Tuning In

Jeremiah 29:13, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

I am definitely not a winter person. I'm happier hunkering down under covers sitting in front of my fire instead of skiing or sledding. Other than winter I like the seasons we get to experience. They all bring their uniqueness to our world. Of all the seasons I like spring the most. Opening the windows and letting the fresh air fill our home. Putting the cold snowy days of winter behind us. I love watching the trees come to life again with lush green leaves. My favorite are the trees that are just budding with hues of pink and bright white. And the beautiful array of colorful flowers growing, lilac being my favorite. The newness of life, the new baby creatures filling the earth, the songs of the birds. Yes, spring is my favorite time of year.

     There is a story of a little boy walking home from church dawdling along the way. He scuffed his little black church shoes into the grass and found a caterpillar. He found a few dandelions still full of their white puffs and picked them blowing the seeds away.

     As he walked his eager eyes found a bird's nest, nestled up high, the birds singing. A squirrel scurried across the way hurrying up a tree with his latest find.

     As a bunny hopped along the path the little boy smiled adding a hop or two in his steps. He paused for a moment or two to stop and smell some roses.

     A neighbor nearby watched the little boy zigzag along the course of the walk. He hailed him from the lawn. He asked the boy where he had been and what was going on.

     “I've been to Bible school,” he smiled kicking up some dirt finding a wiggly worm. He eagerly picked it up. “I've learned a lot about God.”

     “Mm. Very fine way for a boy to spend his time,” the man replied. “If you tell me where God is I'll give you a dime.”

     The young boy answered quickly, “I'll give you a dollar Mister, if you can tell me where God ain’t.”

     How true this statement is. When we take time to look at the world around us, not all the negative and politics, but the world God created. When we just slow down, from our business, from our cares, when we tune into God, I'd give you a dollar if you can tell me where God ain’t 😊

     Unfortunately, so many have gotten caught up in the busy, busy, busy or doing their “fun” things, they have forgotten how to be still and tune into God and they've missed Him. Or they are waiting for the big grand entrance, and they've missed Him.

     This poem really spoke to me, the author is unknown.

     “They were looking for a Lion, He came as a Lamb and they missed Him.

     They were looking for a Warrior, He came as a Peacemaker and they missed Him.

     They were looking for a King, He came as a servant and they missed Him.

     They were looking for liberation from Rome, He submitted to the Roman stake and they missed Him.

     They were looking for a fit to their mold, He was the mold maker, and they missed Him.

     Who are you looking for? Lion? Warrior? King? Liberator? What are you looking for?

     They were looking for their temporal needs met, He came to meet their eternal needs, and they missed Him.

     He came as a lamb to be sacrificed for your sin, will you miss Him?

     He came to make peace between God and man, will you miss Him?

     He came to model servanthood for all mankind, will you miss Him?

     He came that we might have liberties, will you miss Him?

     He came to give you eternal life, will you miss Him?”

     We don't have to miss Him; we don't even have to wonder where God is. We simply need to learn to tune in. When we are tuned into the Lord, we will hear Him speak. This is when we know He is guiding our steps, revealing our purpose in life, and teaching us deep truths of our Creator.

     We don't have to go far to see God- Psalm 19:1-4. That is why I like the ever-changing seasons and yes, even in the winter I can find beauty. Nature is where you can see God's fingerprints. When we take time to enjoy nature it is like God speaking to us and we can understand God more clearly- Romans 1:20.

     Nature won't fully teach us what the Lord has revealed in scripture. Part of tuning into God is taking time to study scripture. But, taking time to enjoy the world around you is a good start. It also can be in those moments when you are still that God will speak to you. My daughter loves taking a walk on the weekends in one of our many nearby parks. Not only is the fresh air nice, but she has been able to feed the birds and squirrels straight from her hand. My husband and I enjoy the lakes and sunsets the most. What is your favorite way to get out in nature?

     I also enjoy music so when I read this thought it really put things together, “Nature is a universal language. Like music, it transcends worlds and speaks right to the soul. We could stand side by side with someone from a completely different background than ours and agree, ‘this is beautiful’.”- Megan Netherton, Northwest Campus Ministries.

     Next time you wonder where God is. Take a walk in nature and ask where God isn't. He is all around us, He has given us the Holy Spirit living in us, and He is walking with us. Let's not get so caught up in this world ourselves that we miss Him. Take time each day and tune into God's voice and be still and listen, He will respond.

Today let's do something a little different for our Bible study. It's always good to not only study God's Word but take time for journaling and let God speak to you.

• What is your favorite season of the year? Journal about a few attributes of that season. What does this season tell you about God, who made that season?  

• What is your least favorite season of the year? Journal about a few attributes of that season. What does this season tell you about God, who made that season?   

  
  

• Pick three things from the list below, and journal about their attributes. In what ways do they show you what God is like? 

• Trees 

• Ocean 

• Fire 

• Mountains 

• Rain 

• Birds 

• Flowers 

  
  

Read Matthew 6:25-34 then, go for a walk or spend some time sitting somewhere with a view and consider all the ways God’s character is revealed to you through what you see in nature.  

     Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and if you'd like take a few more minutes to look around or click on my other links, God bless.

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