So where do you see God? What takes your breath away and declares above all else that God's hand was in that? God is all around us, each and everyday. He wants you to notice the beautiful things that he has put on this earth and above it. He is the original artist, the first Creator, the inaugural visionary, He did not just create for his own benefit, He wants us to be blessed by his glory. Paul wrote to the Romans "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (11:36 NIV).
If you have a hard time believing the Creation story it may be hard to understand where I am coming from. As Paul said, all things are from God, through God and owned by God. So when I see a sunset I always give thanks to God for the beauty He is displaying. When I look across a landscape of trees, mountains, rivers, crops and so on I can't help but smile and praise God. I see the glory of God in his Earth and in all the things of this land and in the sky above.
I love coming home in the afternoon and spending time playing with my kids outside. It is one of the things I really look forward to each day. My children though, are not only the joys of my life, but they proclaim the wonder of our God. Watching them grow and moving onto new stages of life is amazing and when I look into my childrens' eyes I am filled with an absolute praise for God.
The fact that I can see parts of myself in my children, and parts of my beautiful wife, I am astonished to know that God had them planned well before I was even ready to have them, as God states: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jer 1:5 NIV). So I praise God for my children, not just because I know our wonderful kids but because I see the glory of God in them and in their creation and growth.
Finally, another area I can't help but see the glory of God is in Music. I play the drums, and have done for nearly 20 years, and I know, without a shadow of a doubt that God has poured His glory over me in order that I may glorify him. I play in the church band and I always love thinking about how each member of the band brings their own talent (singing, piano, guitar etc) and how God brings it all together to make it work.
I love listening to Christian music as I drive around and love to hear how different bands and artists convey the greatness, the love, the mercy, the splendor (and so much more) of our God *. I know that music comes from God and I can see how so many people are glorifying God through that type of worship. God is great and He is worthy of all our praise: Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always ( 1 Chr 16:8-11 NIV).
God is all around us, He is everywhere. He is the creator of all things, His glory is behind every good thing on this earth. God wants you to see these things, He wants you to praise him for his creativeness. He wants to pour out His glory on us so we in turn might glorify Him. So where can you see God, what stops you in your tracks, what makes you praise God when you see it, hear it, smell it, touch it. God is all around us.
A great song that I listen to nearly every day is called "All Around Me" by a band called Audio Adrenaline - if nothing else check lyrics and see why it fits so well with this comment.
Tim McDonald lives and works in Mackay Queensland with a family of four children and is the drummer in his church's youthful band.
Tim's archive of articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-mcdonald.html
