Dear Lighthouse,

 

            Has it rained at your house this week?  No, its flooded!!  This much rain reminds me of Noah.  And Noah reminds me of God’s provision.  Actually, several things this week have reminded me of how God reigns over the Earth and provides for us.  Do you stop and think about that?  Sure, we all generally acknowledge that God set the world in motion and rules, but then, I fear, we go along our merry way and fail to see the truth of this acknowledgement in everyday life.  It is amazing to me that this world, this universe, exists and works so well.  Only the Hand of the Creator can explain the complexity and wisdom we see in the natural world.  Even the term “natural” world seems to suggest that things automatically work in harmony - naturally.  But, I encourage you to look one layer deeper and see the Mind of God in His creation - in the physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and history of it all.  Let me give you some examples that have popped up to me this week:

 

1) Rain - The water cycle is amazing.  The volume of water that falls on us is astounding.  And the energy it takes to operate such as system is truly mind-boggling.  Consider how it all works together.  The solar energy allows evaporation - the humidity and temperature in the atmosphere allows for cloud build up - convection currents move vast amounts of water and keep it airborne producing electrical charges - dry plants and soil drink in the rain and lightning flashes to fix nitrogen in the air which makes it useable by the plants - clay beds store moisture while excess runs off into waterways….. And on and on.  Look at the wisdom!

 

2) Mars - It’s close to Earth right now.  Many of you came over the other night to see it thru the telescope.  It’s close but not too close - and never will be too close.  It is just the right distance from Earth to allow us to have a stable elliptical orbit, not circular.  This aids the seasonal temperature variances on Earth.  Jupiter’s mass is also a critical part of the balance in our distance from the Sun.  Earth is just the right distance, has just the right mass, has the right inner core to allow for magnetic fields to issue forth and protect us from the Sun’s harmful radiation, orbits just the right kind of star - not too big, not too small, not too hot, not too cool, not too reactive, not non-reactive, and on and on…  Look at the provision!

 

3)  Locusts - It’s time again for locusts to swarm our trees and invade our evening silence.  But did you know that most of their life is spent underground.  They only burrow to the surface once in their lifetime and mate (and kill our branches) and then lay eggs and die.  But, there are different brood times.  There are 1 year broods, 7 year, and 12 year, and even longer, I think.  All of the members of that brood come out - mind you, after 12 years sometimes - within a day or two of each other!  These are larval insects burrowed in separate dirt chambers.  How do they know it’s time - after 12 years!  If they didn’t come out together, they would have no mates.  If they came out during the winter, they would have no food.  Instead, they come out just the right way and right time.  Look at the design!

 

“How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!” - Psalm 47:1

 

            I could go on with many other examples!  This is fun - I may have a sequel…  But look at what He has spoken into existence!!  Look around you and see Him.  God always has a plan.  Long before He made Adam, God saw the Law would be needed to protect us from ourselves.  He also saw there would be a need for One who fulfilled the Law and brought Grace to those who could not live up to its standards.  Even before Creation, Jesus saw His destiny with us.  And yet He came anyway.  Praise be to God who has a plan, sees the needs before they arise, and is always ready with provision.  Our God reigns.  In Him we trust - and pin our hopes. 

            Pray with me this week that He will reveal His plan for the Lighthouse as individuals and as a group.  Allow Him to lead us into the future.  Allow Him to provide for you and then glorify His Almighty Name.  Praise God.  Our God reigns!