beau.ty
- that which gives pleasure to the senses
- a particular grace, feature or ornament
- biblical: a characteristic of God that is reflected in creation
- personal: what you esteem in God, appreciate in his creation and seek to become
"The devil led him up to a high place and showed him an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and beauty, for it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want.’" Luke 4:5-6
When was the last time you heard the phrase ‘getting back to nature’? While we use it as a sign of our displeasure with the world’s pace, it better describes a need to renew a simpler communion with nature, beauty and God. It is a spiritual need at its center.
What most don’t realize is that God created the natural world for our blessing and as a revelation of his character and nature. That is why the apostle Paul in his Roman letter said even the unbelieving is without excuse since God has revealed his invisible qualities, power and nature in beauty of creation.
Didn’t you notice your innate attraction to a sunset or starry sky?
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1
Haven’t you wondered about the entrancing quality of water?
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in the great waters; these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:23
"O world, as God has made it. All is beauty." Robert Browning
Beauty is more than you imagined as we shall talk about tomorrow.
Today’s Reading
OT Ruth NT Luke 11:29-54
Today’s Wisdom
When something troubles you and you can’t sleep, jot down 2 or 3 things you can do the next day about the problem.
"Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God and the peace of God…will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7
Today’s Humor
The Invisible Man married the Invisible Woman, but their kids aren’t much to look at.
I bought a box of animal crackers and it said on it "Do not eat if seal is broken." So I opened up the box, and sure enough… "
When you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.
Today’s Prayer
Keep Esther Hotchkiss in your prayers today. Some routine tests but we want good results. Also keep Bill Sterling in your thoughts. He is in the ICU and making little progress.
Michael