Love on the Rocks

There are so many things that I don't understand or know about God.  What I do know is His love and grace and that it's for everyone.   Sometimes prayer feels very vacant and pointless.  Very, very rarely have I prayed and then had revelation from Him.  Usually it is in life's mundane things that God speaks to me.  But He does.  He does not answer all of our questions.  Life is full of mysteries and surprises.  I see Him all the time, in everything. 

"The earth sings of His glories,"  says a song.  When I hike in Red Rocks I very much understand that lyric.  The rocks were pushed up out of the earth 6 million years ago when God was creating the Rocky Mountains.  (Something like that...maybe it was billion...and yes, I think the earth was created billions of years ago.  What's 7 days when you are an Eternal God?  Is the fact that it took a long time less miraculous?  I could go on and on.) The Rockies are basically a big fold in the earth, like a crease in your pants.  The Foothills, where I live, and Red Rocks are the sort of residue of that.  That's not the right description but if you have ever worked with clay or play dough you know what I mean. 

Red Rocks were pushed up out of the earth.  They have such a sense of motion to them!  Their color and texture add to their beauty.  I think they are a testimony of God's might and artistry.  Mostly, though, I feel they are an expression of love.  As any lover would leave surprises and treasures to woo another or maybe even as one would display their talents, I feel God has created things like Red Rocks, the Grand Canyon, the oceans, a sunset, the moon and the stars....all of these things are for us!  They are not for Him.  He's in Heaven, where I'm sure the scenery here pales!  They are for us to enjoy and to marvel.  I love presents!  Thank you Father!

The other day I was driving home and saw an amazing sunset! 

"Looks like someone was dabbling in the Cray Paas..." I said to Him.

He loves us so much!  All of us.  Please remember to love as He does, people.  My heart hurts for people who feel unloved by God's people, but worse, by God Himself.  Christ died for people of every color, sexual orientation, and political party.  He died for people of every religion, for addicts, for recreational drug users....for everyone. 

 Sorry, the news of late, overwhelms me.

Is Earth Day and Environmentalism of God?

My youngest son greeted me this morning with "It's Earth Day mama!! I'm going to LOVE the Earth!" I had to kiss that face.

My mother lives in my neighborhood. Whenever the boys and I walk down to her house, they are always upset about the litter they see on the side of the road. They always ask to pick it up. Ew. I always tell them "One day we will take our walk armed with gloves and trash bags and you can pick up all the trash you want," but then we never do...

I decided that in honor of Earth Day we would finally do it. So I got Drew some latex gloves (Purple. His favorite color.) and we took a walk on this beautiful day.

He was a hoot! "Take THAT, litter! Oh, you're goin' DOWN you trash!" It was great fun. Poor Gabe missed it though. He will not be too happy about that but...busy evening after school.

One day on the way to school Gabriel asked me why, when an animal becomes extinct, does God not just make more of that animal? In Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve to "...rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." The word "rule" here has lead some to believe that the earth's creatures and plants(as the verse goes on to include)are for our own benefit and rule and that we have permission to manipulate it as such. The original language used the word "radah." This form of the word rule was used to indicate care taking.

On the basis of a careful study of the Hebrew word, radah, which is usually translated as "to have dominion" or "to rule."5 By examining the use of this word in other passages in the Old Testament, it is most often used in political contexts to speak about the rule of a king or a nation. When the characteristics of the rule are discussed, the biblical texts emphasize a humane and compassionate rule that displays responsibility for others and that results in peace and prosperity. It can therefore be concluded that Genesis 1:28 does not advocate tyrannical exploitation of nature but rather responsible care of it. - Marcia Bunge "Biblical Views of Nature"

I actually just looked that last part up but what I had told my son was that "when mom and dad give you a toy and you break it due to carelessness we don't just go out and buy you a new one. God gave us the things of the Earth as a gift. It's not just our home but everything in it is for our delight as well as our survival. So when we mistreat this gift He will not just 'go out' and replace it."

This thought has started a snowball of compassion for all living things in my children but especially sweet Gabriel. He can not even bare to see a spider squashed! He recognizes that everything has a purpose and that our universe was carefully designed to work in the most intricate of ways.

Thank you Lord Jesus, for this beautiful world! Your creative genius is evident in everything from the details of a flowers petal to the vastness of the night sky! Give us wisdom in ways to preserve your masterpiece and forgive us for the things we have done that have altered it.