Lord of All Creation
Last Saturday, our short-term missions team left to serve at NAOMI House in Arizona. NAOMI House is a mission home dedicated to providing a safe and loving environment for Native American children in need. You can read some of the team's updates here. In addition to serving the NAOMI House children and staff, the team also does morning devotions to grow in their faith. One of the devotions is on Psalm 104 where the psalmist praises God as creator and sustainer of the earth. While we often focus on God’s relationship with humanity, God created and rules over the entire universe as well. The whole of creation depends on God's unfailing provision for life itself. To contemplate His creation is to get a glimpse of God's glory. We are called to serve as stewards of God’s creation, to care for it responsibly and compassionately. And when we experience nature, we can experience the One who created it in new ways.
Yesterday, the NAOMI House team went on an outing to Slide Rock State Park, a natural water slide area formed by the river running through Oak Creek Canyon. It reminds us of verses 10-13 (of Psalm 104) which says, "He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work." Slide Rock is just one example of God's creation, made for the beauty and enjoyment of the beasts of the field, the birds of the sky, and our NAOMI House team (who definitely seemed satisfied by the work of God's hand).
It's hard to explain what it is about God's creation that helps us experience Him in new and different ways. But He is Lord of all creation and nature is His handiwork. May we experience Him through our surroundings and be good stewards of our environment. Psalm 104 verse 24 says, "How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures." Praise the Lord!
Pastor Darren
