Monday, March 14, 2011

Earth's design

When I opened up my Bible today, I was a bit surprised at the timing of this Psalm.  It describes God's maintenance of the world He created.   When I read this Psalm I saw creation as not just a one time event, but a system that changes, even evolves.  It proves to me that it's not our hairspray that controls the earth.  Nor is it the moon working independently that controls the earth.  It was designed by God to erupt, grumble, and take care of it's inhabitants.  Geologists believe the recent natural disasters are a result of the plates in the ocean shifting.  Gas builds up in the earth's core and must be released.  

If the waves didn't move back and forth across the ocean, it would be a big pool of saltwater.  There's not much fish in the Great Salt Lake in Utah- but you can float on top of it...  The first recorded tsunami to hit Japan was in 684 AD in Hakuho.  The name "tsunami" is actually a Japanese word. Sadly they receive the most tsunamis in the world.  It means, "big water."  This is not a new thing.

Although all these facts don't help Japan at the moment, it does help me understand what's going on.  The world was never designed to hold still for man.  It was designed to provide his food, home, place of worship, and to raise a family.  In order for that to happen change occurs; it can be harsh.  It's never been easy, except in the Garden of Eden.  I continue to pray for Japan, for protection from nuclear disaster, communications, and restoration.  Although I don't understand God's ways, I do understand His love.  We simply don't have as much control as we think we do.  I praise God for the lives saved in Hawaii and the west coast of the USA.

Psalms 104

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.

5 You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke they fled;
At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
8 They went up over the mountains;
They went down into the valleys,
To the place which You founded for them.
9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
That they may not return to cover the earth.

14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth,
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man,
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man's heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,

19 He appointed the moon for seasons;
The sun knows its going down.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions roar after their prey,
And seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they gather together
And lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
And to his labor until the evening.

24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions — 
25 This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great.
26 There the ships sail about;
There is that Leviathan
Which You have made to play there.

27 These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
28 What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the earth.

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the hills, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.
35 May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
NKJV

If you get a chance to read Genesis 1 about how God created the earth, it's beautiful.

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