by June Friesen
The wonders of God’s beautiful heavens above us. How can one not take time and just ‘be’ with God as we look at the glorious displays He creates on a regular basis for us to behold. Today I am sharing some of the recent photos I have taken and the final collage will be of some from a few years ago but I love how the moon is displayed with the palm tree and the clouds in the dark. Have you ever taken the time to consider the creation story and how it was that God created things over the period of six days? Have you ever considered the details of His creation of things? Have you ever wondered why He didn’t just say, “Let there be a universe with planets, stars, moon and sun and go on to create all of the plants, animals and people?” Why take all that time? However today we want to consider and think about the beauty of the skies with the lights that bless us.
Genesis 1
14-15 God spoke: “Lights! Come out!
Shine in Heaven’s sky!
Separate Day from Night.
Mark seasons and days and years,
Lights in Heaven’s sky to give light to Earth.”
And there it was.
16-19 God made two big lights, the larger
to take charge of Day,
The smaller to be in charge of Night;
and he made the stars.
God placed them in the heavenly sky
to light up Earth
And oversee Day and Night,
to separate light and dark.
God saw that it was good.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Four.
Amazing Creator God – You paint the skies differently every day. Oh we think that they often look ordinary and plain yet for You there is always a bit of difference. The above three photos were take within a thirty minute time period, each from a different view point. Yet the colors are different and the shapes of the clouds are different. As I ponder this my heart bursts with praise.
Sunset – what a gift you are to my eyes –
You have the ability to create wonder and colors
Without even using a crayon –
You gracefully move across the skies
And play hide and seek with the clouds
And sometimes with some of God’s created plants,
And sometimes it seems you play hide and seek with me as well.
I marvel as I see the many outlines in the clouds
As you playfully show off your ability to emphasize some and not others –
And yet others just seem to captivate all of the attention –
And how you can emphasize the colors –
Purple, pink, yellow, orange, gray –
How can you do that Mr. Sun?
How grateful I am for how God made you,
And how He allows you to create such beauty above us.
Oh I know that there are times when I wish you did not shine quite so bright –
Especially in the summer time
And it seems that you want to check how much a thermometer can take before it bursts.
Mr. Sun – please forgive me for grumbling about you sometimes,
Please forgive me for wishing you would just hide from me behind the clouds
And not shower so much warmth around.
It is so true that without you I would be so sad,
I would not be able to enjoy the wonder of the beautiful world in which I live,
I would not be able to have so much bounty in nature –
Flowers, trees, vegetables, and fruits –
So many yummy treats to keep our bodies alive and healthy.
Yes, thank you Mr. Sun for remaining in your place
As you were put by the Creator so long ago.
Thank you God for knowing the great importance this
Huge ball of Fire would make for the world You created.
Amazing Creator – You then also gifted to us the moon –
A light for the night time along with the twinkling stars –
A light that intrigues us as it moves through it phases –
From a huge ball of light to nothing visible to the naked eye.
A creation that actually serves more purposes than we often realize –
Such as how it affects the ocean tides,
As well as in some ways even speaks to the plants and animals in their needs.
Often we also forget that the moon relies on the larger light the sun
To provide light for us –
Even though I do not understand that at all
I truly am fascinated by everything that seems to be linked to the moon.
Thank you God for completing the heavenly lights –
Yes, and thank you for those little lights –
We call them stars and some of them we have even named –
What a day that must have been for You
When all of these heavenly lights were in place and working –
No wonder – You said –
“It is good.”
Today I want to suggest that you possibly take some time to consider these heavenly lights. Talk to God about this incredible gift that He made for us. Imagine what it may have been like as He was moving through the creation of each – the sun – the moon – the stars. May your spirit be blessed. Be adventuresome and spend some time enjoying the beauty of God’s heavens above.
Photos by June Friesen. Scripture is from The Message translation.