Tanner Life

I've been re-reading.....

"The Great House of God" by Max Lucado. I read this devotional book years ago when it was new and I've decided to go back and read all my Max books before buying new ones. A few posts back I talked about how amazing the "Planet Earth" DVDs are to me. When reading a chapter in my Max book last week, it all came together. Those "Planet Earth" episodes can bring me to tears, strange but true. I am amazed that God took time to make so many things for our pleasure and his.

On Pg. 44 Max says "Why did he do it? A shack would have sufficed, but he gave us a mansion. Did he have to give the birds a song and the mountains a peak? Was he required to put stripes on the zebra and the hump on a camel? Would we have known the difference had he made the sunsets gray instead of orange? Why do stars have twinkles and the waves snowy crests? Why dash the cardinal in red and drape the beluga in white? Why wrap creation in such splendor? Why go to such trouble to give such gifts?"

He goes on to describe how we do it for those we love. We search for hours, days, weeks for those perfect Christmas gifts for those we love. We write beautiful words in cards to express our love & concern for friends & family. We take time to give gifts to show our love for others.

Then he says on Pg. 45 "That's why God did it. Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leave you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, 'Do you like it? I did it just for you.'"

God didn't have to make all those beautiful colored tree frogs in the jungles that most people will never see. He didn't have to make and allow those tens of thousands of multi - colored fish to live miles below in the sea where most of us will never go. But, he did! He took time to do it anyway. They're there and occasionally when something like those TV specials come around, we're able to glimpse even more of God's splendor that's just waiting on us to discover! We live in such a TINY little spot of his universe and don't take enough time to be amazed at just what all is out there. What HE made, designed, gives life to. I stand amazed.

He ends chapter 4 on Pg. 46 with this..."just because we can't imagine God's giving us sunsets, don't think God doesn't do it. God's thoughts are higher than ours. God's ways are greater than ours. And sometimes, out of his great wisdom, our Father in Heaven gives us a piece of Heaven just to show us he cares."

Max says "You don't have to agree with me, but I would like you to consider it with me. You don't have to buy it, but I at least think about it. Here it is: If you were the only person on earth, the earth would look exactly the same. The Himalayas would still have their drama and the Caribbean would still have its charm. The sun would still nestle behind the Rockies in the evenings and spray light on the desert in the mornings. If you were the sole pilgrim on this globe, God would not diminish its beauty one degree. Because he did it all for you ... and he's waiting for you to discover his gifts." (emphasis his)

So the next time you see a sunset, notice a flower in bloom, watch a red bird out your window, find a walking stick bug while camping, see a fall tree full of orange/red and gold leaves, see a mountain top covered in snow, hear the waves of the ocean crash on the beach over and over and over, see a waterfall that never runs dry, smell that powdery fresh smell on a new baby and hear the giggles of little kids .... stop and notice! Take time to thank the Great Creator & designer of that beauty!! Take time to remind yourself that he did it all for you! That my friends, is HUGE!