Restored

Happy New Year 2013! Ben and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Arizona where we spent a few day's at my father in law's new house in Tuscon, and then traveled North to the Grand Canyon. It turned out this time with the Creator and with my new husband was exactly what I needed for some renewal and restoration. This was my 5th trip to the Grand Canyon, but my last trip there was about 10 years ago. As I drove higher and higher into the mountains across Arizona, I held my breath as one magnificent view after another unfolded before me. The beauty of the snow covered mountains, tall pine trees and untouched, uninhabited creation made me feel like I was soaring as my heart filled with joy over God's perfect work. I praised Him in my heart, and we hadn't even arrived to our destination yet! Once at the Grand Canyon, we discovered that the entire National Park was blanketed by perfect, glittering white snow! I had never seen the Canyon dusted with snow like it was. Ben and I spent all of New Year's Eve walking around different parts of the park taking in the artwork of our God. My eyes couldn't seem to focus as I tried to take in what I was looking at. As my mom so profoundly put it, "God's beauty is more than the human eye can take in." It seemed we would walk just a few feet around the Canyon and the perspective and beauty was completely new.

God used our visit to show me how petty and insignificant my worries and stresses are compared to the bigness and greatness of our God. I don't want to get so wrapped up in myself that I miss Him! I read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 this morning and was able to relate.

"And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature (vs 3)."

Now, take out the word "crowd" and replace it with "work, finances, school, relationships, co-dependency, television, holidays..." and you have a pretty accurate description of how I’ve been living the past few months. All of these things, and I’m sure more, had blocked my view of Jesus – not just what I need from Him, but His character…who HE is. My encounter with Him at the Grand Canyon only confirmed how small I am, but reminded of how Big He is.

"So [Zacchaeus] hurried down and received [Jesus] joyfully (vs 6)."

Jesus encounters bring JOY!!! It's so easy to lose perspective in a world that is constantly trying to steal your Joy. In an effort to keep my renewed Joy, I've resolved to spend more time outside with God soaking up how Big He is. The Grand Canyon reminded me that life is so much bigger than the little things I get so stressed about and I want to take the time to enJOY God's creation on a more regular basis. I'm so thankful for the gift of God's restoration: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:12). I'm thankful that God reminded me how small my worries are compared to His eternal work: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). And I'm thankful that God reminded me of the reason I live - not to work and have no hope in my days, but to bring glory to Him and to show others how Big my God is compared to our earthly struggles: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11). Here's to soaking up more of our BIG God in 2013!