All Creation Sings His Praise: Gratitude Reading Plan (Day 27)

(This devotional is day twenty-seven of a 30-Day Thanksgiving Challenge. Each day includes a daily reading that will be accompanied by a post on this blog.)

Read Psalm 104

What is the most awe-inspiring scene, vista, or view you’ve seen in nature? What soaring mountain, dazzling turquoise water, starlit night sky, crystal clear lake, vast open plain, or carved canyon left your jaw on the floor?

Continue reading All Creation Sings His Praise: Gratitude Reading Plan (Day 27)

Study Creation to Learn About God

“[Creation] is a speech from God to humanity… The creation, in its entirety, is eloquent; sin is the only dissonance in its song.”  Herman Bavinck

“The universe … is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God” Belgic Confession

“Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary but the common mode of existence.” Wendell Berry

The Psalms are full of references to lessons about God and life in His world that we learn from creation (nature). To be a student of creation makes us learners of the God of creation. To neglect creation is to ignore God’s revelation of Himself.

Continue reading Study Creation to Learn About God

The Bigger Benefits of Gardening

“It may be too easy to underestimate the power of a garden.” Wendell Berry

“To farm or garden is to become acquainted with amazement and bewilderment in the presence of the world.” Norman Wirzba

We have a small vegetable garden at our house, and for most of the summer and early fall, a favorite routine is walking out with my wife and daughter to see the garden. We might pick a few weeds, but we’re really there to see the progress. It’s exciting to see plants growing and fruit ripening every day. The best days arrive after several weeks when the hard work pays off and we get to pick something.

Continue reading The Bigger Benefits of Gardening