Gracious God Gives Evidence in Creation – 10/29/26

The fall colors are gorgeous right now in Michigan! Last Thursday, on the kids’ day off from school, we packed a picnic and enjoyed a beautiful day at Hidden Lake Gardens. We marveled at all the unique trees and plants God created. Even without the Bible, people can look at creation and know that God created the world. However, many people suppress this truth, as Paul explains in the following passage:

Romans 1:18-20 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” 

God has revealed Himself to all people through creation. Without having or knowing God’s Word, we can still see evidence of His existence, creativity, intelligence, and power.

How has God’s truth been revealed to you this week?

Are you looking for it and sharing it with others?

Let’s look for evidence of God in the creation around us, praise Him for it, and share it with others.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – Desiring Our Presence (3/7/24)

 Before we met, Joe lived in Italy for a couple years. It was an amazing experience for him to live in Rome with so much history! He talked about it a lot. It was hard for me to understand all that he talked about, since I hadn’t been there, much less lived there. However, we had an opportunity to go to Italy and France our second year of marriage. Joe was excited to show me where he had lived, what he had seen, and who he had met!

We usually don’t want to keep our amazing experiences a secret, but want to share them with others, especially those we love. Jesus has the same desire! He wants us to join Him in Heaven and experience all the blessings of knowing His full character and creation as it was intended.

John 17:24-26         “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Oneness with and nearness to the perfect and righteous Father in Heaven is the greatest experience anyone will ever have! Jesus wants to share that experience with you and me for all eternity! Will you be joining Jesus for this forever marvelous experience? If so, who will you pray for today about joining you and Jesus?

Thursday Devotional - Creation's Beauty

With COVID, we had one family vacation cancelled and didn’t plan other family vacations for the summer, other than visiting family. However, we finally planned a long weekend trip to Mackinac Island for this past weekend. I wasn’t sure how it would go, since the twins had just lived with us 2 weeks by then. When they found out we were going to Mackinac Island, though, they couldn’t wait! It gave them something to talk about and look forward to, especially while they missed their former home. They counted down the days!

We got to see lots of God’s beautiful creation – gorgeous water, sunrises, sunsets, lots of horses, flowers, trees, rock formations, bright moon and stars, etc. Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places on earth! It reminds me of the beauty and variety of all God created. No two sunrises or sunsets are the same! The night sky changes daily, too.   

In Bible study this year, we are studying Genesis. Covering most of chapter 1 this week was timely with our trip!

Genesis 1:14-19       And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The twins (and all of us) enjoyed Mackinac Island! We took daily bike rides and got to point out lots of things God created.

What of God’s creation have you gotten to enjoy and marvel at this week?

Alice

Colorblind

So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:20-24

Who came up with the concept of being ‘colorblind?’  Yes, there are people who are literally color-blind, but I have heard that phrase used often in conversation with people with respect to their view on race.  “I don’t see color when talking to people,” is what some would say to me as if it were a badge of honor.  “It does not matter what color you are.  I see you as a brother in Christ,” is the latest version of it that I hear.  Now, I understand where the people are coming from, and assuming positive intent, I am sure they mean well when they say.  However, I want to let you in on a little secret the next time you have the urge to say it.  It is the worst thing to say to a person of color and particularly a Christian.  “Why?  God doesn’t see color,” is the most commonly response when I say that.  I mean it sounds like a very Christian thing to say.  He or she is noting that God loves us no matter what our color is, and that is true.  It is also true that most teen fathers struggle to make a living, and yet, here I am.  My point?  All because it is true does not necessarily make it relevant.

God made us different as a test of our faith.  The test is not to see if you embrace someone as you would anyone.  It is to test if you would embrace them for who they are!  The story of the prodigal son as many know is filled with lessons.  Today, I look to the part of the father running to His lost younger son.  Remember this son was ungrateful as he left, and many would say he was unworthy of this kind of celebration.  Yet instead of focusing on his son’s sins, he focused on his return acknowledging where he was (dead, lost).  We often see someone different from us, and we look at them from where ‘we’ are.  A key to this story is we must always find people at their level.  That is exactly what God does.  He finds us where we are and raises us up.  He does not stay where He is and tell us to climb.  To be clear, I am not saying we are not all brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am saying that when you see someone who is not like you, ask them about themselves and understand where they come from.  See where they are, and then, determine how to move forward.  Furthermore, be the authentic person God made you to be.  Reach out earnestly and with love.  They will embrace it and more importantly, so will God.

The beauty of God is that as His creation, we get a front row seat to His intentionality.  When we see a butterfly, it has different colors to it.  We could say that it is just like every other butterfly, but if we look through God’s lens, we see its uniqueness in comparison to other butterflies.  We will see its individual beauty.  Not compare it with others.   That is how to overcome colorblindness.  So l challenge you to love all people not only for their similarities but also because of their differences.  Who is God challenging you to find a greater relationship with someone not like you?  How can your circle of friends look more like a mosaic than just yourself?  My prayer is that we allow God to push our boundaries to avoid being ‘colorblind.’  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - Rainbow Revelation

We live in an area where many people deny even the existence of God.  They suppress the truth.  However, God has revealed Himself to all people through creation.  Without having or knowing God’s Word, we can still see His existence, creativity, intelligence, and power.

Romans 1:18-20            “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” 

Romans 1:18-20 

A few weeks ago, after one of our rain storms, the kids and I went outside to play frisbee. As we were playing, I looked up and saw a full rainbow! It was beautiful! We all stopped and looked at it for a while. James, the most active one, stopped and looked at the rainbow the longest. While Sarah and I resumed playing frisbee, I overheard James spontaneously say “Thank you, Jesus, for making the rainbow!”

Later that night, Sarah thanked God for the rainbow during her prayer before bed. It’s such a blessing to watch James and Sarah recognize God through His creation and then thank Him for it! 

How has the truth of God been revealed to you this week? Are you looking for it?

How did you respond?

Did you keep the truth to yourself, or have you shared it with those around you?

Let’s look for God’s power around us, praise Him for it and share it with others!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Joining Jesus

Before we met, Joe lived in Italy for a couple years. It was an amazing experience for him to live in Rome with so much history! He talked about it a lot. It was hard for me to understand all that he talked about, since I hadn’t been there, much less lived there. However, we had an opportunity to go to Italy and France our second year of marriage. Joe was excited to show me where he had lived, what he had seen, and who he had met!

We usually don’t want to keep our amazing experiences a secret, but want to share them with others, especially those we love. Jesus has the same desire! He wants us to join Him in Heaven and experience all the blessings of knowing His full character and creation as it was intended.

John 17:24-26         “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Oneness with and nearness to the perfect and righteous Father in Heaven is the greatest experience anyone will ever have! Jesus wants to share that experience with you and me for all eternity! Will you be joining Jesus for this forever marvelous experience? If so, who will you pray for today about joining you and Jesus?

Alice