I love the wonder of each of the seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter. Personally, I love spring and summer the best with longer daylight and warmer temperatures. I love being outside enjoying God’s beautiful nature. Here in Juneau, we have unprecedented beauty all around us with mountains and trees, glaciers and water and so many wonderful living creatures. I cannot help but think of God who created all this. I want his words to speak for himself in scripture (New International Version 1984), telling of the wonders he has done for those he loves so much.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)
“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Psalm 95:3-7)
“How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small.” (Psalm 104:24-25)
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness …’ So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)
“… the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
John, speaking about Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
God reveals himself and his love for us through his gift of creation. As we are boating or hiking or however we enjoy the beauty of Juneau this summer, stop and give thanks to God for his wonderful blessing to us.
• Dan Wiese is the pastor of the Church of the Nazarene. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders.
