JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 19:1 and 2.
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 reveal knowledge.
Astronomers estimate that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy alone. Each one was created by God and has been named by God. The stars speak of God’s attention to His creation. The sun that shines brightly in the daytime was also created by God, and speaks of God’s faithfulness. Just as the sun rises every day, so His compassion for us is new every morning.
This Light Reflection inspires us to look up into the sky and marvel at God’s creation in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in the heavens.
Psalm 19:1 tells us that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
God is the maker of the stars, the sun, and the moon. When it is their turn to shine, they send us a long-distance message that they were created by God. It is believed that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy alone.
Isaiah 40:26 tells us to look up and take notice of God’s handiwork:
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the brilliance of the heavens on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His creation of the stars.
According to Isaiah 40, verse 26, the Holy One invites us to probe and ponder this thought: “Lift your eyes to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
Astronomers estimate that there are at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone. The world population clock estimates close to 7.5 billion people living on the earth right now. So, if God can keep track of all the stars He has made, it stands to reason that He won’t lose track of the people He has made either. The point being made in Isaiah 40 is that God is our Creator. He will not grow weary or tired. No one can fathom His understanding. He holds the universe and the world in His hands. He will not let go of those who are captured in the grip of His grace.
God’s creation of the stars is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.
John Shirk
john@wjtl
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the dignity of human beings in the eyes of God.
David marveled at God’s thoughtfulness of the people He created, even though we occupy such a small space in the grand scheme of His universe.
In Psalm 8, he wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands.”
This knowledge led David to a place of worship. He ended Psalm 8 with the same phrase that he began it. “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
The dignified place that God gives us on the earth is an occasion to celebrate the majesty of His name and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the height of God’s love.
Psalm 103, verse 11 says, “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”
High towers are like magnets to our eyes. If we approach a major city, those are the structures that tend to capture our attention first.
But no tower extends into the heavens like the love of God, which reflects the distance that Jesus traveled to demonstrate God’s love at the cross.
Proverbs 18:10 tells us that the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
God’s love stands tall as a place of refuge for our soul.
The height of God’s love is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the signs of God’s creation.
Psalm 19:1 says that 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.
The stars in the universe are visible to us on a clear night. Isaiah 40:26 tells us that He not only created all these, but He also calls them each by name. Just as there are many stars in the universe, there are many people on this planet. God is big enough to keep order in the universe, while at the same time, remaining personal to know us by name. Just as the heavens declare the glory of God, so we also are called to reflect His glory.
When our faith is expressed in love and with gratitude, our witness for Jesus is compared to the stars of the universe, which reflect the glory of God.
The signs of God’s creation are reasons to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – the message of God’s creation.
In Psalm 19:1, David wrote, “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 end of the world.”
The universe is God’s billboard sign to the world, telling us that He is real, He is wise, and He is strong. This world is not the product of chance but the result of God’s choice.
Romans 1:20 says, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Those who follow Jesus are compared to the stars in the universe. Our lives can display the glory of God by reflecting the light of Jesus through wholesome words, sincere love, humble attitudes, and pure motives.
The message of God’s creation is a lesson of faith worth remembering.
