Skip to main content

All Natural



O
ur Bible study group just finished Jen Hatmaker's book
Tune In, about hearing the voice of God through various means and circumstances.

As part of her last section, "God Haunts" (where God likes to "hang out"), she focuses in on God speaking to us through His creation. She poses a question about whether we hear God through nature. "Are you a 'Nature Girl'?" she asks.

Of the seven gals around the table, five were not nature girls. (Not even the beach! I was stunned!!) The gal next to me didn't comment (I know she goes to the beach but maybe that's where it ends....)

Me? I'm very much a nature girl, though, these days, I find God speaking to me more directly through reading the Bible. But as a girl growing up, God and nature were synonymous. Had I been more assertive (like way more assertive), I could have led a lively debate—"It's not nice to fool Mother Nature when she's a fraud anyway!"

Maybe it was because I spent so much time outside as a kid, playing in the yard. One of my favorite places to just sit was a big craggy rock in the side front yard. Great place to study the trees, flowers, bushes, feel the breeze...think. I always thought that the moon was probably like that rock, and I liked to sit on the moon. I've always enjoyed watching the birds. Still consider them the "pets" of our house (besides the fake stuffed golden retriever).

Hanging out in nature got the creative juices going. It was energizing! It put thoughts into perspective, if not into actual words. Of course, back then, I didn't realize that I had the perfect way to "Be still and know that He is God!"



But, that understanding DID become clear for me as a girl—a Girl Scout, to be exact. We had a weekend camp-out at one of the Girl Scout campgrounds. Spent the entire weekend hiking the trails, enjoying the challenge of following colored markers and spotting wildlife. Sat by streams and had bark boat races.
Made real campfires.

And had "church"...outside, in nature.

We had prepared for a "service" the night before. There would be a flag presentation and some readings. Songs, of course (our high school helpers played guitar). We were told to be reverent, quiet, thoughtful.



So, there we were, Sunday morning. Sun coming up through the trees. We walked in a line out onto the open green, surrounded by these trees. The "service" began. While I don't remember anything specific about what was read, I do remember one song in particular (and was so excited to find it on someone's post in Minnesota!). It's called
"Wonder-Full World" by James Thiem.
"Take care to wonder
at the world through which you wander.
Never hurry by an open door,
for you live in a universe,
full of miracles galore."

And then there were verses. Here are two I remember clearly:

"Look for God in small things:
drops of rain or a grain of sand.
Praise him whenever you
find him in anything small.

Look for God in bright things:
Someone's eyes or the skies at noon.
Praise him whenever you
find him in anything bright."

Standing in the marvelous creation that He made, singing these words, I was completely overwhelmed with the idea that God was real and He made some beautiful things!

Today, when I read through these lyrics, I get totally choked up at the repeated refrain "Praise Him whenever you find Him in anything....." I didn't understand the significance of all the lyric was saying. But, Scripture confirms that we are to praise Him in all things! ALL things. Care to add a few verses to the song? I know we all could.

So, I do take care to wonder, because He does speak to me through His creation.


Yes, God, You are very big! But You still speak to ME, because I'm part of Your creation, too. And I stand, stand in awe of You....

Take care to wonder, indeed!!

Comments

Edie said…
I am a Nature Girl! I hear God speaking through all of His creation. Sometimes it's a stirring deep within my soul that I cannot put to words but it is there.

"I didn't realize that I had the perfect way to "Be still and know that He is God!"" This is exactly right! I never thought of it this way before but it is perfect.

"Yes, God, You are very big! But You still speak to ME, because I'm part of Your creation, too. And I stand, stand in awe of You...."
Amen ~
I'm not a Nature Girl in general, but when I see beauty in creation, it indeed shouts to me of God. Thanks for the reminder!
Bonita said…
I'm another one who hears God speaking through His creation. I'm not a nature girl in the sense of camping and stuff like that, but nothing rejuvenates me more than getting outside and just taking it all in.
Kelly said…
It's not that I don't like nature, per se, just not bugs, heat, cold or wild animals. :D I do like sitting in the presence of God on a perfectly temperatured day. I guess I am spoiled.

But at least one never has to worry about be skipping church to be "in nature" with God fishing or golfing!
I am a nature girl! I love to go for nature walks alone and just commune with God. It's always been one of my favorite things to do. :)

Loved this post!
Sonya
Anonymous said…
Thank you, Sue! I wrote that day of study because I AM SO A NATURE GIRL TOO! For me? Mountains. All the way. So glad God used Tune In to remind you of how beautifully He speaks to you through creation! Yeah, God!

Blessings,
Jen Hatmaker
On Purpose said…
Isn't it great to know that God's hand has touched everything we see!
Kelly said…
Don't mind me, I'm just jealous. :D

For much I'd write a blog about...YOU KNOW WHO...and get a comment, but that would just seem so yesterday, Miss Blogger with famous people comments.
My ADHD Me said…
That was a beautiful post and the pictures are amazing. How could one NOT see God when looking at something like that!

Popular posts from this blog

On this Merry Christmas Night....

Merry Christmas, blog friends! I know you're wondering, "Did she finish painting her family room (finally....)??" (Nope!) * * * D oesn't this look like how our days are sometimes? Myriad things scattered about, unfinished. Trying to take a cozy, restful seat by the fire, but still that seat stays empty. We try to make things brighter, but the light strings don't quite have the power to make things clear for us. And we wonder how many coats it will take to cover up what had been there before, without splotches and unevenness. (Three may just be right--sigh....!) * * * We may have things unfinished. We may have "miscalculated" the use of our time. Or perhaps we were called away to other things for which we were needed, even if they weren't part of our plans. Even in our peaceful approach to Christmas, that seat of rest may be vacant. But the opportunity to "Be still...." doesn't always lie in a cozy sea

When I was 45....

I t was a very good year! (Yep, celebrating again! I hijacked my own blog--LOL!) The glass is half full, and things have never looked more browniful! Awesome day on tap.... sunshine, take-out barbecue for dinner, cake.... Thanks for celebrating with me! Enjoy.... ( Let it rise....One of my all-time favorite praise songs! )

Post #100

L ong before we bloggers celebrated our first 100 posts, the psalmists provided us with theirs. In recognition of my 100th, let's celebrate by looking at the Bible's "Post #100" (a.k.a., Psalm 100, A Psalm for Thanksgiving or Thank Offering): Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Surprisingly, there is no direct Hebrew translation for the English word 'joyful' as used in this verse in the King James Version. That leaves things a bit open to interpretation. My study Bible (NASB) says 'joyful' is "a shout of loyalty and homage." The dictionary defines 'joy' with the word rejoicing, meaning "to be made glad again." 'Noise,' however, does come with a Hebrew equivalent, meaning "to split the ears with sound," as in to shout, shout for joy. Lands implies all the earth, the nations, the world. We, those of all nations, are to present to the Lord, out of our loyalty and homage to Him, joyful shouts that