Intricate Details

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2 (NIV)

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Luke 12:27

There is incredible beauty in the desert. Many who didn't grow up in that environment may not believe me, but there is.

Sure, on the surface, it looks barren. Dirt. Tumbleweeds (those are a real thing). Many different plants and animals that look like their sole purpose is to hurt you. But when you catch a desert sunset, with the colors bouncing off of the mountains, you understand the line in "America The Beautiful" that refers to "purple mountain's majesty."

The picture above is of a "Salt Heliotrope," a tiny flower with intricate detail in every petal. I found this walking along a path with one of the other participants in the conference I am at in AZ.

The words from Jesus above (in the Luke passage) are part of Jesus' famous "do not worry" speech. The words of Psalm 111 simply remind us that there is great delight in taking in the marvels of God's creation.

Today, this is my hope for all of us. Pause and marvel at the intricate detail around you. If you can read this devotion, it means that there are millions of receptor cells allowing that to happen in the marvel that is your eyes. If you can contemplate these words, millions of neurons are firing within your brain to make that happen.

May we marvel at the works of the Lord. May we be moved to gratitude for the beauty within us and outside us. May our eyes be opened to behold God's creation today.

*PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, your works are great! You constantly show us that you are with us in all that we do. Help us to stop worrying and to put our hopes and fears in your hands, O God. Amen.

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts