I have seen a lot of trilliums, but this is the first trilliums I have seen with green stripes.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
It has been awhile since I featured pictures of creation that declare God’s glory. This week I want to feature some pictures of trilliums which are in full bloom in May. I’m not much of a flower person, but I like trilliums. These flowers are apparently rare, but they happen to flourish in and around my yard.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
– Genesis 1:1
Consider the creative ability required for God to create our world. He creates thousands of different animals in all shapes and sizes. He creates giraffes, elephants, rhinos, hippos, hamsters, penguins, eagles, robins, whales, sharks, shrimp, lobsters, and so much more. He creates thousands of different types of plants. Some plants bear fruits of various color, shape, and taste. Many plants have flowers in incredible variety. He creates different environments on the earth – deserts, forests, prairies, mountains, oceans, and more. He fills space with stars and planets of incredible variety. What creativity to make all of this!
Consider the wisdom and knowledge required for God to create our world. What he designs must actually function. Animals must move and breathe and eat and multiply. God must come up with practical things like hearts, lungs, livers, spinal cords, and so much more. All of this made up of cells, made up of atoms, made up of…. And then there are plants which need to grow and bear fruit and form seeds. And all these plants and animals have to fit together in their habitat. And the earth has to be just the right distance from the sun. And, and, and…. We have spent several thousand years trying to figure out how our world works. But God knows it all. What wisdom and knowledge to make all of this!
Consider the power required for God to create our world. There is nothing, and with a word God creates something. With a word, he makes planets and stars and plants and animals. With a word. What authority! What power! Ponder the power required to make this vast universe. And God does it all by simply speaking it into existence. What power to make all of this!
This is our Creator. This is our God.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
– Psalm 95:6
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
– Genesis 1:31-2:3
Upon finishing creation, God looked at all that he made and declared it good. He found pleasure in what he had made. And so he rested from his work – enjoying the work of his hands.
I recently spent a lot of time laying a new floor in our living room. One day, as I was near the end of the project, I was looking at the floor. And I felt pleasure at what I had done. I had a sense of accomplishment. I enjoyed the work of my hands.
This is one reason God created the Sabbath – to give us a day to rest and enjoy the work of our hands. To be able to stop from our labor long enough to see what we had done and find pleasure in it.
As we finish another year, we look back to evaluate. But perhaps too we should look back to enjoy what we have been able to do during the past year. To celebrate the successes. To find pleasure in tasks completed. To enjoy the work of our hands.
Outside our home last winter.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Glen Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Near our home in northwest Michigan
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Near our home in northwest Michigan
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Near our home in northwest Michigan
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Manistee River in northwest Michigan
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Brian J. Mikul 