God, Teach Me How to Wonder

As I opened my devotional guide this morning, I found myself playing catch-up. This week had finally brought winter to our area. Ice, snow and record low temperatures had caused a temporary pause in our normal daily routines, slowing us down, with our thoughts turning to taking care of our family's basic needs of surviving with possible power outages, road safety, staying warm and having enough food and household supplies.

The change in the weather at the beginning of the week turned my focus to the beauty of a snow covered ground, icicles hanging from the edges of the house, trees, left bare by the autumn winds now covered in shimmering ice crystals, a frozen pond....the wonder of it all! Trying to capture this amazing handiwork of God through the eye of a camera always leaves me disappointed, but maybe, just maybe....
we were created to only capture His true wonderment though the eyes of our soul.

Last Monday's lesson title "The Beauty of Wonder" seemed so appropriate as I reflected on the past week.
Often, we go at such a pace, we forget to stop and look at the world around us.......we forget to wonder. "Taking time to stop and wonder at something, to really look at it---it's like tuning into the music that the world is making, the music that God is making through the world."

Over the past year, after retiring from a fast paced work life, I have had the time to slow down and really enjoy the beauty of the seasons in my own back yard.



I have been amazed at the peace and tranquility of spending a early spring morning listening to the birds singing their songs of praise of the brand new day

or enjoying a good book sitting beside the calm waters of our picturesque summer pond. 

Capturing the perfect angle of the old farm gate and the landscape beyond 

or the colors in the wardrobe of the beautiful autumn trees reflecting on the pond

or the first flakes of a winter snow have truly
created a soul-appreciation of wonder in me.

I am also aware that even in a

broken world, God has filled
it with so much beauty and goodness.

Wonder is paying attention, paying attention to the beauty that surrounds us....even snow days are thrown into the middle of a busy schedule to cause us to stop and wonder, to make memories with our children or grand children, to remind us of the comfort of a soft blanket and a cup of hot cocoa in front of a warm fireplace......"we must not become so busy that we lose our sense of wonder. Wonder, listen to the music that God is making in His world."

"This little interruption will soon be a memory as the south awakens from it's brief winter slumber and green grass pushes through the dried dead stalks of last season, green leaves bursts out of their buds, new life spurts up from the frozen ground followed by beautiful spring flowers......such a beautiful show of the wonders of God".

The Psalmist says it best

"You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it. The river of God is filled with water; You provide their grain; for so you have prepared it. You water it's ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows, You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with Your goodness and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered with grain. They shout for joy, they also sign." Psalm 65:9-13

Let me always keep the sense of  wonder Lord, teach me how to stand in awe of You~~~~

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)


" Journey, a woman's guide to intimacy with God."