Isaiah 40:26 (NIV) "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
Several amazing sights were visible in the clear night sky. As dusk came, the students filed in line to have a peak at the galaxy known as Hercules. We climbed up the ladder to peak through a lens that illuminated this phenomenal sight. The next telescope aimed at the planet Saturn. We could see the rings around it and four of its moons. Spectacular hardly describes what we witnessed.
Last Friday night my 3rd grade son's class went to the Bruneau Sand Dunes for a field trip. This state park is known for its science observatory and evening astronomy shows. It possesses Idaho's largest telescope for public viewing.
This experience caused me to pause and consider God's amazing creation. There is a lot we can see on our own, but to have a glimpse into a galaxy beyond our grasp is breathtaking. Our God is so enormous, His creation is not contained by human understanding. Even the Hubble telescope is not big enough to capture the innumerable galaxies that exist.
For example, the Milky Way Galaxy contains billions of stars. Even if we counted one star per second, it would take 2,500 years to count them all. Author and speaker Louie Giglio says the stars are like a billboard that show us everyday how amazing God is. They show off the glory and splendor of our Creator.
Did you know that the speed of light travels at 186 thousand miles per second? Imagine in the beginning when God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. Bam! God just spoke it into existence. Talk about a lightning bolt!
God holds the universe in the palm of His hand, while our understanding of His greatness fits in the palm of our hand. His magnificence cannot be gauged or calculated. It exceeds any instrument of measure. Our humanness prohibits us from fully understanding who God is. If we could fully fathom how glorious He is it could diminish our view of Him.
Acknowledgment of God's magnificence is necessary to our relationship with Him. Realizing God's "bigness" forces us to recognize our "smallness." Compared to God we are nothing. Giglio calls this, "significant insignificance." Admitting our true position properly postures our heart before God. Despite our humanness and tininess, we are significant to a magnificent God.
The reality of who God is transcends into my life each day. Knowing He is my EVERYTHING establishes my security in Him as a woman of God. My identity and significance stem from the Creator of the Universe. This truth radically affects how I live. Because I trust in who He is, I can entrust all my worries and weaknesses to Him. He is big enough to handle all my struggles and shortcomings. Seriously, we're talking about THE omnipotent God!
Just as He named the starry hosts, God knows us each by name as well. Even better, He invites us into a relationship with Him. God gave our sin to His Son in order to give us redemption and real life. Only an infinite God, superior than our finite ability to understand Him, could extend such an offer. This is indescribable!
Chris Tomlin got it right in his song. If you have time listen visit youtube @
Here are the lyrics to "Indescribable":
"From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, creation's revealing Your majesty. From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring, every creature unique in the song that it sings.
All exclaiming, indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, You are amazing God.
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go, or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow? Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light, yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night? None can fathom.
Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, You are amazing God.
Incomparable, unchangeable, You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same. You are amazing God!"
Heart Work:
Pause and examine the intricate details of God's creation: a flower, an animal, your child, a garden, sunrise or sunset, or stay up late on a clear night and gaze at His stars.
Intentionally appreciate the work of God's hand. Give thanks for the things that bless you.
Heart Exam:
What keeps you from noticing the details of creation?
How does God's display of power through creation strengthen your faith? Why is this important to an unbelieving world?
Heart Changing Word:
Genesis 1:1 & 16, (NIV) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars."
Isaiah 6:3 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Isaiah 40:25 " 'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One."
Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 33:6-7 "The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs."
Psalm 108:4-5 "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth."
Amos 5:8 "He who made Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land- the Lord is his name."
*"Indescribable" DVD by Louie Giglio.
Copyright 2011 by Hester Christensen. All rights reserved.
Google was having issues yesterday, but here are some thoughts from my friend Kim:
ReplyDeleteAnother great post to begin my weekend--thankyou! It was on my recent trip to Colorado that I began to get a small glimpse of God's magnitude--driving next to the mountain and looking up...couldn't stop the tears--all's I could think about was His strength, power, beauty and love. Truly amazing! Thanks again and have a great weekend!--Kim