I'm overwhelmed by you

It was hot, humid and the lawnmower was having issues. I didn't want to be cutting grass. But, there I was in the middle of the yard overwhelmed, not by the task at hand, but the thought of the creator of the universe who takes special interest in me. In me? Really?

 

When I do yard work, I will often plug in my headphones and listen to a podcast or let Siri read a book for me on my Kindle app. Monday I started to listen to a book, but just wasn't getting into it. So, I decided to turn on some Christian music. I found myself getting really emotional (the manly way to say I started crying) over my experience with God (This is okay because it is number eight on The Art of Manliness's list of When Is It Okay for a Man to Cry).

The past week has been a fairly difficult week for the Winchester Road church family.  One of our shepherds got some bad news from his eye doctor and one of our young people spent the weekend in the PICU. In the midst of all the turmoil and difficulty, we find strength in our creator. My music was just what I needed as it reminded me of God's promises.

Francesca Battistelli reminded me that he knows my name. She sings in part...

Spent today in a conversation
In the mirror face to face with
Somebody less than perfect
I wouldn't choose me first if
I was looking for a champion
In fact I'd understand if
You picked everyone before me
But that's just not my story

True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made something out of nothing...

He calls me chosen
Free, forgiven
Wanted, child of the King
His forever
Held and treasured
I am loved

In Romans 5:8 we read, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Rend Collective's new song, "You Will Never Run Away",  was encouraging by pointing out my God's amazing love...

You will never run away
You're forever mine
You will never run away
You're by my side

Love wide as galaxies
Love deeper than the sea
Countless as all infinity
Love like a shooting star
Tearing apart the dark
Shining for all eternity
Shining for all eternity

Sounds like Romans 8:38-39. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In "I Will Rise", Chris Tomlin reminded me to fix my eyes on Jesus.

 There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear 

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

Isn't that the same promise we read about in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Every song seemed to speak to me in some way. As Big Daddy Weave sings, I was simply overwhelmed. 

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God

All that You’ve done is so overwhelming
I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

We have this God, this sovereign king of everything, and he is dialed into you. Luke 12:7 says, "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." 

 

What he's saying here is that in the immensity of God, the creator of the universe is dialed into you, created in his image to the extent that he knows every hair on your head. If you have no hair on your head, he was with you when you went through that awkward stage of "what do I do? Do I comb it over or shave it off?"

See him. Behold his amazing grace. Be transfixed by his glory. Be overwhelmed.

The glory of God in his creation

God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. - Genesis 1:10

One month ago I was on the island of Oahu celebrating the glory of God, exploring his creation. It was an amazing week in many ways.

I started the week at Camp Paumalu on the North Shore for Aloha Christian Camp. It was a great blessing to watch God work in the lives of young people. Seven kids were baptized during the six days of camp. Three were baptized by my childhood best friend, Landry Allen. Landry volunteers as Youth Minister for the Pearl Harbor Church of Christ in Pearl City, one of several congregations from across the state of Hawaii that come together for the camp. It is such an encouragement to see Landry and his wife, Kristina doing the Lord's work.

After camp was over, Landry and Kristina hosted me at their home for the next four days and served as a my tour guides for the island.

Kristina, Landry, and me at Tracks Beach in Kapolei

They were awesome tour guides, by the way. We visited every side of the island and all kinds of places in between. I tried to plot out all the places we visited on a map of Oahu.

 I want to share some pictures with you from my trip.

 Hanauma Bay

On top of Chinaman's Hat

Stand up paddle boarding at Pokai Bay

 Shark's Cove

 

Swimming with a turtle in Shark's Cove

Landry and me at Waimano Falls after hiking the Manana Trail

 

Can you see why he says his creation is good? I am constantly amazed by the beauty of God's creation. What we see in his handiwork is a reflection of his glory. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."