"The Heavens Declare The Glory Of GOD."

I love to trace there 

the footsteps of my FATHER!

(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

"The heavens declare the glory of GOD;
the skies proclaim the work of HIS hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge!"
Psalm 19:1-2

GOD IN NATURE! 

I love to trace there 

the footsteps of my FATHER! 

HIS watchful stars look down kindly 

and lovingly from their heights.

There is a touch of beauty 

even in Alpine solitudes--

the piles of driven snow like 

white mantles woven by angels; 

the translucent light of fairy grottoes, 

their roofs pendent with icicle, 

and distant or overhanging 

peaks gleaming with the gold 

of the morning, or with evening ruby.

That great and wide sea, with 

its dancing waves and troughs 

of chameleon hue.

The whisper of the forest and 

the sympathetic music of its 

million leaves.

The pastures clothed with flocks, 

the valleys also covered over with grain.

The sparkling rivulet winding its thread 

of silver, singing with gentle ripple, and 

taking its part in the blessing of Creation.

The Almighty has thus put HIS loving 

and creative thoughts into HIS world. 

We can devoutly say, 

"How precious also are YOUR 

thoughts unto me, O GOD; how

great is the sum of them!"

Yes, 

with all this apparent to his vision--

who can see and recognize 

the Great Ruler of all--

only in mists and storms, 

the boom of the thunder, 

the flash of the lightning, 

the tremors of the earthquake, 

and the havoc of the avalanche? 

These are the abnormal 

occurrences in HIS mighty sway--

a few exceptional notes in the great 

hymn and harmonies of eternal love.

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

GraceGems has published J.A. James' helpful article,
"Heart Discipline".