I am still thinking about the beach. Have you watched the sun rise over the water lately?
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Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
Psalm 104:1-3 – NIV
I sat alone in the gray twilight, listening to the steady rumble of the rolling tide. The sea gulls circled overhead, calling out to one another as they searched for their morning breakfast.
The horizon began to glow, as strands of pink, orange and gold swirled across the dawning sky. Golden light danced across the water as a tiny glimmer of orange peeked out from behind its dark blue draping, offering me a little wink before showing its full glory to the world. Within seconds, the fiery ball was leaping up out of the water, the sky alive with shimmering strands of brilliant color.
Majesty, this was God’s majesty on display. A beautiful dance, perfectly choreographed, the sun rising out of the waves.
I sat there mesmerized, knowing that this dance is repeated daily, yet, feeling that somehow this morning’s display had been just for me. I marveled at the miracle of it, the gift of a new day. Another day to live and breathe. Another day to seek and serve Him. Another day to begin again. God’s great Grace delivered fresh every morning, just waiting for us to receive it.
And then I wondered. How often do we waste this? How often do we miss God’s daily gift of Grace to us by arising irritably, craving coffee, distressed by the day’s awaiting demands? How often do we plow through our morning routines, rushing to work or school, totally unaware of the beauty all around us?
We fail to hear the birdsong. We fail to notice those shimmering strands of sunlight as they dance across the morning sky. We waste the gift of the dawn, because we are too busy to stop and survey God’s precious miracles in our midst.
I know you cannot rise before dawn each day, just to take in its glory. There are children to feed and work that must be done.
Yet, perhaps, you could pause for just a moment before you hop in the car. Perhaps you could look around you, take in the morning beauty just waiting there for you to notice. Maybe you could lift your eyes to the sky and give thanks for the gracious gift of a new day. Then, no matter how the rest of the day goes, it will still be a good day, because you have already witnessed your morning miracle.
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They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Psalm 145:5 – NIV
PRAYER
O Heavenly Father, how gracious You are to give us another glorious morning to enjoy. Let us taste and see the delights you have set before us. Let the beauty of creation capture our attention this morning, that we lift our eyes to heaven and give thanks for the miracle of another day. Let us not waste this gift, but use it to seek and serve You.
Faith Beyond Sight 