Day 43: The Best Things In Life Are: Absolutely Beautiful!

Day 43: The Best Things In Life Are: Absolutely Beautiful

Read: Psalm 27:1 - 6; Ecclesiastes 3:9 - 15

Way long time ago, in a time far removed from this one by more than a few lifetimes and just a couple of birthdays, my parents owned 40 acres of land - what simply to me was known as 'the country place'. Every summer as a family we would pack up the house, put it in a station wagon or an old 1968 International pick up truck and we would go on vacation to our cabin. We were surrounded by woods, the cabin was hidden from view about a quarter mile off the the country road that passed by it. We were surrounded by large gorgeous ponds where we swam, fished, watched the deer, listened to the sounds of nature - to the frogs, the crickets. When the seasons were right, we could go all over the property and pick bushels of blackberries that Mom would bake into the most mouthwatering pies. At night, there were the countless array of stars.

It occurred to me this morning as I was contemplating this morning's offering, that way down deep, submerged within our hearts and within our souls is the incredible longing for beauty, a God-given sense that the beauty of who we are and who God created us to be. Way down deep in area's of ourselves we cannot typically reach, we absolutely must have a meaning that is so much larger and becomes so much more permanent than ones own self. It can arouse pleasure, delight and even bring rest. Every person longs to observe and be a part of beauty as they seek for a rare glimpse of greatness and yearn for a vision of glory, for a vision of absolute beauty.

People are moved by music - the words of a poet - the work of an artist - a new born child - the uniqueness of all living creatures - the multicolored hues of a sunset - the brilliance of a sun rise - the majesty of mountain peaks - the melodic sound of a waterfall - the wind rustling through the leaves - the simplicity of a flower - the lightness of a snow flake - the sound of nature - looking up into the sky on a cloudless midnight and trying to count the stars while a campfire warms things up around you. Absolutely beautiful you sing to yourself. At that moment, could it get more beautiful? Well, actually, yes it can and for me right now it is the beauty of my sleeping wife. I will ask you to forgive a loving husband's bias about such an image - but I LOVE her. The absolute beauty of it all - God absolutely gave her to me - to love absolutely!!!

These things cultivate ones sensory awareness and expand the consciousness in a way that creates an ever deepening appreciation of creation. Yet, they are all but token twinkles and shimmering shadows of the beauty of God that has been hard at work intricately weaving through the fabric of all creation to instill within each of us a deep hunger to know true beauty Himself. God is the ultimate Beautiful One. He is the absolute original pattern of all other beauty. He created mankind to long for Himself because He sees each person as beautiful and longs for intimacy with them. For me, anything less than experiencing the beauty of God will leave one wholly unsatisfied.  As the Psalmist wrote so long ago from the very deepest recesses of his heart and yet remains so absolutely relevant for each of us today: 'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.' (Psalm 27:4)
Pray with me: Lord, we thank you for the splendor with which you have filled all of creation; for the immensity of the universe, whose beauty defies description; and for the beauty of our world which is greater than any words we can say. We praise you for the place you have given each of us in the created order. Thank you for all who are and will become transformed by the sight of beauty, the touch of love, the care of compassion, and the absolute beauty of your Son Jesus Christ in all our hearts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFN8TBfgNU

How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin

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Music & Lyrics to Chris Tomlin's How Great Is Our God. Live from Austin Hall Version.