Look Around and Cheer, "Go God!"

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19: 38-40

Three rows ahead and to the left. That’s where he sat with his grandson. During worship, he stood holding onto his grandson with one arm, while the other arm rose with a hand lifted up, surrendering to the Father. When he sang, his lips moved ever so slightly, but I could tell every word meant something.

God’s beauty comes in all forms. This past week, I’ve been overwhelmed by it.

My stepdaughter Sarah put up a picture on Facebook of my granddaughter Lucy Ophelia on Easter. She’s hundreds of miles away, and in that moment I felt her on my lap with her smooth nine-month-old skin and sweet smile that communicates the innocence of childhood right along with the gorgeous love of God.

I went to the Botanic Gardens with some of my Bible Study friends. I couldn’t believe the different colors and types of tulips! From flowers that looked like Dr. Seuss drew them, to a purple cactus with yellow buds, the garden displays the creativity, the wonder of God.

At a movie theatre on Friday night, I sat with a group of friends and family and watched Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. Several times I heard my brother Phil’s full throated raucous laugh that is born of a belly full of Jesus. Beautiful.

John and Noah and I attended a concert in which the Denver Concert band played an eclectic range of songs, including Blue and Green Music by Samuel R. Hazo. That song whisked me away and I imagined myself in heaven, dancing and flying with Christ, my own personal soundtrack in the background.

And finally, the man in church. His white, thin hair reminded me of an old eagle’s feathers. A tuft of it stuck straight up at the top of his forehead. Wire glasses sat low on his nose and the wrinkles on his face told so many stories. Stories I’ll never know. But after watching this beautiful old man worship in church, I know every story was worth it. Each a puzzle piece in a portrait of God’s beauty.

We get busy and forget to look around at the beauty that God has for us. Yesterday I ate two of the best fish tacos I’ve ever eaten at the California Pizza Kitchen here in Denver. Go God! As I write this I’m listening to Forever a secular pop song by Chris Brown. It may not have been written to glorify the Father, but the joy in the music is originated in our God and in His beauty!

Look around! Taste His goodness and hear His joy. Watch for the splendor of the Father in the faces around you. We may not glorify God in all our choices, but His creations cannot help glorifying Him. Praise His Name for His beauty!