Creation Speaks

Hope was born on Christmas. It was defined in the life Jesus lived and in the Words He spoke. Hope became more than a set of beliefs or a strong desire at the Resurrection – it became reality. That reality carries us, empowers us through the gift of Christ in us, the hope of glory.


"Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God's presence without sin, fault, or blame.

This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains... In my body I am completing whatever remains of Christ's sufferings. I am doing this on behalf of his body, the church.

In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people. God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery--which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.

I work hard and struggle to do this while his mighty power works in me." Colossians 1:21-29 GW

Once again we find...

                         "Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
                         and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9 NCV

O little town of Bethlehem    written by Phillips Brooks 1865

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past...
And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD's strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world.
And he will be the source of our peace."

Micah 5:2, 4-5 NLT  

"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives...You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." 

Micah 7:18 NIV

"You will again have compassion on us;

you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."

Micah 7:19 NIV  

"I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed." 

Luke 6:47-49 NCV

"We work together with God. You are like God's field. You are like his building... But each one should build carefully... That foundation is Jesus Christ. A person may build on it using gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. But each person's work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good everyone's work is. If the building doesn't burn up, God will give the builder a reward for his work. If the building burns up, the builder will lose everything. The builder will be saved, but only like one escaping through the flames. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple? God's Spirit lives in you."

1 Corinthians 3:9-16 NIRV  

"God has chosen you
and made you his holy people.
He loves you.
So always do these things:
Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

Get along with each other,
and forgive each other.
If someone does wrong to you,
forgive that person
because the Lord forgave you.

Do all these things;
but most important, love each other.
Love is what holds you all together
in perfect unity.

Let the peace that Christ gives
control your thinking,
because you were all called together
in one body to have peace.


Always be thankful."

Colossians 3:12-15 NCV  

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

...But you, man of God, flee from all this,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith...
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age,
so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

...guard what has been entrusted to your care...Grace be with you."

1 Timothy 6:9-12, 17-21 NIV  

"Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord.
Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him.

Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus.

I know what it's like not to have what I need. I also know what it's like to have more than I need.
I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens.

I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

I'm not looking for a gift. I'm looking for what is best for you.
I have received my full pay, and even more than that. I have everything I need.

My God will meet all your needs.
He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus."

—the Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:4, 6-7, 12-13, 17-19 NIRV  

Ah, the seasons – each one offers splendor as well as troublous tones.


That is our life, taking the bad with the good.

Such is our pre-heaven existence. It is the story of time.

Generation to generation to generation.


Falling into despair or resentment regarding the bitter elements only destroys our ability to savor the sweet.



Jesus makes all the difference.



Welcoming His perspective helps to catch sight of the bigger picture, allowing Him to carry us in grace.

Surrendering to His eyes, to His arms, transforms us into a source of comfort rather than a source of pain 

"I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me.

The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

—Jesus, John 16:33 GNT  

Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for His smile
'Cause deep inside this armor
The Warrior is a Child


The Warrior is a Child written by Twila Paris

See the ant halfway up this flower stalk, standing firm in its armor, sizing up a possible threat?

"The success of ants to survive in so many environments has been attributed to their social organization and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves." (Hölldobler & Wilson (1990), p. 471, own emphasis added. You may look back to August 2, 2010's entry for a review sampling of God's word on social organization.)

So much more than this ant, we have available to us "the body armor of God's righteousness" (see Eph. 6:14 above).

"A message came to Zerubbabel from the Lord. He said, 'Your strength will not get my temple rebuilt. Your power will not do it either. Only the power of my Spirit will do it,' says the LORD who rules over all."

Zechariah 4:6 NIRV


When it comes to this devotional, I continue to embrace the importance to let my words be few. You don’t need to hear me. Oh no, we need to hear Him. My purpose lies in the hope that when you come to this little weekly offering, you begin to reflect not only on God’s Word, but also consider the diverse other ways He speaks to you (even in His creation). My highest hope is that your spirit slows down to hear something in God’s heart for you – something personal, something fresh, something to fill you with affirmation, understanding, assurance, conviction, courage, hope – whatever you need that day. It’s all between you and Him.



"It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow."

1 Corinthians 3:7 The Message

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

John 1:1-5 NIV 

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV 

"...the people living in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Matthew 4:16 NIV

"You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light."

2 Sam 22:29 NIV   

"Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

You're my world
I do not want to give you just a bit of my time
I do not want to separate one day only

You're my world
I do not want to give you my word as droplets
I want a flood of praise in my mouth

You're my world
You're all that I feel and what I think
You're the first breath in the morning
         and light in my window

You're my world
To fill each of my thoughts
Your presence and your power will be my food
Oh Jesus is my desire

You're my world
I do not want to give you only part of my years
I want you (as the) owner
         of my time and my space

You're my world
I do not want to make my will
I want to please you
And every dream there is inside of me
         I want to give you
Oh Jesus is my desire

You're my world


Thank you, Jesus Adrian Romero, for sharing the overflow of your heart in God with us.

"John [the Baptist] answered [those asking if he was the Christ], 'I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'"

Luke 3:16-17 NIV 

"...for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

Hebrews 12:29 NIV 

"Hold me close to your heart like the seal around your neck.
Keep me close to yourself like the ring on your finger.
My love for you is so strong it won't let you go.
Love is as powerful as death. Love's jealousy is as strong as the grave.
Love is like a blazing fire. It burns like a mighty flame.
No amount of water can put it out. Rivers can't drown it."

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 NIRV   

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God..."

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."

Psalms 84:1-12 NIV

My husband, two terriers and I just returned from savoring three days and nights at our favorite remote camp spot in the Ochoco Mountains. The recitals of birds accompanied by the wind in the trees sung our souls to peace. Hidden from the beaten path, we feasted upon the breadth of God’s creation great and small – from the majestic row of Cascade mountains to an endless splash of wildflowers.

Consider God's song in a river's gait

His waltz through a mountain mist

The butterfly – a twinkle in His eye

A delicate flower – His kiss

                                                                      deb allen, July 2010

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."

Psalms 104:24 KJV 

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."

Proverbs 3:1-8, 13-18 TNIV 

"The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves."

Isaiah 48:17-18 NLT 

"We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."

Corinthians 4:14-18 NLT 

"Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak."

Matthew 26:41 NIRV 


"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Galatians 6:9-10 NIV 

"This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand or perform.

It is not up in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go to heaven and bring it down so we can hear and obey it?' It is not beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear and obey it?'

The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death.

I have commanded you today to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, laws, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and become a great nation, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.

I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.

Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!

Choose to love the LORD your God
and to obey him and commit yourself to him,
for he is your life."

Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NLT

"Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food... I lie awake..."

Psalms 102:1-7 NIV

"To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit..."

Psalms 28:1 NIV  

"Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law;
you grant him relief from days of trouble...

Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,' your love, O LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Ps 94:9, 12-13, 17-19 NIV

"I lie in the dust, completely discouraged;

revive me by your word.

I told you my plans, and you answered.

Now teach me your principles.

Help me understand
the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful miracles.

I weep with grief; encourage me by your word.

Keep me from lying to myself;

give me the privilege of knowing your law.

I have chosen to be faithful;

I have determined to live by your laws.

I cling to your decrees.

LORD, don't let me be put to shame!

If you will help me,
I will run to follow your commands."

Psalms 119:25-32 NLT

"This is what the LORD says:

'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,' declares the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV 

"...for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?' declares the LORD."

Jeremiah 30:21 NIV 

"Then Jesus asked them, ‘Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed to shut out the light? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand -- and even more, besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.’"

Mark 4:21-25 NLT 

"But this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us –
is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.
So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own."

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT  

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.

Don't be impressed with yourself.

Don't compare yourself with others.

Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

Galatians 6:4-5 The Message 

"Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work -- whatever they do under the sun -- for however long God lets them live. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life -- that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy."

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NLT 

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified [Jesus], along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers also came up and mocked him …One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ ‘But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don't you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’" Luke 23:33-36, 39-43 NIV

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’--which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ … And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’" Matthew 27:45-46, 50-54 NIV

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it....

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

...Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Matthew 7:13-14, 21-24 NIV
 

Cleanse me Lord
of all my silly sad charades
How I want to be all and only yours
Take away the clutter in my life
every day
And make me like a child at play

Give me joy
I love to laugh and cry with you
You've become a friend
with me all the time
Help me to be patient
as I watch and as I pray
growing in your love each day
Lord, show me the way

Cuz when the time comes
I want Him to know me
When the time comes
I want to be there
And when that time comes
I want to be ready
When Jesus comes to take me
When my Jesus comes to take me
Take me Home

When the Time Comes
lyrics by David Kavich 

"[Jesus] told many stories such as this one: 'A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!'...

'Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain: The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts. The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced. The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.'"

Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 NLT  

Comments? Feedback? Testimonies? Please feel free to send an email to deb@HeartScribeForHim.com.

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