A leaf:

How amazing the planet is! I wonder if those who purpose to believe in evolution have ever spent a day outside? For example, if I were to set a simple leaf before you and ask you what you saw, what would you say? A plain old leaf, thin and wispy, hugely common…perhaps? Well, in fact, this leaf in front of you is actually a solar power plant in clever disguise. It can turn sunlight into energy, amazingly. Not to mention turning carbon dioxide into oxygen, another marvelous feat. It is also a vital source of food for most of the world's living creatures. And beyond functionality it is lovely and comes in various shapes, sizes, and colors. It decays naturally leaving no trace and new leaves take the places of expended ones. Together leaves provide shade and also produce a delightful sound when a breeze blows through them. Wow. Now, if I set before you a man-made solar energy machine, what would you say of it? It works, although it doesn't produce much more energy than it consumes. It does not dually turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, and certainly cannot be eaten. It is not particularly lovely and does not disintegrate naturally. It is costly to produce and definitely does not duplicate itself. Now if I told you that this clever machine was made entirely by accident, by the random meeting of all of the necessary elements, would you believe me? I hope not. Yet some presume to believe that a more highly advanced machine, capable of far greater yields, happened purely by accident. The machinery of nature is so beyond man-made machinery in efficiency, cleanliness, and even beauty that it would be foolishness to fail to attribute them to their awesome Creator. The all-organic, life-giving, vast and loving Creator God.

The high commodity of peace

Today I sat on a quiet hill under a willow tree. Earthy smells of dirt and growing things swirled around me. The willow branches danced and waved and the dandelions shook under the perfect breeze. A flock of doves alighted and landed repeatedly in the field below me. I smiled at the immense beauty of it and was reminded of how some of my favorite things in life were free...But they are not free for everyone. As a teenager I spent a couple of years in southeast Asia, in a crowded and polluted city. I remember gazing longingly up at the small piece of blue sky I could see between the buildings and becoming desperately hungry for a taste of nature. We would occasionally take a ride up to a park and wander through its forest. I was in heaven. I could not imagine the loss of those who never left the city and experienced the raw beauty of the earth. In terms of nature, I have been spoiled. Growing up in the country of Oregon and spending my teen years exploring Hawaii I grew to love the amazing outdoors. I was wealthy beyond belief. Now as a busy mom, I cherish a quiet retreat to nature like I experienced today; just soaking in the peace that nature exudes. I have never found such solace and hope in anything else. The breeze in my hair and the sun on my back give me enough confidence and courage to face anything life throws at me.

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to unveiling the mystery of God in us. I am constantly stirred in wonder of creation and the magnitude of his gift to us. Not only are we given a beautiful, life-giving planet, but God gave us a will and the authority to create. Wow. Then after we stubbornly try to go it alone, he rescues us and pays the price himself. What love! And the greatest gift of all, we have the everlasting, magnificent, kind, and miraculous God living inside of us!! My mind becomes undone with the glory of it all. He has given us everything, we just get to live here and enjoy it! And he loves us so deeply and personally, how can we not run into his arms? Anyway, wow, kinda got off track there...I love his creation. I love the earth. I believe he has given us everything we need here, including fuel, materials, medicines, and knowledge to put it all together. My aim here is to share what I uncover concerning his obvious involvement in our lives and the solutions he has given us. For those of you who get inspired by Lucy waking up the trees in 'The Chronicles of Narnia', watching the 'Planet Earth' commercials, or love reading (like I do) accounts of new medicines, technologies, etc. then this is for you! I am in love with God and could recount many stories of his miraculous interventions in my life....however here I'll try to focus on this amazing planet, our first gift from him.