Seeking His Presence
JOY in Our Creator and His Creation
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Welcome!
Announcements: Please join us following service for a picnic at our lake house! All are welcome to stop by! Bring some extra chairs please. Prayer group bumped up-this Wed 9 am.
Call to Worship:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Let us come before the Lord with joyful songs, for great is our God, and most worthy of praise! The Lord is robed in splendor and majesty, clothed with greatness. His glory fills the earth, and His power sustains all things. Today, let us acknowledge His sovereign authority and sing His praises, for He is the great King over all the earth. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness, and let your hearts overflow with gratitude for His eternal might and endless goodness.
Let’s pray
Praise Songs
Intro: How many of you have a favorite place to go or maybe multiple places to go that takes you out of the chaotic, fast-paced, computer driven world we can live in and brings you into the serenity that being in nature offers us?
This is by design you know, to live in the beauty and harmony of God’s creation, enjoying all that He has made, not only for His good pleasure, but also for ours. This is how He intended for us, His creation to always be. This is how Adam and Eve first lived-enjoying the beauty and bounty of His glorious garden and all the creatures within it.
I have enjoyed seeing so many pictures from wonderful adventures many of you are having or others I know-taking in the wonder and beauty of God’s creation all over the place. Right within our states the landscape changes dramatically, to the Dominican, to Canada, to Africa-it’s truly incredible how vastly different and infinitely creative God has designed this world we are privileged to travel in and explore.
But we don’t take big trips like that all the time-many of our days as we shared last week are filled doing ordinary things and we find ourselves in ordinary surroundings, and yet creation’s beauty and harmonious flow is ever calling out to us to join in and become immersed in it. Do we go and experience? Do we observe? Do we fill up with Joy?
We need this. We are designed to thrive as we build in time to step away from all that is man-made, all that is technology, all that is fast-paced and just enjoy the awe of creation.
God was speaking this to me on my sabbatical to remember this is a gift and a necessity in how we live tuned to Him. We can’t and won’t hear Him in all the noise that comes from the world around us. We won’t take time to really listen when we are always pushing against schedules and timelines. We won’t come to know the depths of who He is if we only surround ourselves by man-made structures and devices. We need moments to be surrounded by the divine.
I think more than ever- in this high technology driven world we live in-that only increases in ways we stay glued to our screens of some sort, we must be intentional to remember how God designed us and what is truly good for our health. What His purpose for creation is about.
I had the joy as I shared of being at a retreat that had so many forms of natural beauty-wild flowers, forests, ponds, big open sky, birds, deer, turkeys and everything was at such a slow pace. At first that is hard isn’t it-for some of us especially…to truly allow ourselves to slow down. But I invited God to help me slow down, to open my eyes to see His creation in a fresh way; to allow me to observe and it was joyful. Just to watch with no other place to be and really look at the glory of God in the smallest of details. This is what I want to have us focus on today.
Pray: Lord God help us to pause even now, rest in Him, allow the eyes of our heart to see the wonders of who You are as God Almighty and Creator of heavens and the earth-and all that is within the earth. Show us Your majesty this morning. Let us be captivated by You and Your glory. Fill us with joy as we encounter You, our Creator, and Your creation through Your Word.
Psalm 19:1-8 NIV 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
Glory in His Power.
Psalm 19:1 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Have you experienced this and known this to be true? Sure, we all have, if only we take time to look up and truly see.
All of creation reveals the glory of God. Jesus had said to the Pharisees who were offended that children were crying out praises to Him as He rode by at His appointed hour from the Father to let it be known Jesus is the Son of God and King of kings and Lord of lords. He said to their complaint, “even if they stop shouting the stones will cry out!” The created glorifies the Creator.
I shared last week how incredible the stars were blanketing the sky-truly marvelous to behold. God set each one of them in place. He created the sun and the moon to give us light and warmth-but also knowing exactly how far to keep us from each-and the wisdom to have a rotation pattern in motion-and it’s all fascinating to ponder right? To consider the many galaxies that make up the universe, and to consider that only earth was given all this glorious form of life, where He decided to set mankind.
Then we can ponder all that is provided for us to live: air, water, plants, animals, many materials made into fabrics and structures for our comfort. Herbs that heal and nourish us.
He didn’t just come up with people and randomly place us in any old existence. He carefully, thoughtfully, lovingly created this beautiful world that offers us everything we need to live well and to see our Creator in all of it, if we would just look for Him. His imprint is on everything.
The same God who made the stars, the sky, the sun, the mountains, the vast oceans and everything in between; that God who made the heavens; is the One who created each of us uniquely by design, for His great pleasure and for His glory. We are known by God, Lord of all Creation, and we are cared for in ways we can neglect to see or appreciate.
Psalm 8:3-4 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Who are we, that God is mindful of us? It is good for us to be humbled and being part of creation, really noticing all that is in motion, working in harmony will quickly humble us. This is a heart posture that leads us into worship; that glorifies His name and acknowledges the sovereign power He holds.
Experience the Majesty of Creation.
Many Psalms are written from this heart posture, one of worship, adoration, awe and wonder at who our God is and how amazing He has designed the universe and this world we live in.
This is why it is necessary for us enter into Creation, to become part of it-through experience, not just head knowledge.
In my time away I had several opportunities for this at the retreat, at the lake house by the water, even in our back yard. When I chose to slow down and really look I saw simple and striking beauty; beautiful blue skies; prairie flowers of all kinds of species- a bit wild looking but with random bursts of color and textures in these fields that caught my eye. I saw His majesty in the forests and enjoyed the quiet, serene setting there. I was able to watch wildlife calmly walking, nibbling; birds swooping down low and landing on the water, or ones gracefully soaring through the sky. I could listen to the beautiful song of creatures singing in harmony in the evenings by the lake. Throughout the summer there were moments to be captivated by lightening bugs dancing in the night sky.
What is so remarkable and humbling to take notice of, is all of this life and so much more than what our eye can see, is happening all around us. We are just one tiny piece of this gigantic symphony of life and the great wonder of it all, is that God is the conductor keeping all things in perfect harmony and rhythm.
Psalm 104:10-13 10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
Notice in God’s infinite wisdom, creativity, and loving care He provides for every creature’s needs in the most majestic of ways. Including all of our needs, if only we look to see how He is providing, acknowledge Him as our faithful provider, and trust in His ways.
How can we ever think He won’t provide for our every need when we look to how thoughtfully and faithfully He provides for every creature big and small? Aren’t we worth more to God than all other creatures He designed? And if God of all the universe, can hold all things within it in His hands, don’t we think He is capable to hold us and handle all that we need?
Lest we ever forget how majestic our God is, how mighty and powerful He is, and how wonderfully thoughtful He is, let us spend time in His creation and really allow ourselves to be present. We will quickly be reminded, just who our God is and how we fit into His glorious design.
May this be the prayer of our heart:
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
As we spend time enjoying creation and how we are intertwined with it, we also come to know God more profoundly. For His Word speaks to us through His creation.
Encounter the Word Unspoken.
Psalm 19:1-2 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
Psalm 19:3-4 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
This is one of the beautiful mysteries of our God and yet we have all experienced this as we immerse ourselves in His creation; as we marvel at a beautiful sunset, or the bluest of skies, at an ocean so wide we can’t see where it ends; at mighty waves crashing into the shore; at trees massive and towering above us; at the fiercest wind picking large items up like they are nothing; animals prancing and frolicking in the pastures; ants working together, butterflies emerging from cocoons where a caterpillar entered; deer leaping over ponds or bushes with the grace of a ballerina.
All of these experiences and so many more, speak volumes to us about our God and His ways; if only we see; if only we hear what He wants to tell us.
Listen to what this psalm shifts over praising from the wonder of God’s creation to something even greater, and eternal.
Psalm 19:7 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The Law of the Lord is pure, perfect, and wonderful to behold and live out. What do they offer us as we come to understand them? Refreshment. Wisdom. Safety.
Psalm 19:8 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
What do they do for us as we seek to know them? They give us joy and bring light to our eyes-the eyes of our heart so we might see God’s Kingdom as He designed it. We come to know Him, his heart, His nature and understand His ways as we spend time seeking Him and enjoying that was designed for He and us to delight in.
1 Peter 1: 8-9 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Conclusion: Let us frequently seek the presence of our God and Creator, among His creation. Let us worship Him as we behold His glory on display. Let us look for the attributes He reveals about Himself in creation. These encounters renew us with an inexpressible joy.
Let’s pray
Communion:
Today as we take part in this holy sacrament together, let us be mindful of the extravagant ways we are able to commune with our Lord and Savior through the joy of creation. Let us be mindful there is nowhere we can go that He is not present; yet there are many place we can go to magnify His presence.
What a glorious and wonderous Savior we have!
Romans 11 : Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Let us each take a moment and give thanks for the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice that allows each of us to not only commune with Him, but directly with our Father in heaven, through the Holy Spirit. Let us give thanks that by His blood our sins have been washed away and we can stand before our holy God justified and redeemed; we can come boldly to the throne of grace and ask for our help in our time of need. And we can pray and know our Father hears the prayers of the righteous and it is not a righteousness that is from ourselves; it is from our Lord and Savior who imparted His righteousness to us. Let us give thanks that our Savior perfectly fulfilled the Law and we are not held under that penalty or condemnation any longer; but rather, we can now look upon it and see how wonderfully freeing it is. We can have joy in our heart and be refreshed in it. Thank You Jesus!
Luke 22: 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[
Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Offering: testimony from Bob and Karen on joy and privilege of giving
Prayers
Final Song
Final Blessing 2 Peter 3:18 May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
