God's Gifts

Several years ago I read a book titled Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge.  To be honest, I don't remember most of it.  One part that has stuck with me is when Stasi mentioned how her husband went to have some alone time at the beach and he saw a bunch of dolphins.  He saw them as a gift from God, to encourage him and give him joy.  Stasi was a little upset because God never sent her dolphins.  She went to the beach for some alone time, hoping to see dolphins.  God didn't give her dolphins.  Instead, He gave her a beach full of starfish.  She writes that she felt incredibly loved (I may be paraphrasing here!) by the creator of the universe.

I remember not being sure how I felt about that.  Since then, I have had my own experiences.  There have been times when I've been struggling or unsure and there is something in creation, usually in the sky (for me) that reminds me of God, of His majesty, and that God is control. With it comes a sense of peace in my spirit.  Unexplainable, out of nowhere peace.  Peace that is beyond my understanding.

I remember driving to work one morning, wrestling with something I was going to have to deal with later that day and as I drove around a wide corner, a gorgeous sunrise was spread out before me.  Glorious pinks and purples.  It hadn't been there before and then suddenly it was.  I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation but I knew, without a doubt, that God put it there for me.  My spirit quieted and rejoiced and there was peace.

Or just a few months ago, I was freaking out about driving over the mountains.  It was overcast and I was so worried about snow.  I had been praying about this leg of the cross country trip for WEEKS.  It started to rain and even thought it was raining and overcast, there was a little patch blue with sunshine streaming through.  As we drove up and up and around curves, there was always a patch of blue.  I knew we were going to make it safely to the other side.  God held my hand as I drove over that mountain.  Once we were safely on the other side, the blue patch vanished.

Last night as I was hopping around the web I looked out over the sound and saw some very light pink patches from the setting sun.  We often get pretty sunsets and this one wasn't very distinctive.  I have a thing about the curtains being closed when it gets dark out (thanks mom) so I headed into our bedroom to close the curtains over our sliding door.  As I walked in the room, my breath was taken away by the incredible sunset that was taking place behind some towering pine trees.  The entire sky was lit up with radiant pinks and purples.  My spirit quieted and the anxious thoughts I've been wrestling with faded.  My God is in control.  He knows, better than I do, what I need and when I need it.  His timing is perfect.  He brought a pieces of my SSMT memory verse to mind...The Lord in the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth...his understanding no one can fathom.  Isaiah 40:28  I feasted my eyes for a little longer and then was distracted by the laundry that needed to go downstairs.  I switched out a load and when I came upstairs and looked out the window again, the sunset was gone.  The peace remained.

There are things that I want.  I kind of want them RIGHT NOW.  Last night God gently and lovingly reminded me that He is in control and that his timing is perfect.  My spirit is at peace.

What gifts has God given you that remind you of His Glory?