The radiance of God's glory (Hebrews 1) (Hebrews 1:1-14, John 3:16-18, John 1:1-5)

The words in Hebrews are beautiful.

Hi everyone-

New Jersey is finally cooling off.  Most of the homes that were destroyed by the hurricane have been rebuilt.  The weather has been hot, rainy and humid most of this year.  So now it's time for me to get back indoors (I have a tan yay!).  My husband and I started watching Duck Dynasty on TV, it's great.  They are a Christian family of woodsmen/hunters with bushy beards and a great sense of humor.  Their wives are beautiful ladies.  At the end of each show they say a prayer together.  This week they prayed to know God's love even more.

We had a sad situation in New Jersey though.  After the boardwalk and buildings in Seaside, by Toms River were restored a fire broke out and burned it all up.  Hard to believe it could happen, but it did.  Evidentally some wiring was damaged by the hurricane and caught fire.  Our governor, Chris Christie, is relentlessly telling us we'll be ok, we are resilient (stubborn).  I sure appreciate him.  He's right, I should've given up years ago but just couldn't.  The Lord keeps showing me something more to get excited about. 

Colorado has been having a rough time too.  They had some serious fires then flooding.  Feel free to pray with me if you like.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise You and thank You for bringing us through the storms.  I pray for mercy for the people in Colorado and Toms River, NJ.  Please heal these people from the terrible things they've experienced.  I pray You will help inspire people with new ideas on how to move forward.  Please comfort all Your people as I know You have comforted me.  Help us to see Your goodness and not just the bad stuff.  Your love never ends.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

No one is exactly sure who wrote the book of Hebrews in the Bible but it sure is beautiful.

Hebrews 1

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

These verses describe Jesus.  It sounds like the verses in the Book of John:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1:1-5 NIV)

When I read these verses I wonder why I'd ever worry.  God has been busy since before creation.  Surely He can handle the stuff going on today.  These verses talk more about Jesus.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

These verses remind me of the Book of John too.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son
(John 3:16-18 NIV)

7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire.”
8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
10 He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
This verse reminds me of astronomy.  If you get a chance look at a book or website with photos from space (link) it's amazing out there.  The photos in the link were taken from the Hubble Spacecraft.

11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;like a garment they will be changed.
This world will pass away at some point in time.


But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(Hebrews 1:1-14 NIV)
God sent angels to watch out for us : )  With all the changes in the world today, it's great to know God will aways be the same today, tomorrow and yesterday.

This song by Michael W. Smith seems to fit this chapter Glorious Grace (link).

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.

Those who try and pull me down

Ps 27:6
6 God holds me head and shoulders
above all who try to pull me down.
I'm headed for his place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof!
Already I'm singing God-songs;
I'm making music to God.

Ps 27:11
11 Point me down your highway, God;
direct me along a well-lighted street;
show my enemies whose side you're on.
Ps 27:13-14
13 I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness
in the exuberant earth.
14 Stay with God!
Take heart. Don't quit.
I'll say it again:
Stay with God.
THE MESSAGE

I found a whole bunch of verses that stood out in Psalm 27.  There was a time when I was younger that I realized if I hung out with people who constantly discourage me or cut me down, I felt depressed.  "God holds me head and shoulders above all who try and pull me down."  The Bible can be hard to read in places but when I keep reading I find such encouragement.  I want to offer anthems that raise the roof!  And here's another verse that describes following His road.  With all this direction how can I lose my way?  "Stay with God!  Take heart. Don't quit."  I'll keep snapping those photos of His "exuberant earth."

Photographing His artwork

Ps 24:1-2
24 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
NKJV

As a photographer, I will let you in on a secret.  I hope it's not considered cheating... Ok, when I go out to shoot, I ask God to show me where the good shots are.  There. It's out in the open. Shew!  It makes sense to me, He created the Heavens and the earth. I know He likes us to notice His work, like I do.  I can tell He loves color; me too.  And the animals- he's got a great sense of humor.  I sometimes wonder what He thinks of all our ideas for managing the universe.  I wonder if we ever make Him laugh.  I hope so.