God's Masterpiece!

I love nature! I have to be outside at least a little while every day. It just seems to better my mood and put things in perspective! I feel closest to God outside in nature. While the beach and water is my therapy I really love and appreciate all nature. I try to remember Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth." Instead of taking it for granted as I did for so many years I try to remember to thank Him!

Yesterday I spent the day at the beach with my daughter. We stayed 8 hours and I was not ready to leave! I probably spent four hours in the water! It was so refreshing and the waves were big so you could just float over them. Since no one stays in the water with me for that long I always have quiet time. Every time I thank God for where I live and thank Him for my love of nature and water. I thank Him for not letting me take it for granted. You know how you and your spouse or friend have a place that you call "yours". It may be a restaurant, a vacation place, etc. You may talk to that person everyday but going to "your" place is special and holds fond memories. The salt water is "our" place. I never have to arrange a time....He is always there waiting for me!

Even Jesus loved to retreat to the wilderness to connect to God. If he needed to retreat you know we need to! Luke 5: 16, "But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer." Matthew 14: 23, "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone." Matthew 26: 36, "Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, 'Sit here while I go over there to pray.'"

It seems my spirits are lifted when I spend time outside. Whether it is in the spring and everything is budding; the fall when the leaves are so many brilliant golds and reds or in the winter when once in a while (long) I get to see an individual snowflake and know that there is no other like it. I love looking up at the stars on a dark night and see them twinkling like diamonds. One of my favorite things to do is to see the sunset when we are on the boat. The picture below is one night last weekend. I used to make fun of my dad for always taking flower and sunset pictures. Now I do the same! They never get old. This is God's handiwork!

Anne Frank said, "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

Psalm 95: 4-5 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 96: 11-12 " Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy." Job 12: 7-10, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. John 1: 3, "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Next time you are in nature stop and remember that God created this. I believe He wants us to appreciate his handiwork. Take time to be quiet and still. He may want to speak to you. God loves us even more than all of these amazing things!

Mother Teresa said, "We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls."

Have you thanked God for the nature that you get to observe? Have you thanked Him that you know that He is the creator?