THE WONDERS OF HIS HANDIWORK

Time with Jesus - Friday, 28 September 2012

Hi all,

We are told, “The heavens declare the glory of God”. We look at this and related Scriptures and arrive at the wonders of His handiwork.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

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Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 28 September 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE WONDERS OF HIS HANDIWORK
I’m told that I suffer from a problem that is common among men. A problem their mothers, wives and daughter don’t struggle with. I’m told that I don’t see something, even when I’m looking at it. The problem is, “Darling, do you know what’s happened to XXXX” In my experience, limited though it might be, I find that when I can’t find something, my wife can put her hands on it and find it within seconds. Usually there is no comment when this happens. Certainly not from my dearly beloved. But inside my head I imagine I can hear her saying something about me never being able to find anything, even when it’s staring me in the face. On the other hand, the female of the species seems to have a homing instinct on anything and everything the male misses, even with both eyes closed and her mind on other things! Eugene Peterson comments on this obliquely in his translation of 1 Corinthians: -7 men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their "heads" to the Head: God.1 Cor. 11:7 MSG I think it means that men often submit to a sort of “blindness” to the things of God. Women see this masculine blindness. They have the ability to show their men where they have mislaid their faith in Him. Of course, blindness to the “things” of God is not always a gender issue. Those who truly love the Lord Jesus, see Him in everything. The heavens themselves declare His glory. We can’t miss it. His glory is everywhere. Watch a sunrise and be amazed as colour returns to the trees and grass. Listen to the sound of His creatures welcoming the new day. Sometimes called “the dawn chorus”, it’s well named. It’s the chorus of praise to God His creatures produce in response of each new day. They see and hear Him. It’s only mankind who miss it. Those who believe in Him and have crowned Him Lord, also see and hear Him in His glory. They know that 28 "In him we live and move and exist.' As some of your own poets have also said, 'We are his children.' Acts 17:28 NIrV. Those who don’t want to believe do so because they prefer the darkness to the light. (John 3:19) They refuse to believe because they would then be responsible to the One Whom they have rejected. Yes, they do see! But because they don’t want to believe, God lets them go. They remain in a state of delusion and become more determined to not believe, than they were previously. Like those referred to earlier, they can’t see even when they are looking at Him. They need someone to come and find Him for them. Ladies, this is where you are very often so like the Holy Spirit! You point things out and find what is missing. You have a God-given ability to help your husbands “find” God. The One whom they accidentally and sometimes deliberately “mislaid”. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Psalms 19:1-3 NLT 20 Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I'm talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made. So people have no excuse for what they do. Romans 1:20 NIrV 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17 ESV 3 When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place- 4 what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him? Psalms 8:3-4 GW 41 The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon has another kind of splendour, and the stars have still another kind of splendour. Even one star differs in splendour from another star. 42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. 1 Corinthians 15:41-42 GW 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3 NLT	The heavens declare Your glory Lord, no matter where we look. They speak with such a clarity, from every little nook, And cranny of the universe. They seem to “pulse” with light; And even unbelievers must say that this is right. They say it had its origin and happened just by chance! They seem to miss the order in this vast galactic dance. They say a great explosion, somehow had taken place, And everything we now can see, in every part of space, Started off from nothing. But what they cannot see, Is where did “nothing” come from? It’s very strange to me! They say the space around us, has somehow always been. But space must have an origin; and none of them are keen, To say it was created. It always has been there. There wasn’t a beginning of which they are aware. But what about the forces – the “laws” which they can find. Didn’t they originate in a designer’s mind? Who made the law of gravity which makes the whole thing go? And what about the speed of light? Who fixed it? They don’t know? What of the laws of motion? Why do the planets spin? And what about the laws of sound? Perhaps they want to pin, All this on some freak accident that happened long ago? The possibility it’s God, they do not want to know! The reason is quite obvious. If they admit He’s there, Then they would be accountable. And they are all aware, That if they are responsible, to someone way up high, Then they will have a problem, the moment when they die. So they remain dogmatic. They “bellyache” and moan. They say He’s non-existent. His truth they will not own. They much prefer their ignorance. It suits them rather well, And do not have to bother that there just might be a hell! They do not want to listen. They do not want to see, The glory of God’s universe which speaks abundantly. They think that they are clever. But God says they are fools. They do not want to bother with Jesus and His rules. If they decide against Him, He’ll let them go their way. And in their foolish ignorance each one will have to stay. They all behold God’s glory. But they refuse to see The wonders of His handiwork; and His Divinity. Jim Strickland Written 28th September 2012