Seashells....

Seashells.........have you ever really looked at one and studied how intricate it is???  Recently, I had the privilege of being on the beach in Rotondo, Florida with some friends who moved there from Kansas........it was such an incredible weekend of RRRRelaxation, rejuvenation and fun!  I came home feeling refreshed and ready to contemplate life in a new way!

Amie and I collected seashells at two different beaches:  Venice Beach and Boca Grande Beach - it was absolutely exquisite!!!  As I looked at each shell I collected to bring home to Kansas, I saw the incredible intricate detail of each shell.  Perfectly formed.......perfectly designed.....with perfect lines spaced perfectly apart and perfectly beautiful!  Wow.........I am in awe of God's creation!!!

One shell had tiger stripes, one was completely white, one was white with black stripes on part of it, one was mauve, one was pale yellow on the tip, and others had the tiniest hole on one end that was so perfectly drilled as if a drill bit was used.  How do these creatures do it?  How do they manage to carve out that hole so perfectly so that they can get out of the shell?  How long does that take?  I'm not sure, but it is amazing to contemplate!!!

As I look at these shells, I have to ask:  How did God design so many different kinds of shells?  Why did he design so many?  My mind is going in a million directions of how and why these exquisitely beautiful shells land on the sand, washed up from the ocean floor, day after day after day............and what are they really???

A seashell is a marine mollusk.  I never knew the official name of a seashell before!  A mollusk is a invertebrate which typically has a calcareous shell of one, two or more pieces that wholly or partly enclose the soft, unsegmented body, including the chitons, snails, bivalves, squids and/or octopuses.
So fascinating!!! 

How many varieties are there?  Hundreds, thousands, billions???  I'm not sure, but there are a LOT!!!  Imagine......just like the stars..........millions or billions of seashells.......teeming from the ocean floor and landing on the beach for unsuspecting humans (like me!) to pick up, and ponder each shape, each line, each mark, each dot of beauty and take them home!!!

We have one awesome God who chose to create these living creatures and shells for us to marvel at and contemplate the various species of marine mollusks!  It is even written in the Bible as to how he created these fascinating creatures.....
Genesis 1:20-21 says:  "And, God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.  And, God saw that it was good."

Just think about it!!!  Seashells are good.  Pelicans are good. Whales are good. Seagulls are good. Dolphins are good.  Yes, even Octopus and Jelly fish are good.  (Just not good to get stung by!)  They are good because the God of the Universe, The Creator, and One, the Most High God decided to bless us with an incredible world filled with all sorts of creatures, trees, flowers, insects, animals, brooks, ponds, rivers and oceans FULL of all of His glory!!!

If that's not an incredible imagination on display, I don't know what is............

Glorious shades of Green....

Ahhh......Spring! Isn't it grand? Isn't it wonderful? I love Spring!

Each day recently and as I was driving to and from Ohio this spring, I have had the incredible experience and privilege of witnessing the many glorious shades of green that the Lord has created! From Kansas, to Missouri, to Illinois, to Indiana, and finally Ohio, I have driven by various shades of green such as: Emerald green, apple green, chartreuse green, jade green, moss green, Nile green, olive green, Paris green, pea green (YUCK!), peacock green, sea green, shamrock green, verde green, and myrtle green. That is fourteen shades of GREEN! Wow! I had no idea there were so many shades!!!

Green is the color of growing grass, green plants, foliage on trees of every variety and green leafy vegetables!!! What particular shade or tint of green is your favorite??? Think of the big box of 64 crayons and try to remember one of those colors!!!

Many years ago as a Medical Sales rep I had Salina, KS in my territory and in the Spring, Salina had the most beautiful wheat fields I have even seen anywhere!!! They are truly the most exquisite color of green I have laid my eyes upon..........I miss those fields!!!

One of my favorite folk songs from the 1970's is called: Pass It On.

These words offer a beautiful rendition of tribute to Spring and to God which go in tandem to create the beauty that we witness every year!!!

If you don't know the tune, listen with your heart:

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it:

You spread His love to everyone, you want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is Spring when all the trees are budding,

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;

That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it:

You want to sing, it's fresh like Spring, you want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found,

You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound:

I'll shout it from the mountain tops: Hey World! I want my world to know:

The Lord of Love has come to me, I want to pass it on....”

The glorious shades of green.........look around and find your favorite shade and pass it on!!!

All Nature sings and round me rings....

I've been singing an old Hymn in my head and found the words this morning to 'This is My Father's World."

What a beautiful poem these words were at first in 1886 which were penned by a gentleman named Maltbie Babcock at Syracuse University in New York.  He was a "proficient vocalist" as some of his professors called him.  His first assignment in ministry was at the First Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York.  He was able to enjoy hiking and running in the hills outside of the town where he lived and worked, and often told his secretary that he was "going out to see my Fathers world."

What a great picture that is!!!  Hiking and running outside in nature.......soaking up God's glorious creation!  

As one verse in the song says:  

"This is my Father's World, and to my listening ears, 

All nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and tress, of skies and seas, 

His hand the wonders wrought."

Just think of that!!  All around us are rocks, trees, flowers, every rain drop, and each sunset - He is present in all that He created!!!  Wow......that is amazing!!!

"This is my Father's world,

The birds their carols raise;

The morning light, the lily white

Declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world,

He shines in all that's fair.

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass

He speaks to me everywhere."

Birds raise their carols - have you listened to them recently?  Have you raised a song lately?  Have you poured out your praise for the many, many blessings in your life?  If not, fill up a bird feeder outside your window and sit down to watch the wonder of His nature....their songs are exquisite!!!  Let your song be one of praise, too!

He shines in all that's fair.......wow!!!  He's beside us in the rustling grass....have you noticed???  My mom always felt His presence beside her.....every day....every moment.  It was wonderful to have her tell all four of us kids that often.....He's there.....ask Him to walk beside you today...He's waiting for you.

"This is my Father's world

O let me never forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world

The battle is not done;

Jesus who died shall be satisfied, 

And earth and heaven be one."

Oh, how I pray that I will never forget.....never forget that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us!  It is one of His mightiest promises in the Bible!!!

All nature sings and round me rings..........the music of the spheres!

Catch a glimpse of it today and sing!!!