Wonder of Wonders

And they were all amazed at the

mighty power of God. But while they

wondered every one at all things

which Jesus did, he said unto His disciples...

Luke 9:43

The word “wonder” is described as being filled with awe, amazement and being in the state of marveling over something that is new or unusual to someone, no matter the age of the person.

When at the age of four, I remember noticing for the first time, dew that had formed on our front yard grass. The sun had just moved enough into the sky that it shown on those dew drops. It looked like there were diamonds all over our front yard. To this very day, I still marvel at the sight of dew drops poised on blades of grass no matter where I reside. Those things we so marveled at when very young, still seem to captivate out imaginations when we are adults.

Have you ever watched a young baby when it first notices its toes? That baby will fold up and will play with those tiny toes off and on for several minutes. Sometimes, they will view their tiny fingers with an amazing fascination. It's really funny when they sense their tongue, especially when they are fed their first bite of baby food.

My mother brought me and my sister Kay to these very mountains where I now reside when I was about 5 years old. Gatlinburg was a mere village with next to nothing here. Kay and I played, digging in mountain dirt, pretended to plant seeds, all the while enjoying the aroma of trees and rocks. Even then, I was in awe of the mountains that were so huge, and they inspired such wonder in this little girl's heart.

All of us have experienced wonder in various sizes, shapes, and in various places. Whatever the wonder, it might not impress anyone else like it does us. I still stand in awe of seeing rainbows, watching a mother bear with her two or three cubs, sniffing the air after a spring rain, watching the face of a tiny baby as it sleeps and hearing it's sighs of contentment. Our wonders can come as we observe people or as we enjoy the things of nature. I marvel right now as I look out my back or front porch and marvel at the brilliant colors of fall as trees prepare for their winter slumber. God is just so smart as He capably handles all of the things of His natural world.

Just stop and think of those things around you that still almost catch your breath in wonder. My sister Kay who is now in Heaven felt that way about her various garden plots as she designed, planted, and weeded. She was a true gardener from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. She found such wonder in just feeling the earth filter through her fingers.

My youngest sister has been a new grandmother now for a little over a year. She's had the joy of watching her grand-daughter through all of those wonderful first year stages...the smiles, physical growth, hugs, crawling until little footsteps take the place of little knees. Although many of us have gone through all of this with our own children, it seemed at times that we were so involved that we might of missed some of those things of wonder but not with our grandchildren. Everything they do is pure wonder.

Life itself is a wonder. A bad cold and many simple diseases we can contract now and get over within days, are things that in the latter 1800's were killing people. We recover from bodily maladys in almost short order in our day. My friend Mary was in a horrible car accident a couple of years ago. She should have died in that accident as we look at the severity of it. I stood in awe as did others at her recovery and all that modern medicine did to “put Mary back together again.”

I was reminded of a George Beverly Shea song that only he could sing as it was meant to be sung...The Wonder of It All. I love especially the first verse and chorus:

There's the wonder of sunset at evening,

The wonder as sunrise I see;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me.

Chorus

O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!

Just to think that God loves me.

O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!

Just to think that God loves me.

 

Far beyond dew drops, rainbows or a baby's smile is the wonder of God's love for me.  I don't deserve one ounce of attention of God or His Son.  I have failed Him so many times, it's not even funny.  The really amazing thing apart from my salvation is tht God never gives up on me.  That is one of the greatest examples God sets for you and me.  We are sometimes quick to give up on people who disappoint or hurt us deeply.  Amazingly, God just keeps pouring out His love and attention on all of us.

 

 

I marvel at the love He pours into our lives...love He intends for us to then invest into the lives of others.  I don't have one ounce of love to give anyone...only His love will suffice.  What a marvel it is that He would choose us to act for Him on this eart, to be chosen to



represent Him in the everyday things of life.

During our darkest times, we can look around in awe...leaf of a tree and it's intricacies, scent of a rose on a bush, an orange harvest moon, birds as they chatter with one another, innocent little children at play, a baby picking up a Cheerio and finding it's mouth, and on and on we could go. But in the wonder of it all, the simple fact is that Jesus loves me, and Jesus loves you.

Dear Father...I stand in awe of You and Your love for me even when I don't deserve any of Your consideration. It's such an honor to be one of Your children and I thank you for those benefits You daily load me down with. I love You and thank You for sending Your son to die for me that I might one day have the privilege of enjoying all of the wonders and marvels of Heaven. Amen