Week One DQ – Creation

[Jamie]

Considering God’s creation, what aspect amazes you about it? How does this lead you to worship God?

[Anonymous]

Knowing that God created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them, I’ve come to realize that God is God, and that I am not! It amazes me that the same God that has created all, knows me personally (and all of us), and wants to have a relationship with me. There are many aspects of His creation that bring me to worship Him, including lakes, rivers, waterfalls, oceans, and mountains. These large, vast creations are rather daunting, but they help me realize how large that God really is, and they put my life in comparison to God’s plans and desires for me, and not to my own wants, needs, and desires.

[Jamie]

Great thoughts Chuck! I find that when I too look at the vastness of God’s creation it allows me to have a deeper trust in Him as well.

[Anonymous]

Wow! What an amazing question! I am awed at the fact that God created man in His own image. I am speechless at the vastness of God’s great love for man-kind and His creation. I was really struck by after each “creation event” God saw that it was good. Then in chapter 1 verse 31 the Scripture states this: “God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY good”. WOW! This leads me to worship Him in so many ways, every time, it leads me to be still and just be awed at who God is and what He can do.

[Anonymous]

I feel really guilty about this question actually. I think I have heard/read about God creating the universe so many times that I don’t even think about how amazing this really is. I love the times when I actually do think about how amazing Gods creation is, like when I am driving to work and seeing the sun rise every morning and knowing that I have a personal relationship with the creator of the sun rise. Pretty freaken awesome if you ask me. I hope to praise God more for His power and creation.

[Jamie]

It is obvious from your answers that God’s creation inspires us to worship God and draw near to Him.

Practical Question – What are some easy ways you can take time out of your schedule to stop and reflect on God’s creation…so we can worship Him?

Example: Many times if I am out at night and get home, I will take 3-5 minutes to step outside of the car and look at the stars before I go inside. Even in the cold, winter months there is something about just pausing for a few moments, breathing in the fresh air, and looking at God’s handiwork. That’s me…what about you?

[Anonymous]

Everyday on my way to work there are two minutes of my commute where I am on the highway looking directly at downtown Columbus before I turn south and head to work. Many mornings the sun is just coming up and beaming through the skyline. I smile because every time it happens I feel that God is declaring to me, “I love this city, I love these people; Like my light is shining off these magnificent structures I want you to shine My light on these people.” His creation should evoke wonder, wonder that evokes worship and worship that evokes a deep desire to see others experience this amazing God.

I’m reading a book right now by Bob Goff called “Love Does” which is a fantastic little book if you get the time. Its about participating with God in his plan of love and how he desires to use us to show his love to all.

In the chapter I read today he talked about being invited to special occasions and how we do not need a special status to be invited to life with God. He just offers it to all. I found a particular paragraph relating to this discussion.

“There is only one invitation it would ill me to refuse,yet I’m tempted to turn it down all the time. I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn’t come in an envelope. It’s ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It’s the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day.

Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but I’ve seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live. Turning down this invitation comes in lots of flavors. It looks like numbing yourself or distracting yourself or seeing something really beautiful as just normal. It can also look like refusing to forgive or not being grateful or getting wrapped around the axle with fear or envy. I think every day God sends us an invitation to live and sometimes we forget to show up or get head-faked into thinking we haven’t really been invited. but you see, we have been invited-everyday, all over again.”

[Anonymous]

oh that books sounds amazing!! Phil that is true, God wants us to come to his party, we don’t need to bring anything to him but ourselves, and surrender to him and have a relationship with him, like close friends have, or like a father to a son have. He wants to show us his beauty completely through Christ like for me Christ has shown me what beauty is when he walked on this earth( opened the eyes of the blind, healed, did not judge or condemned but said follow me and you will have eternal life, that was beautiful for me). we see beauty in nature but i also see it in us individually we are created in there image and we are made beautiful in their eyes.

[Anonymous]

Similar to Phil’s experience, when I am driving to work each morning, heading towards downtown Minneapolis, I get to see the sun rise. I am reminded of my faith, and taking up my cross for Christ each day, and I try to focus on Him and His desires for my life. A simple sunrise can remind me of what God has done, and refocuses my day.

[Anonymous]

I think the intricacies of creation amaze me perhaps the most. When you look at the complexities of things like cells, larger scale biological organisms, ecosystems, etc., it is really mind blowing. Nature is so complex and it is amazing that it all just works. To me this speaks to God’s attention to detail and sheer intelligence. Nature is such an intricate peace of artwork, and in this way it reflects God’s glory to me and leaves me in awe.
I am also left in awe by other things in the universe beyond our solar system. There are so many cool and strange looking things out there. Sometimes it overwhelms me with their beauty. This really speaks to me of the creativity of God and reflects his glory to me in that way. God is so amazing and thinking about these things deepens my sense of wonder when worshiping.

[Anonymous]

to answer Jamie’s question. one way to take time out and worship God as we reflect on his creation is to intentionally be silent. this is difficult in our age of technology and noise. very difficult. in this video Morgan even takes the discipline of silence to a corporate level.

I’m curious of peoples thoughts here.

Have you experienced silence in a corporate setting?

Getting into the woods and spending time alone with God in creation seems like a very good idea. We are less distracted and face to face with his presence through his creation. However, parts of what Morgan says in this short clip our intriguing because we were made fro community and I think there may be a place for silence within our gatherings. I have just not seen it in a lot of my experiences and wondering what others think about its need/desired outcome/fit into a gathering etc.

Other thoughts on the video?

[Anonymous]

i guess i never thought of this, but sometimes when i pray, there are times where i cant think of anymore words to say where i am completely in silence. I always thought that was bad…I’m always like why can’t i find any more words to say to God? is there something wrong with me?….but just to understand that to be in completely silent with my father is not bad at all, is actually very valuable time , where i mediate and really feel his presence and just listen to him speak to me.

[Jamie]

This is a very thought provoking video Phil. I think the aspect (and I am paraphrasing) of spiritual maturity being when you can sit with God when you run out of words to be life giving. This is such a wonderful practice and should be done more often within a corporate gathering context.

Do any of your church gatherings practice silence during a weekly gathering?

[Anonymous]

I like this idea of being silent before God. Honestly, I often have a hard time quieting my mind so that I can be silent. However, when I have been silently in God’s presence, it has been just an incredibly peaceful, calming, and reassuring experience, even when it has been only for five minutes or so.
I don’t think I have been a part of silence in a church gathering. I wonder what that would be like.

[bstadle1]

Silence in Community… If our desire is to be ever filled with God’s Spirit, then yes we need to be silent in prayer. I believe I am learning that if a community of follower’s of Jesus want to see manifestations of God’s Power (vision, special knowledge, discernment, wisdom, prophetic, healing, etc.), then we need to rely on God. I believe relying on God is easy to say, but not often accomplished. Silence seems to be a key ingredient to being dependant on God. I could argue there is no more beautiful show of faith then to wait upon the Lord with anticipation. The question is are we expectant in our silence or are we just silent? Do we expect to hear from God in our silence? Will we act on what we hear? Sounds like a fun journey to me!

[Author]

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