3 Lessons Nature Can Teach Us (If We’ll Listen)

June 25, 2015 by Lindsey 1 Comment

Nature can teach us a lot about faith…if we’ll slow down long enough to listen. Included in this post are 5 activities to help you draw near to God through nature.

One thing I love about summer is the opportunity to be outside.

There’s just something about nature that draws my heart closer to the One who made it.

Can you relate?

All this month, we’ve been chatting about the Creator God. Today, I want to share one of my favorite Bible passages about God’s creative ability.

Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV) says this:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

I love this text because it reminds me of some things about God and about our role on this earth.

3 Lessons From Nature:

1. Nature reminds us our God is fun.

He’s not some boring, old, stick-in-the-mud God who doesn’t like to have fun. All you have to do is look at some of the funny things God created to realize He has a sense of humor. (Google “Angora Rabbit” if you don’t believe me. That thing has some crazy hair!)

2. Nature compels us to worship.

It’s so easy-with our cars and highways and full calendars-to miss the beauty that is right in front of us. God gave us a gorgeous world. When we slow down and notice it, worship often spontaneously erupts from our souls.

3. Nature reminds us we have a job to do.

As these verses in Psalm 19 say, nature is declaring the glory of God through its beauty. And it’s doing so without using words.

But that doesn’t mean words aren’t necessary. That doesn’t mean we don’t have to share God’s glory with those around us.

God didn’t say, “Creation is telling the world about me, so you don’t have to.” NO!

Nature helps people learn there is a God. It’s our job to explain who that God is!

So this week, as you spend time outside, take time to notice. Take time to worship. And take time to join with creation as it declares the glory of God.

Activities to Do This Week:

Day 1: If the weather is cooperating, go on a walk outside. Listen to the sounds of nature. Look for things you might have missed before.

Day 2: After night falls, spend a few moments looking at the stars and the moon.

Day 3: Start your day by listening to some of your favorite worship music.

Day 4: Take five minutes sometime today to sit outside in silence.

Day 5: All this week, as you’ve been outside, you’ve had the opportunity to worship God along with creation. Now, it’s your turn to spread the glory of God. Think of someone you can “declare the glory of God” to. Then pray for this person and ask God to provide an opportunity for you to share your heart with him/her.

3 Lessons Nature Can Teach Us from @LindseyMBell #MarvelousCreator

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Nature helps people know there is a God. It’s our job to explain about who that God is! @LindseyMBell #MarvelousCreator

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Join us this week for daily activities to help you draw near to our #MarvelousCreator

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Begin again with these verses – James 1:19-20 {Memory verse}

June 22, 2015 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

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MEMORIZE

Plan A:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20 (ESV)

Plan B:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 1:19 (ESV)

MEDITATE

If you started memorizing James 1 with us but life got in the way, begin again with this week’s verses.

If you aren’t memorizing, consider dwelling on these important verses this week anyway.

Every day we all have to begin again. . .

With being quick to hear
With being slow to speak
With being slow to anger

These verses humble me because I often fail in all three categories. But each day, His mercies are new. Start fresh. (Reminder: Next week is our 2nd scheduled break!)

PRAY

Lord,
My heart is to bring You honor. But my mouth gets in the way; my pride is prone to rule. Double my capacity to listen to others this week, and halve my overabundance of speech. In all things help me reflect your righteousness.

Does your mouth get you in trouble? These words will help. James 1:19-20. #HideHisWord

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Which is hardest for you? Which is easiest? (1) Quick to hear, (2) Slow to speak, (3) Slow to anger. Please share in the comments.

Bible Journaling with Children

June 19, 2015 by Patti Brown 2 Comments

There are many different ways you can help your children dig into God’s Word. One method we have enjoyed in our family is using bible journals.

Our method of bible journaling incorporates personal introspection, family discussion, memorization and even academic skills.

These are the sections we work on with each verse:

– reading comprehension
– dictation
– journaling
– discussion
– memorization

I have found that doing bible journal time first thing after breakfast is most effective. We all sit together around the table, and after prayer I read the verse for the day, sometimes adding extra verses for context.

Next I dictate the verse slowly, while the children write it in their journals. Dictation is an excellent exercise for developing listening skills as well as a rudimentary sense of grammar. At times I have used the King James Version to help the children become used to more difficult language. I believe this has been instrumental in preparing them to willingly read challenging works at young ages.

After the dictation portion of our bible time, we turn to silent writing time, when we each journal about what we think the verse means. I encourage the children to ask themselves hard questions, and to be honest when they are unsure.

When everyone has finished writing, we share what we have written and discuss the verse. This is the time when we take God’s Word and really apply it to the nitty gritty of daily life. It is a great opportunity to see how each of the children is growing in understanding, and also highlights areas we need to address further. Our discussions are sometimes very short, and sometimes last for a long time as we pull in other resources to answer questions, or have hearty theological debates.

Lastly we work on memorization. We have found over the years that repeating a verse ten times out loud really helps us get it fixed in our heads. Each verse almost becomes a mini song as we repeat it. After our repetitions we take turns going around in a circle, each saying the verse on our own without looking at the words.

I enjoy looking back at old bible journals. They are almost like diaries of our spiritual journeys. And I treasure those hours around the table with my children. As they steadily grow up and away into adulthood, I am more and more aware of what a precious time childhood is in a family. A strong foundation of love and God’s Word prepares them for the unknowns and challenges of adulthood in a way that little else can.

Mountains of Faith and Love

June 18, 2015 by Caroline 3 Comments

Sometimes, in the busy-ness

of life,

of lists,

of limitations,

I forget to pause and take a deep breath.

So it helps if I step outside,

stop,

breathe.

Particularly if that outside is in the mountains.

Sometimes I’ve tried to figure out why the mountains move me so greatly.

But I don’t think I really need to know.

I think it’s just one way God wired me to see, feel, remember, praise.

When I linger outside in the mountains God created,

I don’t feel like its bigness is intimidating,

the way a man-made skyscraper might be.

Instead, I feel a peace. Perhaps a reminder of presence.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” – Psalm 36:5-7 (NIV)

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” – Psalm 90:1-2 (NIV)

When I explore the forested hills, rocky terrain, and wind-swept fields God created,

I see how our God is a creative God,

tempering various kinds of beauty out of one land.

“For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.” – Psalm 95:3-5

When I come to a mountain stream God created,

I’m reminded of how perseverance carves the best path,

slowly, surely,

with rocks and bumps along the way,

but also smooth sections and even glorious waterfalls, too.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV)

But, in all this marvelous creation,

all these reminders of presence, creativity, perseverance, faith,

the mountains most remind me of love.

I love them, and the God who created them loves me.

And I can stand by that even when I trip, doubt, fail,

because of faith

and because of grace.

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)

Want further Bible study and application?

1. Read Psalm 65 for a beautiful look at God’s creation and provision. How can you look at your surroundings today and see evidence of this?

2. Use your surroundings to create something that reminds you of faith, perseverance, and love. Create with whatever medium you choose – paint, words, photographs, crafts, pieces of nature, etc. Create inspired from God’s creation.

3. Praise God for all of this and more with Psalm 98.

What aspect of God’s creation reminds you of faith and love?

Today for our #MarvelousCreator post, we’re looking at how mountains remind us of faith and love:

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Planning a trip to the mountains with your family? Read this post and reflect together:

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God wants you to be His – James 1:18 {Memory verse}

June 15, 2015 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

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MEMORIZE

Plan A:

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1:18 (ESV)

Plan B:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 1:19 (ESV)

MEDITATE

We can’t trust all of our desires (some lead to sin, James 1:14-15). But all of God’s desires are good (James 1:17), including this one: God wants us to be His people. We are His on purpose.

As you memorize this week, remember that you are here by God’s perfect will.

PRAY

Lord,
I thank you for Your willingness and power to bring us into Your family. May we give You all the praise this week as we remember our origins.

You are here on purpose, by God’s good design. Memorize James 1:18 with us. #HideHisWord

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Need to catch your breath? Try His

June 11, 2015 by Lisa Burgess 16 Comments

A BREATHLESS SUMMER?

It’s summer, traditionally a season for less stress and more relaxation, more time off. But are you already out of breath? Is your schedule running you instead of you running your schedule?

When we leave too little breathing room in our lives, we feel drained. Near the end of my father’s death with lung cancer, it hurt to watch him breathe. The in-and-out of air was slow and tiring. Instead of invigorating his body with fresh oxygen, breathing seemed like dreary work.

Our lives can become that way as well when we don’t guard our spiritual breathing.

BREATH IS SPIRIT

Our breath is a gift from God, one of our very first.

Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7

In the New Testament, Paul taught the Athenians about our marvelous Creator who gives us life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25). In the Greek, “breath” here is from pnoe (G4157). It also means a breeze, wind.

In John 3:8 the root word pneo (G4154—to breathe hard, breeze, blow) and its more common derivative pneuma (G4151—a current of air, breath, breeze, spirit) are both used.

The wind [G4151] blows [G4154] where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit [4151].
John 3:8

A literal translation could be:
The breath breathes hard. . . . We are brought forth from the Breath.

We are born of that Breath. That Wind. That Spirit. Just as we live physically by breathing in oxygen 10-20 times per minute, so we breathe in God continually for sustained spiritual life.

LET THE WIND REMIND US

So when you’re outside this week, pay attention to the wind. Look for signs of it around you.

Are tree limbs dancing in praise to its rhythm?
Are birds resting their wings in its current?
Do you feel it blowing away your sweat, cooling down your body?

Let the wind remind you to breathe in God’s grace. And breathe out His praise.

Awaken to God’s Spirit breathing through your world. Look for signs of His movement.

Do you see evidence of His grace in people you live or work with?
Are you breathing in His gifts with each lungful of air?
Can you breathe out honor to Him through your mouth for His provisions?

Just as we can’t see the wind, neither can we physically see God. But we know both are here through other ways.

God is very real, leaving His fingerprints all over our world and hearts to remind us of His presence. Pause periodically to notice and praise.

Each day we take around 26,000 breaths. Can we use a few this week to give God thanks for them?

Praise Him for His splendor
Honor Him for His goodness
Bless Him for His love

BIBLE STUDY SUGGESTIONS

Take your Bible (outside, if possible!) and slowly read Psalm 145.
Look up wind/spirit/breath in a concordance.
Close your eyes. Do you feel any wind on your face? Tune in to your breathing.
Pray. Thank God for how He is breathing through your life, in ways you feel and in ways you don’t.
More verses to read: Job 33:4; Psalm 34:1-7; Psalm 51:15; Psalm 67:3-5; Psalm 71:5-8; Psalm 150; Ezekiel 37:5; Amos 4:13; Mark 4:36-41; John 2:21-22.
Pick up a physical object to bring inside. Perhaps a leaf blowing across the lawn. Or a rock that stayed put through a storm. Or a wildflower that sways when you blow it. Let this object remind you this week to stay aware of the invisible Spirit breathing through you.

Need to catch your breath? Let the wind remind you: Pause and praise. #MarvelousCreator

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QUESTION
When is the last time you’ve been really out of breath, physically or spiritually? Please leave a comment below of how God breathes through your life. We’d love to hear.

More:
5 things I learned from my “Year of Deep Breathing”

How Marvelous!

June 9, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month here at Do Not Depart, we’re focusing on the Marvelous Creator. We hope you’re not only enjoying these posts on our Creator God, but that you’re also getting in some time outdoors, focusing on His creative masterpiece!

Join us again on Thursday for another segment in our topic. Until then, we pray you’ll look with fresh eyes at God’s beautiful world and see just how marvelous our loving Father is.

You are free to download and share the image above. Also, here are two wonderful quotes I’d like to share with you that remind us that God’s creation is a revelation of who He is and is meant to inspire our worship.

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime ~ Martin Luther

Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be? ~ Charles Spurgeon

What have you seen of God’s creation today that made your heart leap in appreciation of our loving Creator?

God’s masterpiece of creation inspires our worhip. #MarvelousCreator

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God gives perfectly – James 1:16-17 {Memory verse}

June 8, 2015 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

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MEMORIZE

Plan A:

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:16-17 (ESV)

Plan B:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17 (ESV)

MEDITATE

After being advised last week (James 1:14-15) to not let desire turn into sin and then into death, James urges us to stand strong against one of those temptations: the temptation to believe that God is NOT good.

When He doesn’t seem to answer or when life gets too chaotic or when we get a clear “no” to something we wanted, we can start wondering if God is really as good as we once believed.

But yes, He is not only that good, He is even better. James 1:17 says that not only does God give solely good things, His giving is perfect and complete. Hold on to that belief this week.

PRAY

Lord,
When I begin to doubt if You truly are good, remind me that every good gift in my life comes directly from You. You are unwaveringly generous and loving in all You do.

Doubting if God is really good after all? Memorize James 1:16-17 with us this week instead. #HideHisWord

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A Storm and a Swallow

June 4, 2015 by Ali Shaw 6 Comments

Here in Central Texas, we recently experienced a ferocious storm. Bad weather turned serious under a flash flood and tornado warning, and we had to take shelter for about 45 minutes.

The wind howled, the sky absolutely gushed water, and lightning struck so often that at times there was scarcely a break between one clash and another boom. It was a dangerous storm and the threat was real. {Patti wrote a little about that same storm here.}

But later that evening things calmed down. The rain stopped, the wind calmed, the lightning passed, and the clouds became beautiful instead of menacing. And as I looked out into my backyard something in the top corner of my porch roof caught my eye. A little swallow flapped her wings, readjusted herself, and snuggled back down in her nest on top of the corner support pillar.

I was so excited and pure joy bubbled up in my throat… I couldn’t believe that this sweet little bird made it through the storm safely! She’d been sitting on her eggs in that nest for several weeks before this storm hit and I have no idea if she weathered the storm right there or if she found a safer haven and then later returned. But instantly, even though she was a swallow, the song His Eye is on the Sparrow came to my mind, and I was reminded of some truths about my precious Father.

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6,7 ESV)

The Creator Knows

Nothing escapes our Creator God’s knowledge. He knew about this storm and He knew the danger. He also knew my family had huddled together, and He even knew all about the little swallow mother and the eggs in her nest. After all, he knows the number of hairs on my head! His masterful, omniscient eye watches over His beloved creation. Nothing I face or experience surprises Him! He knows the storms and He knows the outcome. He knows, and He will never forget me.

The Creator Sees and Protects

God watches me. Even though I may feel alone or endangered at times, weathering the storms of life, my Father is always with me and watching over me protectively. Just like the mama bird that snuggled down on her babies after the storm, God draws me close under the protection of His wing. He shelters me and keeps me truly safe. (Psa 91:4) And like the bird, He gives me the sheltering strength I need to stretch my wings and soar on wings like eagles. (Isa 41:30)

The Creator Cares

Oh, how loved we are! Our Marvelous Creator not only knows, sees, and protects us, but He loves us. He cares deeply for our every need. (1 Pet 5:7) We are so valuable to God. And this is exactly why Jesus came to give His life. His precious blood was shed to reconcile us to God. (2 Cor 5:18-19) If God remembers every sparrow, yet died for the cleansing of my sins, I can certainly trust in His powerful, sacrificial love.

Today, just over a week after the storm, I noticed a precious, tiny beak reaching wobbily over the top edge of the nest. What a beautiful sight! God faithfully and patiently reminds me of His protective, tender-loving care. Isn’t He truly marvelous?

Bible Study Homework:

Day 1: Read Luke 12:6,7 and Matt 10:29,31. Notice the price of the sparrows. Two birds could be bought for a farthing (or penny), or 5 birds for two. What is God reminding you in these verses? How does your heart respond to knowing your value and God’s attentive love? What will you remember about your value when you see birds today?

Day 2: Read Psa 84:1-4. This Psalm is expressing passion for God’s house. How might the notion of sparrows and swallows making a home and laying their young on God’s altar indicate the concepts of safety, love, protection, and rest? How has God been your place of safety recently? As you go outside today, what will the sound or sight of birds help you remember about God’s character?

Day 3: Read Isa 40: 27-31. In what verses is God’s omniscience revealed, and how is it described? How does God’s strengthening power bring you hope and reassure you of His love? In what area of your life do you need to be reminded today of God’s loving omniscience and strengthening power? The next time you see a bird in flight, what can you remember about waiting on the Lord?

What a storm and a mama swallow reminded me about God. #MarvelousCreator

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We are never left to handle the storms of life alone. Our #MarvelousCreator watches and protects!

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The Marvelous Creator

June 2, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Summer is coming soon! Are you looking forward to it? For those of us here in the US, the official start of summer is June 21. And for most of us, that means more time outdoors in God’s gorgeous creation. This is one of my favorite parts of the summer season. And what a wonderful opportunity to better appreciate our Marvelous Creator!

So, this month at Do Not Depart, that’s just what we’ll be focusing on. God, the Marvelous Creator. And we’re setting this month up as a Bible study– each post will have a few reflection or homework questions for you to work on. Our hope is that as you spend time traveling to your destination, vacationing at your get-away, or just playing outside with your kids or grandbabies, you’ll be able to look with fresh eyes at God’s handiwork.

We hope our words and stories will help you remember certain truths about God that He’s reminded us of through His creation. Sandy beaches, splashing waves, forests awash with green, painted deserts, shooting stars, lightning bugs, singing birds, croaking frogs, and your cozy backyard—it’s all His the work of His majestic hands, and it’s all designed to point our hearts to Him.

We serve a powerful, loving, and amazingly creative Master Artist!

I love these verses from Psalms that remind us that He not only carefully wrought the heavens, moon, and stars, but He also created us, and loves and blesses us immensely! He is mindful of our every need, and cares for us attentively.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him? (Psa 8:3,4 ESV)

Isn’t He wonderful?

We pray that each day this summer, as you grab your sunscreen, don your flip flops, and make joyful memories with loved ones, you’ll be refreshed and renewed with eyes opened to our loving Father and His marvelous creation. We pray that His handiwork will inspire your worship!

His handiwork inspires our worship! #MarvelousCreator #BibleStudy

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The #MarvelousCreator designed a beautiful world to point our hearts to Him!

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