This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Input Godly Wisdom…his Word! (WATCH HERE)
“You had to be there.”
We were given an unbelievable view of the total solar eclipse and it certainly is a memory that will linger for a long time. You try to capture it on a camera. You try to put what you saw into words and you realize it’s hard to capture the event in its total grandeur, mystery, and awesomeness.
Let me try a little bit to share.
We live in Georgetown, Texas where the totality occurred from 1:37pm to 1:40pm – just over three minutes. The big question mark was if we were going to be able to see it because a thick cloud cover was predicted with only 5% break…or 95% coverage. We debated driving a bit west and north where there was to be 20% coverage. But decided to stay put and go over to a park next to Georgetown Lake. The clouds came and go. As totality approached we would catch glimpses of the growing coverage through our glasses and a break in the clouds. As the clock ticked, we wondered if we would get to see totality or just experience darkness with the sun and moon hidden behind the clouds. As the time got closer we noticed a break in the clouds that was getting bigger and bigger. By 1:25 there was clear skies above us which remained until about 2pm…a 30-40 minute window where God opened the heavens and showed us the glory of his creation. Those at the dam (Georgetown Lake is formed by an Army Corp of Engineers dam) cheered when totality was realized. The difference of 99% coverage and 100% coverage was almost night and day. For three minutes we looked around and heard birds chirping, saw the aura of a sunset all around us, looked up without our glasses to see the corona of the sun glowing with the moon covering it completely. As the three minutes came to an end the “diamond ring” appeared and what a brilliance that was. We all (my wife, younger daughter, sister and her two girls) spent the next hour just marveling at what we had just witnessed. Certainly we live in a universe created with the brilliance and precision of our almighty Lord and Savior!
I thought I had seen a total eclipse before…but after the experience yesterday, I don’t think I have…I would have remembered it much more vividly.
Psalm 19 is what I would like to leave you with to meditate on today…especially if you witnessed the total eclipse first hand, but even if you look at pictures of others you did, you can say with King David:
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.
…14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Our younger daughter already said, “I’m going to North Dakota in 2044. This was so cool!”
When you experience the glory of God, the work of his hands, and the magnificence of his creation…you just have to be there.
Apply: What testimony to God have you experienced in his creation? If you experienced the eclipse, what was your meditation and reflection?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the awesomeness of your creation and the opportunity to see it clearly on display yesterday. Every time I see your glory in creation, lead me to marvel at your power, love and grace for me and all people. AMEN.