Oh To Linger Just A Little Longer

Have you ever been in a place where all you wanted to do was stay there forever? See the picture above? That is a picture I took of one of my most favorite places. I love to linger there. Everything about this place is so beautiful and peaceful. For me, it is a place that is hard to leave. I could see why there were people who built a house near here. I am sure they loved the place so much that they decided to stay.

I love to go on little adventures and see a lot of beautiful places. I can’t help but think of the one who created it. I truly find myself in awe.

Psalms 111:2-4 says, The works of the Lord are many and wondrous! They are examined by all who delight in them. His work is marked with beauty and majesty; His justice has no end. His wonders are reminders that the Lord is gracious and compassionate to all.

Psalms 115:16 says, The heavens above belong to the Lord, and yet earth in all of its beauty has been given to humanity by Him.

These scriptures say it all so eloquently. His wonders are reminders that the Lord is gracious and compassionate to all. Yet earth in all of its beauty has been given to humanity by Him.

When I see the beauty of God’s creation, I am reminded of so many things about who He is. I believe that is why He created such beauty. So that we would be reminded of His greatness. I believe that He wanted to show us that there are so many intricate details to His beautiful creations. Yet, in every detail He is saying that He cares about us and loves us.

How could one not come to love the Creator who went to such lengths in creating a universe for us to live in? It reminds me of the scripture Psalms chapter 8 where it says this, When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation—on the moon, stars, and all You have made, I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals—sons and daughters of men…But You placed the son of man just beneath God and honored him like royalty, crowning him with glory and honor.

I often find myself in awe when it comes to thinking of how God created so much beauty around us to enjoy. But it’s more than that. It is so that we would see how much we matter to Him and be drawn into having a relationship with Him.

Psalms 65 says, You leave us breathless when Your awesome works answer us by putting everything right. God of our liberation—You are the hope of all creation, from the far corners of the earth to distant life-giving oceans. With immense power, You erected mountains. Wrapped in strength, You compelled choppy seas, crashing waves, and crowds of people to sit in astonished silence. Those who inhabit the boundaries of the earth are awed by Your signs, strong and subtle hints of Your indelible presence. Even the dawn and dusk respond to You with joy.

Psalms 65 rings so true to my heart. Every time I go on little adventures and see His beauty I am reminded of His Presence. When that moment happens, it makes me want to linger in that place a little longer. At times, I will find myself talking to God or just thanking Him for His beauty. These are sweet moments I wouldn’t trade for the world. These have become moments that I will treasure in my heart forever.

Psalms 139 says, I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul…Your thoughts and plans are treasures to me, O God! I cherish each and every one of them! How grand in scope! How many in number! If I could count each one of them, they would be more than all the grains of sand on earth. Their number is inconceivable!

Many times we can get caught up in the busyness of life. We can even get caught up in the cares in our lives. We can have a tendency to forget how big God is and how much He truly cares for us, love us and wants to shows us His goodness. But, if we would stop for a moment to notice the beauty that He placed all around us and linger we will find a refreshing that will come to our lives that is irreplaceable.

In Luke 12 it says, If worry can’t change anything, why do you do it so much? Think about those beautiful wild lilies growing over there. They don’t work up a sweat toiling for needs or wants—they don’t worry about clothing. Yet the great King Solomon never had an outfit that was half as glorious as theirs! Look at the grass growing over there. One day it’s thriving in the fields. The next day it’s being used as fuel. If God takes such good care of such transient things, how much more you can depend on God to care for you…Don’t reduce your life to the pursuit of food and drink; don’t let your mind be filled with anxiety. People of the world who don’t know God pursue these things, but you have a Father caring for you, a Father who knows all your needs.

 Before I go I would like to share a little bit of a poem a friend of mine wrote. It goes like this…

Stop and smell Life’s flowers.

Let them be a red light for you.

Let true Love’s fragrance fill your senses

and it’s beauty imbue.

Go forward through pure green meadows.

Follow God’s Riverbed.

Let Joy’s sound of birds and bubbling streams

quiet thoughts in your head.

Listen to falling yellow leaves

as they carpet the ground

speaking Hope’s language of answered prayer

and changes all around.

When the Light’s red, it’s time to rest;

when green, it’s time to go;

when yellow, proceed with caution, for

it’s time to take it slow.

There are different seasons and times

in God’s Garden of Grace.

But the greatest of all is when we’ll

see Jesus face to Face.

by Laurel Marquardt

My prayer for you today is that you will make time to go to a place filled with God’s beauty and you would stop for a moment and linger. Your life will never be the same as you will discover more about who God is and how much He truly loves you!!