Elohim - God, Mighty Creator

Well, here we go. The first installment on our bible study, Praying the Names of God. This chapter was easy for me to embrace. I fully recognize God as our Creator, and I delight in the fact that this name He uses to refer to Himself is a plural version, "Then God [Elohim] said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" (Genesis 1:26) I like that name because it gives validity to the doctrine of the Trinity. But that's a different subject.

Today, it's about creation... God's beautiful creation; sometimes it simply causes a gentle smile to warm my face, like when the little yellow-breasted birds and brightly colored butterflies flutter and flit about my patio. At other times I've been moved to tears by the sight of a majestic mountain range in autumn, and there have been times I heard the voice of God in my spirit when presented with a glimpse of one of His artistic sunsets. I can stand forever at shore's edge, and the sense of awe I feel never diminishes.


The smell of a flower, the warmth of the sun, the sound and the smell of the rain, the beauty in the changing seasons, the taste of my favorite foods, the wiggly wag of my dogs' tails, the rumble in my cat's chest when she purrs, the sound of my daughter's laughter, and the warmth of my husband's smile; these are but a few of the things I treasure as a gift from God, my Creator.

Enjoy this rendition of Louis Armstong's, Wonderful World, sung by Eva Cassidy. She's one of my favorite female vocalists (truthfully, there isn't an artist, male or female, whose CDs I own more of). God gave her a marvelous talent.

(Don't forget to turn off the blog music... right column. And make sure you click the little speaker on this photoshow if the music is not playing...there'll be a little red line through it.)

(Well, the way this music is loading with the Roxio photoshow is disappointing me. Depending on your computer, it may be fine; or it may take a long time to load, making the timing off; or, it may just not play for you - in which case you can hear it here. PS - all of these photos are ones that I have taken over the years, except the one of Joe, which Kristiina took, and the one of Nic and Kristiina, which the hired professional took.)

There's much angst in the world today, but if you strip away the jealousies, the power struggles, the selfishness, the carelessness, you'll find that what God created is good, very good. It's a wonderful world.

Thank you, God, for thinking enough of us to give us not just what we need, but also delighting in giving us joy in experiencing it. May I never take it for granted.