declare His glory

After finishing a little work today, Chuck and I decided to take a tour of the Hato caves while continuing our visit on the island of Curacao. It was very interesting to hear that these beautiful limestone caves were once completely submerged below sea level. Later in history, the Arawak Indians used the caverns as a shelter leaving many petroglyphs. These carvings have only been found in this area of the Caribbean and certain areas along the South American Orinoco river where this tribe originated from. Then centuries later, European slaves used to hide in these dark, musky caves for months on end to escape slavery from tyrannical plantation owners that had established themselves on the island.  Can you imagine such a life?

While walking together in total silence through these magnificent caverns, Chuck and I appreciated taking in the natural cathedral ceilings of stalactite limestone grotto. At one point, while looking at a covered section where the Arawak’s once lived, I turned to Chuck and said, “We are really so blessed to have shelter… to have a home with a roof, clean water, air conditioning, etc.”

This comment caused Chuck to recall the many places he had visited across the globe where people still struggle to survive. He especially remembered the outskirts of Manila where poverty seemed most rampant as the locals were living side-by-side in open plywood-type boxes covered in garbage, and clothed in nothing more than what we would consider underwear in the United States.

By the time we returned to our hotel this evening, Chuck and I decided to sit out on the beach and enjoy the breathtaking sunset God had already arranged as He drew the evening curtain over the blue sparkling ocean. While enjoying the show, we continued to discuss how blessed we really are and how much we take for granted each day of our life.

As we savored the faithfulness of God's provision in our lives, Chuck reminded me about another customer that he visited in Mexicali, Mexico many years past. During his visit, Chuck had left the customer to go grab some lunch at a nearby McDonalds. When he returned to the company, one of the employees asked Chuck where he had gone to eat. Chuck told him and the man said, “Oh yes, McDonalds. I’ve eaten there once.” Once?  Chuck later learned that this man earned a salary of $8.50 per week... A WEEK! Mind you, this was a higher salary than his fellow workers because he was a supervisor in his group.  But for this man to take his family of five to McDonalds to eat a simple dinner was a very BIG deal because the cost of the outing was equivalent to more than two weeks of this man’s earnings. Chuck said that this reality hit home for him spiritually… especially when many of us carry twenty dollars in our wallets without giving a second thought toward splurging on a extra value meal to feed our corpulent bellies.

How many times do we callously consume our food or take our homes and belongings for granted? These blessings are indeed gifts from God. We must never forget His grace and provision in our life.  We must never become haughty and forget to share what He has given us with others who may have less. For nothing is more valuable than loving God and loving people with all our hearts.  No possession or earthly security trumps our Redeemer's eternal love.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24)

We each are accountable for the knowledge, resources, and abilities that God has blessed us with. If we have been given much, then He expects that much more from us to serve others by sharing His holiness. I challenge you to consider how frequently you stop to consider the beauty and benefit of God's universe in relation to your daily survival. How often do you give genuine thanks to Him for the many extraordinary blessings He continues to entrust in your care. Are you a good steward? Do you freely share the message of His grace to all the world? Are you open and faithful to trust, receive, give and love as Jesus did? Or is your heart clenched and selfishly guarded due to fear, pride, greed or ungratefulness?

Ladies, our God is faithful to us. Even the heavens declare His glory every single second - so shouldn’t we do the same? I believe so. I believe that we must remain open to receive all that God lovingly imparts to us. He is mindful of our needs and promises to give exactly what is best for us to grow closer to His grace. For His presence is truly what we need the most. Let's remember to give thanks to Him and rejoice in His goodness while always sharing His love to others. Let’s do this every day we draw each glorious breath that He has lovingly bestowed upon us to receive... with each heartbeat He has allowed our bodies to drum out in praise of His goodness.  Let us declare His glory!

Read, relax and rejoice in the Psalms with me today.  Let's give thanks to our wonderful Creator for all He is!  Let’s end today’s blog glorifying His majestic and Almighty Name above all other names!!! Let's start our weekend as devoted women... ready and willing to live pleasing in His sight both now and forevermore!

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8)

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 display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19)

Blessings!
Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson