Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord , for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Psalms 98:7-9 NIV
Over the past few years the Father has planted in me a new value for Beauty. But before I could value it, He had to open my eyes to see it.
That process started all the way back in my first month on the field. I felt the Lord telling me to slow down, even as I walked down the street and start to pay attention to the Beauty I unknowingly pass every day. This started a daily habit for me, taking pictures of flowers.
That might seem so simple, but it made me stop and appreciate the Beauty all around me.
It really hit me how much this had changed my life when I was at the Taj Mahal. One of the most beautiful buildings in the entire world (in my own opinion). It’s absolutely stunning! I have never experienced a building taking my breath away, but the Taj Mahal has by far come the closest.
I couldn’t stop staring at it. So simple, elegant, yet when you got closer, so complicated and detailed. But after a while, even though it’s the most beautiful bulding I’ve ever seen, I found myself admiring and taking pictures of the flowers in the garden surrounding it. They still caught my attention and awe!
My friends, it’s no secret that you can see flowers almost every day. But they carry such Beauty that not even the Taj Mahal (something that took 20,000 workers 11 years to build) nor any over man-made beauty can rival.
Reminds me of what Jesus said in Luke.
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!”
Luke 12:27-28 NIV
I love how this passage opens “Consider how the wild flowers grow”. Our eyes, hearts, and minds were made to consider the Greatness of God. We just have to learn to stop ourselves and create new habits of seeing Him in everything.
So here are some of my favorite pictures I’ve been able to capture. Everytime I stop to admire Beauty, I am reminded of God as creator, I am reminded of His Presence with me, and of His Promises to provide for me.
