“I am poured out like water...
...they have pierced my hands
and my feet.”
(Psalm 22:14...17)

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“The creation is a visible disclosure of the invisible God, an intelligible disclosure of the otherwise unknown God. Just as artists reveal themselves in what they draw, paint and sculpt, so the Divine Artist has revealed himself in his creation.” --John Stott

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Our English word “parable” comes from a combination of two Greek words:...... para, meaning “alongside“ and ballo …. “to throw”.

para + ballo: “to throw alongside of”..........

Jesus taught by using parables. He introduced his disciples and his followers to spiritual reality and truth by “throwing” them lessons and examples from everyday life and everyday experience, experiences that they could readily grasp and understand. The Incarnate God threw familiar lessons of physical and time-bound reality their way so that they might begin to discern the spiritual and eternal implications of what He was saying and who He was claiming to be,.... the promised Messiah. These everyday 'physical' lessons (ie., the parables) brought his followers alongside spiritual reality and helped reveal Eternal Truth to them.

In much the same way, it seems to me, physical nature itself was ultimately designed to help reveal spiritual truth... God's redemptive purposes,... to the thirsting heart of man.

 

The physical realities of creation that surround us are able to direct us to a knowledge of the transcendent and eternal Truth of God, his attributes, his care, his Beauty, his Power and his Glory. Nature is, indeed, “...a visual disclosure of the invisible God”, a tangible teacher and guide “thrown alongside” to draw us into a heightened awareness of God's Presence and Love.

 

Nature is teeming with signs that point and whisper “This Way....”

I am persuaded that nature itself is a parable designed to romance the soul of man.

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“My lover spoke and said to me,
'Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with
me.
See! The winter is past;
The rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come....
Arise, come my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.'”
(Song of Songs 2: 10...13)

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“How priceless is your unfailing love!.....
You give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
In your light we see light.”
(Psalm 36: 7...9)

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“He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water...” (Isaiah 49:10 )

“Living Water, Have Your Say”

 

Lord, how often are we tempted
Just to fix our gaze below...
Idol thoughts there entertaining,
Sinking in their undertow....


Take us to the Rebel Shoreline,
Place us there on bended knee;
Then clear up the muddied waters...
Help us seek...with honesty.


Shepherd, lead us to still water,
And, Dear Father, meet us there;
Lift each eye and heart to Heaven...
Lift us from the fowler's snare.

Give us Grace to see more clearly
Lord, the Truth, the Life, the Way...
While we contemplate these waters,
Jesus, teach us how to pray.


Please, Dear Father, help us fathom
Your sweet Mercies from above;
Take us to the Cross of Calv'ry
There to fathom Perfect Love.

May your will be done within us,
Here on earth...pour out your Grace...
Through the power of your Spirit,
Help us turn to seek your Face.

Give us manna on this shoreline...
Share with us the Broken Bread;
Lead us not into temptation...
Help us know, Lord, why you bled.


May we see the Light of Glory
There reflected in the clouds;
Lift our vision to the Heavens,
Even as our heads are bowed.

Help us dwell on this reflection...
Living Water, have your say;
Holy Spirit, draw us homeward,...
Take the cloud of doubt away!

On the shoreline in your Presence
Help us soar on eagle's wings;
Help us hear the Choir of Heaven...
Help us hear the angels sing!


May these waters here direct us
To the Promised Land we'll see;
Help us know your Love and Glory
Give us Faith in Christ.....The Key.

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Nature with open volume
stands
To spread her maker's
praise abroad...
--Isaac Watts

“For God so loved the world....”
(John 3: 16...)