Too high to Count
Genesis 1:1-19 God created all from nothing. He created the waters, the light and dark, the sun, moon and stars, the animals that creep, swim and fly. He created the grasses, the trees, the flowers, the fruit-producing bushes and trees. Genesis 20-26 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply n the earth.” so the evening and the morning were the fifth day. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind; cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 7:2,3 “You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and a female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and a female; “also seven each of birds of the air; male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.
Psalm 102:25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands
Have you looked at the night sky lately? We are blessed to be able to see Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars every evening right now. And in the early mornings, Venus is hanging out over the eastern sky. And as of this writing, it is also showing a Blue Moon, the second full moon of October. Maybe you have also been lucky enough to spot a meteor shooting across the night sky as the Orenids meteors have been visible. That is an occurrence that does not happen all that often. A blessing, you might say… well, I do say!
I am so awed by the blessings God has given. It is marvelous to realize the complicated networks that make up the human body, really any animal. How super that the cells all work together in some convoluted manner to sustain the life, nourishment and growth of the creature. Some are simple and microcosmic, while others are complicated mammals. Then there are the multitude of stars, planets, moon and more in the night heavens; while we don’t see those in the day, we are blessed with the fierce and bright warmth of the sun and its bright beauty.
My mind cannot fathom all the blessings I have seen and enjoyed in just my lifetime. I could try to list, but there are so many I would miss. How many times did I enjoy the birds coming to the feeders or playing in the birdbath? How often I have been awed by the hummingbirds which fly great distances, the tiniest of creatures? They fight and guard feeders, squabbling as though they will lose all food, and then evening comes, and suddenly sharing is okay to do. They are the only birds I see coming out in a hurricane, and again, during a hurricane they are not territorial; by some mutual agreement you can see several feeding at the same time. How wonderful is that?!
I’m also thankful for the development of TVs. Now they are so awesome with all the smart technology! Colors are brilliant and there are an abundance of choices of shows. One can choose entertainment, education, complete with living pictures, and take us to various lands; or we can choose adventure, travel, whether real or imagined. If one chooses a travel program, we can be introduced to the various animals and fauna, get an idea of food and culture, beliefs and how one might celebrate holidays for that area. It kind of lets me travel to places on my list that I would love to explore, yet must wait for an opportunity to afford it.
There are worlds open to one if they choose to learn and see that are not always easily attainable for us; budget, family obligations, health, or whatever. But these shows, someone else’s opportunity have blessed me with an experience to peek into this other land. I would not have learned much about any of this without the persons who teach, seek these animals and experiences, and then write the education. How much I would have missed without someone else going to explore and seek, photographing and making the visual real for me and others, then bringing the story, with pictures back for us.
Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg, Germany
The animal kingdom has been opened to me through the work of others who have taught me via television and documentaries. One is able to see the impressive speed of some of the large cats hunting their prey, bringing it back to feed young cubs. It used to break my heart to see the fear and speed of a gazelle running about for its life, and then losing to the large cat; but the death was fast and merciful once the cat reached it. God set up the world for the animal kingdom and life. It allows food for others, and it’s one of the herd killed, not mass murder of gorgeous creatures. Truly there is a ‘circle of life’ as sung by Elton John.
We get to see the ocean floor where all sorts of different sea creatures live; how they adapt to their environments, how they are equipped with protective mannerisms. We get to see tiny creatures all the way up to huge sharks, awesome, sleek and graceful dolphins, and the magnificence of whales.
The beauty, grace and power of dolphins
T
I am awed by the wonderful world God created for us. He wanted to share with us, to gift us, and to have a relationship with us. He created us in His image. God delivered all sorts of beauty to us—more than I can ever list, sunrises, sunsets, dolphins, whales, mountains, fall colors, lakes and streams, waterfalls, sky, and on and on. Gifts. Blessings. He made all for us, because He loves us and wants us to revere and love Him and follow His commandments. With all that He has blessed us with, it is pretty easy for me to be grateful – not always obedient—but I am grateful. I know I am blessed.
He wants us to love and respect Him and be thankful at all times—yes, even when things may not be going smoothly. With all He has blessed us with, that seems more than fair to me. I choose to accept, and I remain thankful for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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