Iowa, Beautiful Land

Jul 17

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 As children in elementary school, we were taught that the word “Iowa” meant “beautiful land,” and Iowa is a beautiful place in early summer. Rosy, morning skies and gilded sunsets punctuate the days. Fat, cumulus clouds tumble across acres of corn and soybeans. Golden oat fields sway in afternoon breezes. Wild roses, half hidden in the grasses, unfurl pink petals to uncover a yellow heart. Meadowlarks’ liquid calls pour over the fields. All this beauty speaks to me of a Creator, the Holy God.

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Just as the weather vane on the top of our big shed points to the direction from which the wind is blowing, creation points to its Maker.

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I speak to you continually. My nature is to communicate, though not always in words. I fling glorious sunsets across the sky, day after day after day. I speak in the faces and voices of loved ones. I caress you with a gentle breeze that refreshes and delights you.

I speak softly in the depths of your spirit, where I have taken up residence. You can find Me in each moment, when you have eyes to see and ears that hear. Ask My Spirit to sharpen your spiritual eyesight and hearing. I rejoice each time you discover My Presence. Practice looking and listening for Me and more of your moments. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me above all else.

–Jesus Calling: Enjoy Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

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Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.

Psalm 8:1-4   NIV

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The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.   Psalm 19:1-2   NIV

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Look about you: the beauty of the rose or the glorious sunset–these and others are meant to                             proclaim His Presence in the world. –Sarah Young

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And [the seraphim] were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”   Isaiah 6:3   NIV

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My prayer for us all:

that God may sharpen our “spiritual eyesight” so that we may discover His presence in a world full of His glory.

Posted on July 17, 2015, in Devotional and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 28 Comments.

  1. christianekraft | July 17, 2015 at 3:09 am

    Thank’s for sharing all this beauty : i feel the same, his presence and the joy he gives us

    Reply
  2. lynn__ | July 17, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    You definitely captured the beauty of this land in your words and photos! I love “meadowlarks’ liquid calls pour over the fields.” I entered a poem about our beautiful land in “Lyrical Iowa” earlier this year 🙂

    Reply
  3. Brenda | July 18, 2015 at 7:57 am

    How beautiful. Love this, Constance.
    One of my favorite things is taking pictures of nature.
    Love how you term it “spiritual eyesight.”
    Thanks for sharing this morning. ~ blessings ~

    Reply
  4. Dawn Boyer | July 18, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Beautiful pictures! Living in the midwest, I appreciate the beauty that your pictures portray. Sharing God’s Word with evidence of His artful grace is an added bonus to appreciate the glory of His handiwork in Creation!
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Reply
  5. betsydecruz | July 18, 2015 at 10:04 am

    Hi Constance, I’m your neighbor at The Weekend Brew. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos and the Jesus Calling quote, other scriptures. It’s a breath of fresh air into my soul!

    Reply
  6. Joanne Norton | July 18, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    So much similar in Nebraska, also. The farm areas with the clouds and stars and the sun and any number of things that are often right in our eyes as we’re driving around. I’ve seen so much here in NE, in IA, SD, ND, MN, KS, OK… and so many nearby states. When driving out to the NW, before hitting the Rocky Mountains area, or in a portion of the MN area at least once a year, sometimes two or three times, seeing these things is so truthful. Anyhow, again, thanks for sharing. Certainly grabbed my attention. Love it!

    Reply
  7. Barbie | July 19, 2015 at 12:40 am

    What beauty you have given us to reflect on. Thank you for sharing at The Weekend Brew!

    Reply
  8. inspiredbyjune | July 20, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    Beautiful images and Sabbath reflections, Constance! My best from is from Iowa, I’ll have to share your post with her 🙂

    Reply
  9. jodyo70 | July 20, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Constance, we are ‘neighbors’ at Small Wonder this week. Your photos and Scripture were perfect matches. Iowa is beautiful!

    Reply
  10. kchripczuk | July 21, 2015 at 11:32 am

    Thanks for sharing your part of the country with us! I’ve never been to Iowa, but love finding the presence of God in all creation.

    Reply
    • Constance Ann Morrison | July 21, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Thanks, Kelly! I used to be so jealous of the grand landscapes of mountain and ocean views, but I’ve learned to be content where I am. I hope others can rejoice in the beautiful right where they live, too.

      Reply
  11. walter bright | July 24, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    psa.19.1-2.msg God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
    Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear…
    Awesome Post!

    Reply
  12. thesilverofhisfining | August 1, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Gorgeous! I’m not a big fan of wide open spaces, but you have captured them beautifully, Constance 🙂 ~Joyce, lover of mountains

    Reply

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