God's word

We have been studying Genesis 1 this week. It has been the source of great contemplation. To my heart, the way that God created the world with so much variety speaks to His creativity. The wondrous array of creatures we see around us and in some cases beneath us, is just a very small fraction of God's creation. In fact, scientists estimate that better than 99% of creatures since creation have gone extinct. 99%! Can you imagine the creation that Adam set eyes on? I love the illustration above. My daughters have asked me, "are unicorns real?" Psalm 29:6 says yes, or at least they were. I think I hear my Scottish brethren cheering. :)  What a remarkable sight the world must have been! What struck me the most though, was that from the seed sized chameleon, to the great behemoth, to the universe as a whole, God spoke it all into existence. He spoke it into existence. At times in life when I have come into difficult circumstances I have occasionally felt discouraged. Kind of the feeling you get when going to bake a cake and realizing you're out of flour. There are situations I come up against occasionally that I feel ill equipped to manage. I find myself thinking,"how can I fix this?" In some cases I can't, but God provides unexpected solutions. Whether it's physical provision, wisdom, self control, or another Christian walking up along side, He always provides. I think the very curious ways I have seen Him bless us personally is yet another nod to His creative heart. I think many times we can metaphorically put God in a box. Situations come up that have no natural solutions and so we consider all hope lost, but God is not working with our tool box. Whether it is a lost job, broken vow, struggling child, health issue, etc... God is bigger. God is able. God has solutions that we could never conceive of. Have you ever considered the prayer of Jabez? 1 Chr 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.  I am not sure what Jabez's life situation was, but he laid it all on the table. He asked God for specific help and God gave him what he asked for. It was a bold prayer of faith and God blessed it. We know, love, and worship the same God as Jabez. He is my Father. If you are in Christ he is your Father too. This is what has given me the strength to lift my head when I have walked through life's hurricanes. I remember I never walk alone. I never have and I never will.  Psalm 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved  I hope you are encouraged like me as you read this remembering God is with you wherever you go and in every situation. The God who spoke all of creation into existence is near whenever you call on Him to offer your prayers and praises. Have a blessed week! Comments and questions welcome. :) 

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 
Deut 4:7