Wednesday's Word: Beautiful Beings

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Psalm 139:13-18

Have you ever sat and thought about how intricate you are as a created being? From the way your blood pumps through your body to the way you balance on two feet to the way your eyes take in the world... You are truly amazing!

God took time to create your being. He fashioned you with love and care. He didn't just give you a body, either. He gave you life! He plotted out a special purpose and destiny for you. He formulated a plan to allow you to be the best you that you could be.

Even as the Lord took care of you before you even made your appearance on this planet, He is always with you. He knows what you are facing, and He understands what you are going through. Today, take some time to give Him praise as the Creator of your fabulous self! Give Him honor for honoring you with His full attention. Send Him some love for how He has taken care of you.

Uniqueness All Around

Last night my church had a great discussion on the soul during Bible Study. It was really interesting and I learned some things. Plus, the topic was so intriguing, I'm going to be doing some further study on the soul on my own.

Nights like yesterday always remind me of why God created all of us with different thought patterns, ways of seeing the world, and personalities. None of us is the same. All of us have something unique and different to offer that will help better those around us.

The Bible says that there is safety in the company of good counsel. (Proverbs 11:14) Also, friends help to "sharpen" each other in their daily walk. (Proverbs 27:17) Because of the effects we can have on each other, the Word also cautions us to not be "unequally yoked" with those who do not believe in Christ.

So, who is sharpening you? What have you learned from those around you? Are you sharing your unique insights and viewpoints with the world?

Today, enjoy the uniqueness of those around you. Remember God created each one of us especially for a specific reason and purpose. Don't hide you're exclusive qualities, share them with the world!

Verse of the Day: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

Wednesday's Word: Amazing God!

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Have you considered the greatness of God lately? Have you taken time to pause and look around at the majesty of creation? Have you thought about how intricately you have been put together?

The world is a witness of the greatness of God. He is high and mighty! He is creative beyond our mental capacity! He reigns in great splendor!

Yet, He chose us to rule over His grand creation. He chose us to be the caretakers of His display of power. He chose us to be crowned with the glory and honor of His deep love.

God is truly amazing!

You're NEW!

During this time  my church is meditating on the word new. Something new is a thing that has never been seen before.

We were made new creations in Christ. Therefore, we should be living in a way that is no way connected or reflective with our selves before Christ.

When Saul came to the Lord, he was completely made over. He even got a new name - Paul. And this man went from a person who was personally hunting down Christians to have them killed, to a man who risked his own life to preach and minister the gospel to the Gentiles. He went from labeling Christianity as blasphemy to declaring the sovereignty of Christ before councils and kings.

Jesus made Paul brand new.

What about you was made new when you met the Savior? What changed?

Today, think about your journey with Christ. Reflect on the newness He brought into your life. Remember the old you? Give God praise that that person no longer exists and you have a new life because of Jesus! Walk in your new life today. Go out and purposefully see things from a new perspective.

As you walk as a new creation in Christ, don't allow the '"old" you to spring up and participate. That "old" you has passed away. You are now a new creature: blessed, righteous, loving, and following the will of God. Don't fall back into your old ways - remember: you are new!

Verse of the Day: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Created in God's Image

Well, I'm back in school. So, you all will now get to be blessed by what I'm learning in my classes again! Yesterday, I had to read on the imago Dei or the image of God. What stood out to me is that everyone is created in the image of God.

God takes the time to hand-craft each and every one of us into His image. He purposefully chooses to create all of us, and He then forms us to look like Him. All of humanity bears His image and likeness. Every single one of us.

Many people on this planet - although bearers of God's image - choose to live in a way that looks nothing like our Heavenly Father. People choose to follow their own selfish desires and whims despite their actions being contrary to God's Word.

Can you imagine what would happen if we all fully embraced being created in the image of God? What changes would break out if we simply chose to conform to the image of God in every area of our lives? How much would things improve if we began treating each other like the image-bearers of God that we actually are?

Jesus stands as our prime example of what it means to fully embrace being created in the image of God. Jesus walked the earth with authority. He knew no fear. Jesus treated His fellow man with love and respect no matter who they were. Even people who were supposed to be His enemy got shown the love of God when they came across Jesus' path.

Today, let's live our life like Jesus. Let's remember that we were all created in the image of God. Let's remember that every person we encounter - no matter where they are in life, no matter how they appear, no matter how they act - they were created on purpose by God to look and act like Him!

Every human being deserves our respect and love. As we acknowledge how much care God put into creating them, we ourselves will take on more of His image ourselves.

Verse of the Day: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26, 27

God's Creative Splendor

I'm not really a nature girl. I don't hike or bird watch or visit forest preserves or anything like that. I can't stand being outside if it's too hot or too cold, and bugs will clear me away from any area.

Yet there is something about God's creation that you can't ignore.

Just looking at a simple flower or considering that that tiny bug is a working little organism that can carry ten times what it weighs... Seeing how the dew sparkles on the grass in the early morning or watching the sky turn beautiful pastel colors at sunset... Feeling a breeze on your neck or listening to the birds sing their song...

God really is a Master Designer.

He created a world full of splendor and mystery. With all of our technology and insight, we're still discovering secrets about our planet every day.

This world has been spinning for years and God has it all working together in perfect harmony. It's amazing how plants, animals, the weather, the seas, and the land itself are all connected to each other.

The creatures that He fashioned shows the depth of His creativity and wisdom. Even the landscape gives testament to His awesome work.

When was the last time that you paused to take in the natural beauty of our world? How often do you stop and marvel at God's glorious creation?

Take some time today to slow down and take a look at the natural beauty of the world. Some of us may have to really search to find something natural in our highly "developed" surroundings, but make some effort to find something. God created that animal, plant, cloud, or breeze...

Isn't God amazing?!

Verse of the Day: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3, 4

Be Fruitful!

The first commandment God gave to Adam and Eve after He created them was to be fruitful and multiply. He told them to reproduce more of themselves in the earth.

Each time God created something, He looked to make sure it was good. Before He moved a step forward, He made sure what He had created was up to His standards. So, when He told man to reproduce, He was telling Him to reproduce something good.

I believe that's why satan was so quick to move to get Adam and Eve to fall into sin. He knew that if they reproduced, he would have a harder time getting sin to take root. He had to strike before they reproduced after the goodness of God. And, as evidenced by Cain's murder of his brother, satan's strategy was right on point.

Now we can all see that sin has taken this world over, and it is multiplying and producing its deadly fruit all over this planet. However, God's goodness is still in existence on the earth. It dwells in those who love Him and have accepted His Son as their Savior.

But how many of us are being fruitful and multiplying? How many souls are being changed from the world of darkness to the Kingdom of Light? Have you been fruitful? Can you point to anyone and say that you introduced them to Christ?

Today, let's make an effort to produce some fruit! Let's tell someone about our Savior, let's influence someone to do the right thing, let's let our lights shine so someone can be drawn to the love of God.

Verse of the Day: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it... Genesis 1:28a

God's Handiwork

Right now a good swath of America is bracing for a winter snowstorm. Here in Chicago, we’re supposed to get two feet of snow.


When I went to do my groceries for the week last night, you would have thought we were expecting six feet of snow! The shelves were empty, the lines were long, and people’s carts were piled high with provisions for riding out our impending deluge.

This morning at work, we’re all keeping an eye out for the first signs of the snow. I will be hitting the road with the first visible flakes. I refuse to get stuck in traffic or a snowdrift!

But while we are all preparing, watching, and waiting, I think this is a great time to reflect on the splendor of God’s creation.

Have you ever really looked at a snowflake? Or have you sat and mulled over the intricacies of a flower? Or have you even considered the makeup of your hands and how your fingers, palm and wrist work together?

All of these are indicators of the greatness of our God! He put all of this Creation together, set the world spinning, and He is keeping everything intact by His very Word spoken at the beginning of (our) time.

He put us, His greatest handiwork, in charge of a place filled with creatures, plants, and organisms that sprang from His imagination! And He sends His wind, rain, snow, and sunshine to keep us all alive and kicking.

So, as you brace for the coming winter weather, take some time out to marvel at God’s awesome creation. Give God thanks for all of His mighty works. And take some time to appreciate one of His greatest hand crafted creations: YOU!

Verse of the Day: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained…O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3, 5