England Journal: Day 6

For Narnia:

The students were giddy with the brisk air of the North York Moors. The thick grass bounced back under our feet as a few students skipped toward the precipice of the hill. “The Lord Stones” was nothing short of Narnia, the reality of God’s creative beauty fresh in the eyes of Amerians. Views never seen, the wonder was palpable. Our guide told us a bit about the area and gave the students a time frame to explore. And just like that, no one was ‘too cool’, every American on the trip was Lucy, Peter, Susan, or Edmund. We ran for the tree line yelling “For Narnia!” Once inside the forest, the branches covering the path became magical, red and white mushrooms rested under the pines, and a few students found a hidden pond, where a loan duck relaxed in the water. One student laid down in the tall grass, another explored a different path. Wonder took over.

What kills wonder? The familiar, I would assume. While our students and I soaked in every new experience on our trip to England, we began to “follow” a pair of British friends who have chronicaled their exploration of the United States on Social Media. (@joshandjase) In every video I noticed a familiar trait; wonder. The Grand Canyon, the variety of American cultures and foods, from the East Coast lobsters to experiencing Florida alligators, the Brits were as excited to see our everyday regulars as we were to see theirs. It is so easy to forget the amazingness that surrounds us on a daily basis. We lose our wonder and awe and go searching for a new place to see, and take in the creativity of our Creator.   

Where can we find wonder in the scriptures? What does the Bible say about the pleasures that we experience in this life? How do we hold on to it, savor it? Scriptures reveal the wonder in God’s creation, the works of salvation and healing. It is so important to not allow our own wonder in our savior and creator to fade into the ordinary, or familiar. What blessings from God in your life have become another familiar and mundane? Let’s commit to stopping right were we are and pondering on the amazing works God has done, and is continuing to do in our lives. Look back and thank him for his protection, his creativity, his beauty! Look around at your present situation, where is he working, what new fresh movement is he doing in your life? Look forward to his promises of a new heaven and new earth where all will be made right. Reposition yourself in right relation to the God of the universe, and feel the wonder take over.

 Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?    Who is like you, majestic in holiness,    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Psalm 33:1–9 (ESV)

¹Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.

²Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!

³Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

⁵He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

⁶By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

⁷He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.

⁸Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

⁹For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalm 86:8–12 (ESV)

⁸There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

⁹All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

¹⁰For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

¹¹Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

¹²I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Luke 2:15–20 (ESV)

¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 5:24–26 (ESV)

²⁴But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

²⁵And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

²⁶And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

TGP Questions:

Here is an exercise to try: Read Job 38. Stop and pray, ask God to show you all the beautiful and wonderful things around you. List them out, your family, your home, the nature around you, the relationships with which you have been blessed. I believe once you start it will be hard to stop.

James 1:17 says, “¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

How will you live with wonder toward Jesus today?

What did you learn about God through today's passages?

Note:

If you would like to know more about the ministry that leads our trips check out the Ministry Friends tab and click on the GEM icon.

If you would like to financially support my upcoming mission trip to Middlebrough, England, check out this link https://immanuelbaptist.managedmissions.com/Donations/Donate/83878

A Little video to share the wonder!

Exploring 'Narnia'