Written in the Sky

I love to hear engagement stories. You know, guy buys ring for girl. Guy gets nervous. Guy sets out to do something completely romantic that girl can brag about in the coming days. Magical night comes. Guy gets sick to his stomach. Girl thinks guy is about to dump her. Guy grows too nervous to talk. Girl starts getting agitated. Guy forgets his speech but somehow manages to blurt out "Will...marry...you...me?" Girl cries and forgets to say yes. Guy gets sick to his stomach yet again. Hours later girl randomly blurts out "yes." Couple are so in love they forget the awkwardness. Girl tells her friends how romantic the night was.

I always thought it was cool when a man's love for a woman was written in the sky--literally. Have you ever seen those airplanes that fly in a precise pattern as to write a message? Some men capitalize on those moments and write "I Love You. Will You Marry Me?" in the sky.

As I heard Louie Giglio talk about our awesome Creator God, I couldn't help but think, "Wow! God has written His love for...Himself...in the sky!" Is that a weird thought? That God is in love with Himself? But it is true. And it's not something to feel uncomfortable with, even though it runs counter to our sin nature and at times can sound as pleasant as fingernails on a chalkboard. When we realize God loves God, we can truly begin to live. It's all about God. It's not about us. Wow, does this seem to hit me like a ton of bricks...I mean asteroids lately.

But I think it is also true that God is in love with us. I don't mean that He needs us. God needs no one. I mean that He chooses to love us because we were made in His image, and when He sees us, He sees something of Himself. God created the universe for His own glory, but perhaps He wrote the message of Himself in the sky for us to perceive His glory (see Psalm 19).

Thank you, O Creator, for letting us witness the resounding beauty of the universe. Thank you for writing Yourself into the story of life so that we might know You.

In case you missed this week, I posted pictures above from the NASA website--many of which were seen in the video we saw at Come Thirsty. All pictures are credited to www.nasa.com, which is in no way affiliated with this website.

God is...God

Ah, the monotony of my journey to and from Wheaton everyday. It only takes me about twenty-five minutes to get there (longer in rush hour traffic), but my impatient nature becomes quickly bored with the trip. I am so familiar with the route; sometimes I think I can drive it in my sleep.

To break the monotony of the morning trip back home today, I flipped on the radio to hear the song "God is God" by Stephen Curtis Chapman playing. After coming from my counseling class and hearing about the deep pain that so many people experience on a daily basis, the words to the first verse washed over me like a flood. And I think about my own life. There are these horribly real moments in my life when I have to look at life's circumstances and say, "I just don't know." Then I fall upon the truth that "my life has been formed from the dust." I do say "fall," because this is hard to accept. I want to be in control. Being but a speck of dust is uncomfortable as it strips me of any layer of pride I attempt to cling to.

Once more, I stand in awe of God as the curtain falls on my own self-centeredness and I am ushered back into the reality that this whole gig is about God. Wow. I might not "see the picture He's painting," but I can rest assured "God is God."

Oh Father, might I not grow so familiar with the truth of Your Sovereignty as I am with my morning journey down monotonous streets. Might the steps I take in my daily walk with you be in tune with the cadence of this life. May I feel the pulsating beat of the passion and energy of being in relationship with You. Let Your holiness bring me to my knees once more, as I recognize that I am only dust. You are God. I am not. And while "I may not understand it all," I rest in this truth.

"God is God" performed by Stephen Curtis Chapman on the CD entitled Declaration:
Verse 1:
And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don't know
And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

Chorus:
God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God and I am man
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God

Verse 2:
And the sky begins to thunder
And I'm filled with awe and wonder
'Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I
Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Bridge:
Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things
So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

Chorus repeated