When I Behold Your Heavens

 

Photo credit: Free-images.com

“How cool is it that the same God who created oceans and mountains and galaxies thought the world needed one of you, too.” – Unknown

Imagine God creating you: He’s holding you in His hands, looking at you with a loving smile on His face as He works. Imagine Him pouring heaping amounts of love, peace, and joy inside of you. Imagine Him holding tiny you up to His cheek, His heart bursting with love for you. 

You are one of God’s wonders! Maybe you’ve felt insignificant standing next to a giant sequoia or at the foot of a mountain. Maybe you’ve marveled at the magnificence of His creation while scuba diving or looking through a telescope. Maybe you appreciate the beauty of nature all around you. Small as you are, God cares for you more than all of those other wonders! How can we understand this? This might help: If you have a pet, certainly you love that pet. But your love for your friends, spouse, kids, and grandkids is different from your love for your pet; it’s immeasurable. In a similar way, God loves you in a more profound way than He loves the rest of creation.

You might be thinking, “Who am I that You care for me? There are billions of people in the world, and our world is one tiny part of the universe. How can You love me?”

Listen to what our Lord may be saying to you:

“Let Me wrap My arms around you. I love you. I made you! I made you like nobody else.

No one can contribute to the world like you can.

No one else has your heart that loves like you do.

No one else has your personality to show Me to the world like you can.

No one else has your precise set of talents to bring My joy and peace to the world like you can.

Yes, I created the universe. All of it – what you see and can’t see, and even those things you can’t imagine.

I also created you, because I love you. 

I created you because the world needs you. 

I need you to throw off the cloak of discouragement and despair and let My love burn in your heart.

Let My love fill you with such joy that you have to share it with the people around you.

The world needs to experience My love, and I need you to show it to them.

Ponder the awesomeness of God. Let Him set your heart on fire with His love, His peace, and His joy.

“When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You set in place – what is mankind that you should be mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” – Psalm 8:3-4

Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

Comments are always welcome! Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. 

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list. 

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P.S.

Pray for peace at home and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the people around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Thank God for Fall

“Where should we go this time?” My husband and I are incredibly grateful for the many, many wonderful hiking trails within a few miles of where we live. Hiking is a great mental and emotional getaway for me. It’s even more comforting than a walk around the neighborhood, which is saying a lot because we also enjoy doing that. 

I find God’s peace on these trails, flooded with the miracles of God’s creation. There’s something magically distracting about following an unpaved path, crossing over streams, using roots and rocks for steps, marveling at the rock formations, and admiring the wide variety of trees, flowers, and other plants we encounter. 

The photo above is one I took at Punderson State Park a couple weeks ago. The leaves had just started turning. The water reflecting the gorgeous blue sky and the leaves displaying their previously hidden oranges and yellows made it easy for me to see God’s love expressed to us through His magnificent creation. 

There are countless other ways besides hiking to let nature remind us of God’s goodness. I encourage you to get out and savor the beauty of His creation! 

Remember being a kid and the happy swooshing sound you made as you pushed your feet through the leaves on the sidewalk? Walk around your yard or down the street and experience that again. Let your heart lighten up as you look for a treasured red heart-shaped leaf. Fill a vase or glass bowl with colorful foliage for a pretty countertop decoration. Frantically throw leaves at each other until you giggle yourselves silly, as one of my daughters and I did. (The expression of wonder on my little granddaughter’s face was priceless.)  

Let the inner beauty of the love in your heart shine through its hardened outer shell, like the reds and yellows of the leaves that emerge triumphant in autumn over the greens. If you don’t have access to a trail, take a walk around your neighborhood or a park. If you can’t walk, take a drive. Or sit outside. And if you can’t do that, then sit by a window and gaze at all the gorgeous colors the Lord has on display for us this fall.

Let the beauty of creation shout to you and reassure you that life is good, because God is good – all the time.

“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” 

– Psalm 27:13

“Lord, let us see and appreciate with fresh eyes Your love expressed to us through the universe You’ve created for us to enjoy.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Accumulate Lasting Treasures

This has been a summer for simple pleasures. For example, in July, all of our kids and grandkids were in town, together, for a couple days. Hearing the adult kids’ voices and laughter was music to my ears. When we explored the Gorge Trail, it was refreshing to see the little ones’ eyes widen when they saw the fast-moving Cuyahoga River. We cheered for them when they managed to climb onto massive rocks. We stooped down with them to study cool-looking mushrooms. Then, after their visit, one of my dear friends invited me to go kayaking with her. We enjoyed a happy afternoon together paddling those kayaks around a beautiful lake. 

I savor these kinds of activities; they let us cherish time with each other and the natural wonders God created out of His immense love for us. 

This appreciation is something money can’t buy. Christ warns against letting the stuff we own give us a false sense of security and get in the way of our relationship with Him. He reminds us to trust Him, and to accumulate riches that have lasting value – that will bring us closer to each other and to Him.

What are some of these lasting treasures? 

Experiences, for one. When you share your time, talents, the things you own, or a meal with the people you love, the happy memories you create and the loving bonds you strengthen are more valuable than any tangible item. 

What else has lasting value? Your friendly phone call or visit to someone who needs a listening ear. Your generosity when you donate something of value to a cause you care about. Your kindness when you hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to a local charity. Your prayer time, whether at home, in church, in your car, or anywhere. Your love when you teach your child to pray. Your patience when you teach them to count or play a game. The treasure you give to school kids when you lead a club, coach a team, or help them learn to read. The love you give by listening to someone whose viewpoint is different from yours. The respect you show in your friendly gestures toward the school janitor, delivery person, or trash collector. The peace you give, and receive, when you forgive someone. The joy you bring when you share your talents; I and the beautiful women in our a cappella group see this first-hand when we sing for others and look out at their smiling faces. 

Let’s treasure time together, and accumulate treasures that last.

“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” – Luke 12:32-34

“Lord, help me seek treasures that will last forever.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo credit: Free-images.com

Whether you’re at home, traveling, or working this Thanksgiving Day, I hope you experience many moments that put a smile in your heart. As you celebrate the holiday, may you feel contentment and gratitude for all of God’s creation and those priceless gifts we call family and friends. If you’re grieving or struggling, if ‘celebrate’ is the last thing you feel like doing, may you sense our Lord speaking His love to irreplaceable you through people who wrap you in their love and appreciation today and in the days ahead. 

This Thanksgiving Day, may you notice many things to be grateful for:

Thankful that you can stay in the comfort of your own home, or thankful for the time and means to travel.

Thankful for work to do, and thankful for the people who will benefit from your work.

Thankful for good health, or thankful for those who care for you while you recuperate.

Thankful for struggles that have brought out an inner strength you didn’t know you had, and thankful for the individuals who helped you get through those trying times.

Thankful for all the people our Lord has blessed you with.

Above all, thankful for God’s unconditional and ever-present love. God is Love; whether you’re aware of it or not, this Love is always with you to guide you, strengthen you, give you hope, and bring you joy.

May you have a spirit of gratitude that is deeper and richer than a mental ‘attitude of gratitude.’

I’m thankful for all of you who read my reflections, pass them on to others, or give me feedback on what I’ve written. God gets all the credit: I thank Him for giving me the ideas and the words to write. If something I’ve written touches your heart, it makes me happy to know that I’ve conveyed the message clearly.

May this special day of giving thanks remind us all of God’s goodness and fill us with joy. Happy Thanksgiving!

“In all circumstances, give thanks…”  – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Thank You, Lord, for the countless blessings You have given to me.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

God Needs Us to Work His Miracles

 

“And He took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples again and again, to serve the crowd.”

 – Luke 9:16

The miracles of God’s marvelous creation are on full display in the western sky this month. According to NASA’s website, Jupiter and Venus are visible now, and Mars will be visible February 27! 

You’re probably familiar with the above story of Jesus feeding the multitudes. Notice, though, that He didn’t immediately take away their hunger. He needed the cooperation of the people around Him in order to perform the miracle: The apostles approached Him with the dilemma; they trusted that He could remedy the situation; the boy generously offered his bread and fish; and the apostles followed Jesus’ instructions to distribute the food.

How did his followers so confidently trust Him? They had spent time with Him, listening to Him. Jesus’ teachings were so different from those that had been passed down through the generations. His teachings weren’t about following rules; they were about loving people – all people! They believed that He wanted only what was good – what was of Love – for them.  

What miracle are you hungry for? Affirmation? Direction? A sense of purpose? Healing? Turn to the One Who created you. He Who made the planets and fed the multitudes can work miracles in your life, too, if you have faith and trust in Him. 

Remember, God doesn’t simply remove our difficulties; He needs our participation. Talk to Him about your situation – that’s prayer. Believe that He wants only what’s good for you. Offer Him what you have: your skills, your resources, your time, your creativity. Let His grace act in you to soften your heart and open your mind. Pay attention to the thoughts God puts in your mind: If they’re rooted in love and if they give you even a mild sense of peace, you know those thoughts are from Him. If they fill you with anger or restlessness, those are not from God but from the evil forces of the world trying to distract you. 

God lives in us and uses us and our circumstances to work miracles and feed our souls. He lets us experience His love in the words and actions we share with each other. He expands our hearts in awe of His creation. He teaches us the magnitude of His love through His words in Scripture. He needs us to cooperate with Him in creating our children! He helps us understand the simplicity of His loving message when we hold a sleeping baby or laugh with a giggling toddler. 

He needs each one of us to share His love and peace with the world.  As Mother Teresa said, ‘We are His hands and His feet.’ 

God needs you. What a miracle that is!

“Lord, I believe You need me. Help me trust in You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” –Psalm 150:6

There’s magic in the air this time of year, and I’m not talking about preparing for Christmas. It’s the transformation that happens in nature: of green trees revealing their hidden reds, oranges, and yellows and, as autumn gives way to winter, of sparkling snow and bare tree branches glistening against the crystal blue sky. My husband and I are fortunate to live within a few minutes’ drive of both Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Summit Metro Parks; we hike one of their many trails nearly every weekend. I smile as our boots crunch the fallen leaves or I spot a woodpecker gliding from one tree to the next. As I take in the hills, streams, and rock formations of these gorgeous trails, I’m continuously awed by the immense beauty of this world that God created for us. It’s easy to understand the psalmist’s proclamation that everything in creation gives praise to God.  

During this magical time of Thanksgiving, let our Lord speak to you through the sunny autumn skies, the tree branches reaching to the heavens, and the blanket of snow insulating all that will grow from the ground next spring. See the rivers, lakes, birds and rocks as the gifts they are: wonders created by God out of His love for you. Let Him speak to you as you celebrate the blessings of a home, a meal, and those priceless gifts we call family and friends. If you’re grieving or struggling, if ‘celebrate’ is the last thing you feel like doing, let our Lord speak His love to irreplaceable YOU through the people around you who wrap you in their love and appreciation.

May you hold in the depths of your soul a Spirit of Gratitude that is deeper, richer, and more joyful than a mental ‘attitude of gratitude.’

May your heart be filled this Thanksgiving with happiness and peace.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” –Psalm 136:1

 "Lord, thank You for all Your blessings."

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! Feel free to share it with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Thanks!

If you would like to receive these reflections directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

 p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

 

God's Most Magnificent Creation

 

 

(Glacier National Park/Photo credit: Pete Garvin)

 

  “O Lord, our God,

How wonderful is your name

In all the earth!

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    or human beings that you care for them?

You have made them little less than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.

You have given them rule over the works of your hands,

    putting all things under their feet.

O Lord, our God,
    how wonderful is your name through all the earth!”

--Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 10

 

Have you ever gazed at Lake Superior, or gasped from a mountaintop, or marveled at photos taken from space? The vastness and magnificence of the universe are impossible for us to comprehend, yet we are God’s most precious creation.  Read Psalm 8 again: He made us ‘little less than the angels.’ Our Mighty God, the Omnipotent Creator of the universe, created you and made you holy!

The wonder and awe of His loving creation is hitting home for us as we’re basking in the recent birth of our fourth grandchild. This tiny baby girl is a miracle – all of us are miracles! In His supreme goodness, God created and cherishes all of us: both male and female, both rich and poor, all races, all colors and shapes and sizes, all degrees of intelligence, all levels of physical ability, and regardless of whether we’re born in a hospital or house or hut or manger.

God is the creator of the universe; let yourself believe that He cares for you above all His other wondrous creations. 

God’s love for you is immeasurable; let yourself receive His love. 

God gives you life; let yourself want to live with and for Him. 

God gives you His grace, and He gives you people who love you; let yourself be overcome with gratitude.

Let’s consider all the works of God’s hand, and marvel at what and who He has created. Let’s contemplate His infinite goodness, and see ourselves and each other as He sees us: precious, lovable, and valuable beyond anything imaginable. Let’s join the psalmist in praising God and letting our hearts and minds burst with joy and thanksgiving over His immense love for us:

” Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

--Psalm 100:1-3

 

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! Feel free to share it with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Thanks!

 p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...