August 2017 Monthly Letter
Dear Reconciler Family,
Recently, while reading my devotional Our Daily Bread, I was struck by the stats on the size of some of heavenly bodies, noted by writer Sheridan Voysey. I immediately began to feel small, yet gratified. I will share some of the Daily Bread stats with you, in hopes that they will be gratifying to you as well.
Sheridan wrote: “The universe is astonishingly grand. The moon is spinning around us at nearly 2,300 miles an hour. Our earth is spinning around the sun at 66,000 miles an hour. Our sun is one of 200 billion other stars and trillions more planets in our galaxy, and that galaxy is just one of 100 billion others hurtling through space.” Astonishing!
In comparison to this vast cosmos, our little Earth is no bigger that a pebble, and our individual lives no greater than a grain of sand. Yet, according to scripture, the God of the galaxies attends to each microscopic one of us with intimate detail. He saw us before we existed (Ps. 139:13-16); He watches over us as we go about our days, and listens for every thought (verses 1-6).
Sometimes, this can be hard to believe. This tiny “pebble” has big problems like war and famine, and we can question God’s care in times of personal suffering. But when David wrote Psalm 139, he was in the midst of a personal crisis. And when Jesus said God counts each hair on our heads (Matt. 10:30), He was living in an age of crucifixion. Biblical talk of God’s caring attention isn’t a naïve wish. It is real-world truth. The One who keeps the galaxies spinning knows us intimately. That can help us get through the worst of times.
I find these stats to be deeply humbling, awe inspiring, and highly humiliating as a broken human being! I’m reminded of the song “How Great Thou Art,” among many others!! Praise God!!
I enjoy peering into the night sky with the naked eye, using my telescope to look as far as I can see. And it’s a great thrill for me when I see a “falling star.” Some nights yield more than others. And when I see a streak across the sky it’s like watching a movie! It’s quite a joy!
One thing (among many) that I’m looking forward to when I get to heaven will be taking a tour of the universe and seeing things I will never see on this earth!! This reminds me of the passage: “But it is written eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Wow! What a future we have through Christ who made it all possible by His great sacrifice! And he still blesses us during our journey in this life.
What a wonderful opportunity we have as Reconcilers in Jesus. Thank you all for your loyal support of the Ministry of Reconciliation in a world that desperately needs it!
In Him,
