The heavens declare the glory of God! Psalm 19:1 [Morning Sky Photo by Kathleen Caryn]

The heavens declare the glory of God! Psalm 19:1 [Morning Sky Photo by Kathleen Caryn]

Today we have a guest post by Kathleen Caron !  She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three children and two rescue dogs.  Kathleen writes about food, faith and family at {full of life} soul food.

Kathleen is part of the awesome community of emerging authors at Tribe Writers, founded by my friend Jeff Goins. I’ve had the honor of recording Jeff’s audio books.  You can read more of Kathleen’s writing at http://kathleencaron.com/

 

In this resurrection series, the scene of our two previous posts were Jesus on the beach in John 21. I imagine that was a beautiful morning sky. Take it away Kathleen!

Day 13 The Heavens Declare The Glory of God

Long before I became a Christian, I was assigned to read a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins in a boring old English class.  Avowed agnostic that I was, I had no idea what the poem was about, although I loved the language so much that I memorized the poem.  “The world is charged with the grandeur of God,” Hopkins wrote, “it will flame out like shining from shook foil.”

“…The Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.”

–God’s Grandeur, Gerard Manley Hopkins

 The poet’s words whispered to my cynical heart, describing a God of beauty and love and sweetness that I could never have imagined in my lonely, post-modern existence.  My heart broke with the possibility that the God I had abandoned was real, and ever present; that I might encounter His presence in the beauty of the natural world, a world charged with His grandeur and glory.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”   Psalm 19:1

Although it took many years for God to wear down my stubborn resistance, I came at last to receive His gracious gift of salvation.  Now, the poem’s meaning is abundantly clear.  When I look up at the morning sky, I see Him bent over the world with warm breast and bright wings, ever patient and loving, the extravagant giver of good gifts.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”  James 1:17

As I walk in the morning, I imagine that it is just me and my Father, our special time together.  Surely He flung the bright colors of dawn across the vast sky just for me to enjoy.  “Father!” my heart thrills, “You really outdid yourself today.”  Drinking in the newness and wonder, the precious gift of a new day, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loves me.  Oh, how He loves me.

Do you feel God’s love for you when you look up at the morning sky?

– Kathleen Caron

About This Devotional Series

According to the historical church calendar, the Easter season is the 50 day period from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  I’ll post a fresh devotional thought with my sunrise photo of that morning, everyday through Pentecost, commenting as the Spirit inspires. Check out the rest of the series here.

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If this series is helpful to you,  please forward and share with your friends through e-mail, Twitter, Facebook – whatever, just click the share buttons on this page.  Join us on the journey from Easter to Pentecost! 

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