I'm Not That Important!

Matthew 5: 13-16   "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.  Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.(The Message)

  

It all began with a two hour drive to the top of the mountain to see a clear sunset.   When you are starting the journey at sea level and rising to 13,970 to the top of Mauna Kea Summit, the 360 degree view is beyond your imagination.

Just watching the sun set for the evening above all the clouds gives you a feeling of awe that the Lord concludes each day with a beautiful sunset.  Even when we can’t see it.

Then as dusk turns into twilight we saw our first stars.  The guide told us we needed to move to a lower elevation before watching the stars.  The air was a little thin at the top and turning your head upward could cause you to lose your balance and end up on the ground.

At 9,000 feet the sky was extremely clear and the mountains shielded reflective light from cities forty miles away.

As I turned my head skyward, I could not believe all the stars, planets, satellites, and falling meteors that literally filled the sky.  Our guide noted one star that blew up fourteen years ago and yet we are still seeing the light from that one star today.

The next hour brought tears to my eyes.  The Lord created everything that was in the sky and yet He created our solar system, Earth, and the place we call home.  Then it hit me…He created ME!  Then I wondered, why?

I searched my heart to quietly reflect on the wonder of life which I so often take for granted.

My mind thinks the reality of life is that I am just a speck in God’s universe and cannot be important.  Yet, in His whisper of the night sky, God reminds me of how important I am.

When we feel so defeated or insignificant in life, we should look around and understand that God NEVER makes a mistake.  You were born with a divine purpose and are here today for the purpose noted in today’s verses. 

You are so important that our God, the Creator, sent His son from heaven just for YOU!  No matter what age you might be, there is an important task that the Lord STILL has for your life.

If you stare up watching the stars you may think, like me, you are not important.  If you bow your head and get down on your knees you will then understand how important you really are to Him and everyone you touch in life.

Signs of Fall

Matthew 16:3  And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

I am often reminded, particularly in the fall of the year, of God’s relationship with His children.  To many it seem like He speaks in the weirdest fashion, but to me it is exciting. 

As the Lord speaks to us it may be revealed in His creation.  God has been speaking the same message each year since creation and I have found that it is the farmers hear his voice so well.

This week the goldenrod are coming out in full bloom.  For many people that may just means allergy season again.  To the farmers it means that they must get the rest of their vegetables picked and get ready for the winter.  You see, what they have learned is that when the goldenrod reaches full bloom, the first killing freeze will come very soon.

If we pay more attention to the Lord’s messages through nature then perhaps the farmer can be the “prophet”, so to speak, and let us know what kind of a winter we will have for our area. And all he needs to do is take a look at the woolly worm. 

Yes a worm.

You see for decades, when people would make note of the color of the worms in October they could predict the type of winter they can experience that year.  Trust me, I’ve learned that these weather predictions of such creatures in nature can be more reliable that some of our best scientific equipment.

If you ever have the time to talk to an old farmer, just ask him about the signs the Lord places before him from planting to harvest.  There will not be one thing that is magical, mystic, or mythical in what they have learned.  Those signs can range from the thickness and height of a squirrel’s nest, thickness of a blade of corn, planting times for maximum harvest and numerous items being the way in which the Lord reminds us that He is taking care of His children.

I’ve heard people make fun of what they call, “a simple farmer”, but in getting close to country farmers again, it is refreshing to see that many of them have a better understanding of the love relationship that the Lord has for everyone.

What’s the difference?  Probably it is because they physically take the time to see what the Lord has to say. 

What about us?  Many of us stay so busy that we never look at the nature all around us for what the Lord may be telling us.

Shouldn’t our relationship with the Lord depend on more than what we read or more than the times we have our eyes closed in prayer?  Maybe it should also be spent slowing down and looking for the natural signs that give us a message to pass on to others. 

Seeing what the Lord is telling us in nature can help us see the “big” signs He has for our lives.

The funny thing is that it may start with a woolly worm.