needed for this one.

He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:36, 37 (New International Version)

Ugh! It's HOT!!!

Squirrel resting in a tree on a HOT day.

Summertime is in full force, creating scorching temperatures all across the nation.  Even in the city I live in, where the temperatures rarely exceed 100 degrees more than 3-4 days a year, we are experiencing excessively HOT temperatures and lacking the usual cool down temperatures at night.

We have already seen five straight days of temperatures over 100, topping out at 108 degrees. So far this month, we've had a total of 8 days of 100 degrees and higher, and we are only half-way through summer. Temperatures continue to stay in the upper 90s during the day, and rarely drop below 65 degrees at night. It's HOT...and I hate HOT!

The other day, I was sitting in my comfortable chair gazing out the window, when I realized there was a squirrel sprawled across the branch of a tree in our backyard. The temperature was 99 degrees, and it suddenly dawned on me that, just maybe, the squirrel was trying to stay cool on the tree branch. I don't know if he was successful or not, but I was very comfortable in my nice, air-conditioned house watching him through the window!

Big Wheels Keep on Turning

This really brings back memories--watching my grandchildren ride a Big Wheel ride-on toy. When my children were little, someone gave them a used Big Wheel, which they played with constantly. The front wheel was cracked and many of the decals were peeling, but they had more fun with it than they did with a bicycle. Oh, they loved their bicycles, too, but the Big Wheel was something they could all play with, regardless of their age. It was also more stable and less likely to tip over than their bicycles and tricycles. We had other ride-on toys as well, so they would mount up and ride around the neighborhood on their Big Wheel, tractor ride-on, wagon, Cozy Coupe, roller skates, skateboards, and whatever else they could find that had wheels.

Big Wheels have been around for nearly 50 years, although I don't remember seeing one until I had children of my own. I do remember how much fun they had, and the many hours they spent outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and playing with each other. 


Nowadays, most children spend their time in front of a computer or television screen, playing video games and watching videos. Those activities have an important role to play, especially in the development of hand-eye coordination. But they can't take the place of good, old-fashioned, outdoor activities. As parents and grandparents, we need to find the balance in the activities we find for our children and grandchildren. They only live once, and we can't go back and recreate the early years. We have to make them the best years of their lives. 


So, keep the Big Wheels rolling and encourage activity. We will all be healthier for it. 


The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there." Zechariah 8:5 (New International Version)  

Molded Images

Children take an intense interest in everything they do. Spend a few minutes or, more likely an hour, watching a child play with Play-Doh and you will see intense concentration as they strive to create objects.

Their creations appear in many forms. Some of their creations emerge from their imagination and don't resemble anything tangible. Other creations come from their limited experience and vaguely resemble bicycles, snakes, turtles, and anything else that they can create with their hands.

If they don't get it right the first time, they smash it all up and start over, rejuvenating their thought processes and drawing from millions of thoughts going through their minds. The final product may not really look like anything to anyone else but the creator.

Is this how God saw the world when he started the process of creation? Did He look at a mass and decide that he wanted it to look like this or that or something else? How did He know what the end product would be? What thoughts were swirling around in His head when he started creating the birds, the animals, the flowers, the trees and, eventually, man and woman?

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them....God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  (Genesis 1:27, 31, New International Version) 

Lumpy Beds?

I recently had the opportunity to stay in a very nice hotel in Walla Walla, Washington.  Now, I won't mention the name of the hotel, but suffice it to say that it cost just over $100 for the night. To my estimation, that would be considered a very nice hotel for that area. What I could not figure out, however, was why the beds looked so lumpy. 

This "lumpy-ness" did not set the tone that I am sure the hotel was striving for. It just plain looked weird. I finally had to raise the coverlet from the bed and look underneath, and I discovered that the lumps were coming from the comforter encased in the duvet cover. The bed itself was very comfortable and I slept relatively well, considering that I was in different surroundings and not in my usual comfy bed at home.

All other aspects of the hotel were great--the room had great appointments, the bathroom was very attractive and modern, the free continental breakfast was more than adequate, and you could access the wireless internet from anywhere in the building. Everything was clean and well cared for.

But...the beds looked lumpy. 

Tea Party & Dress-up Time

Kids, dress-up clothes and a toy kitchen make for imaginative play for kids of all ages.

Daughter:  Try it, Mommy. It tastes really good; you'll like it 'cause I made it myself.

Son: Don't do it Mommy. It doesn't look very good to me. 

Son: Mommy, you'll be sorry. I really don't think you should drink that stuff.

Son:  Hmmm, you look okay to me, Mommy. Okay, I'll try some.

Son:  "Aaaaagh!  Mommy, I told you not to drink that stuff! Yuk!

His Infinite Sight

You are probably asking yourself, "What is in that photo?"

I took the photograph nearly a year ago when I was on an airplane bound for Texas. This was taken somewhere over Idaho at about 15,000 feet above sea level, and the only thing you can see is the highest peak of a mountain surrounded by clouds. It made me think about God's view of our world from His throne in Heaven.

With my finite sight, I can barely see this mountain peak, but the Bible says that God knows when a sparrow falls and he has numbered every hair on our head. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31, King James Version)

Are we truly so important to Him that he knows the minutest detail of our lives? Yes, we are that important to Him and He wants to be involved in every aspect of our day-to-day activities and decisions. He stands ready and willing to bless us when we include Him in our decision-making process and in our celebrations.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7, 8, New International Version)

When we trust in God to lead and be the guiding light in our lives, great things can happen. It doesn't mean that life will be a bed of roses because, let's face it, Satan tries to lead astray those who are close to God. But it does mean that even in those difficult times, God is there beside us, walking each step of the way with us so that we are not alone.

I love the "footprints" poem. You know the one, where the author asks why there was only one set of footprints when he was at his lowest point in his life. And God replied that when you saw only one set of footprints, that was when God carried him.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, King James Version)