January 11, 2013 (Friday)
“Oh, the wonder of it all! — George Beverly Shea
Danny Dunham, our Association Director of Missions, has returned to work after having open heart surgery. We wish him well and will continue to pray for him and his family. On his first day back in the office, he sent an email that listed 13 things to expect in 2013. Number 9 on the list reads, “We will be struck this year with the vast wonder of the created world,” and then enlarges upon the statement:
“Some time after July, the first Chinese space ship will land on the moon and deploy a moon based telescope.
“Some time in October, the European Space Agency will launch a new satellite called GAIA which will be equipped with a powerful pair of telescopes that will chart a three dimensional map of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
“At the same time, a submersible robot named HADES will go down an incredible 6 miles into the deepest part of the ocean to survey the strange sea life that exists there.
“In each case, we will be seeing sights we have never seen before and it will evoke wonder.”
I have been overwhelmed by the discoveries of recent years and the photographs of outer space sent back to earth from our spacecraft and telescopes. As the Scripures have been declaring for a long time, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows forth His handiwork.”
In addition to the heavenly wonders, there is the spiritual wonder of God who loves us and touches our lives in wondrous ways. Christian songs often remind us of this. For instance, the song (words and music by George Beverly Shea), “The Wonder of It All:”
1. There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.
2. There’s the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that’s only begun.
Chorus: O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.