Great God Almighty

Driving along yesterday early morning, I noticed what I thought to be a small cloud of smoke in a gravel parking lot as I passed by. The sun was just rising high enough to throw a beautiful orange glow across the earth highlighting everything that was willing to reflect back the light. As I looked closer, I noticed that it was one small puddle in the middle of an expanse of gravel and five little birds were taking a morning bath in it. What I thought to be smoke was a shower of mist and water crystal lit up by the rising sun.. and the realization became such a sweet image on a frosty morning in the late fall. The little birds flitted around and hopped and played, splashing one another and creating a wonderful natural shower of water mixed with the warmth of the sun..

so much beauty in the world around us.. those small and seemingly insignificant things that are so shadowed and choked out by the din of life's stresses and disappointments. God is so kind to allow a brief breath of such gentleness and beauty to remind us that there is good in the world.. that was his plan.. love and joy.. the darkness and difficulties we face are not his doing, not what he wanted for his children.. but in the perfect world that he created and that his creation corrupted, he refuses to give up on us.. not only that but he showers us with that miraculous mist of the water of his Spirit and the warmth of his Son at just the right moments to help us regain our strength.. as brief as those glimpses may be.. they are powerful and they change us with a sense of permanence that guides our thoughts and leads our hearts back to the one who loves us with a pure and complete and faithful heart..

God is good.
His plan for us is good.
And my love for him is great.