Beautiful Things

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."         Psalm 19:1-4


I am in awe.  I just spent the last half hour sitting outside with my guitar and singing to God.  I don't know why I have not done this more often.  Taking in His creation and making music have always been the two things that connect me to God faster than anything else.  Imagine putting those two together!  I sat outside on my porch facing the sunset, and poured out my heart to God in worship.  It was one of the most beautiful, refreshing experiences of my life.  As I closed my eyes to focus on the words I was singing, a fresh breeze would wrap around me, like God was finding joy in me finding joy in Him.  Then I looked up into the sky at the last rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds and the sky turning deep blue in every direction and I could see little stars peeking out at me.  As the sun went down the stars became brighter and clearer and I was humbled.  It became clear to me how much I have doubted God and His love for me recently.  Not logically, I know that He loves me because "the Bible tells me so."  But I had started to doubt the goodness of that love. I have surrendered my life to God and told Him I will trust where He leads me, but lately my heart has been fearful and afraid to live by faith.  When I looked up into the sky He reminded me that He holds everything in His hands.  That He makes beautiful things out of the messes of our lives.  That He is loving and faithful and constantly waiting for me to turn and listen to Him, to feel his love surrounding me like the wind.  I am reminded that no circumstance that I face is out of His loving hands.  I may not be able to see the love in it at the moment, but He uses everything for our good if we will love and trust Him.  Like the words to the song "Love Came Down"- 


If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear Your voice
I’ll hold on to what is true though I cannot see
If the storms of life they come and the road ahead gets steep
I will lift these hands in faith I will believe

I remind myself of all that You’ve done
And the life I have because Your Son

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours I am forever Yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out remind my soul
I am Yours I am forever Yours


I am Yours, I am Yours, all my days I am Yours


Father please forgive the times when my heart falters.  Thank you for filling me with the sweetness of your presence.  Thank you for giving me peace and joy beyond understanding. You are so good.


"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifeJRC5lvhs