~ Wonder and Appreciation ~

[Lani]

Psalms 95:1-7
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,


The mountain peaks belong to [the Lord] Psalm 94:4 (NIV)




I have always loved the mountains. Whether a long, low, ridge like the Ozarks of Arkansas or the dramatic pyramids like peaks as in the Alps in Switzerland, the majesty and mystery of mountains speak to my soul. However, when I moved to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, I was afraid that seeing them day after day would cause me to lose my appreciation for their grandeur. I was afraid I would come to take them for granted.

But I am discovering that my wonder and appreciation grow each day. I see the same mountains through my window every day, but it never looks the same twice. One day the top is lost in the clouds. One day it looks green from all the trees on its slope. But when the atmosphere changes, the mountain appears to be a soft shade of blue.

In much the same way, I find that the more I spend time with God through prayer, Bible study, and worship, the more wonderful God seems to me. The more time I spend with God, the less I take God for granted. The more time I spend in God's presence, the more I appreciate the many manifestations of God's majesty.


Prayer: Gracious and loving God, we praise you for your glory and majesty. Make us good and faithful stewards of your love and of your creation. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Park Rangers

Thought for the Day: The wonder of God's creation

Story shared by: M. MacDonald (NC)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 9/6/11