God's Magnificence

Monday evening we got a thunderstorm with very hard rain, just as it was time to go my doctor appointment (with the kids). But totally worth it...when we got home, this was the view from our front porch. The girls had never seen a real-life rainbow before and they were just giddy and full of questions. Avery was right beside me snapping pictures, too.

Every time I read the Noah's Ark story to the kids, I just get stuck on the part where Noah and his family were on one boat with ALL of the animals, x2. How could they even stand it after the first 24 hours?? The logistics of it is just mind-boggling. I guess jumping ship was not a better option, but I have a feeling Noah's wife at least considered it a time or two.

One of the reasons our witness to God's reality is minimal is that our understanding of God's reality is minimal. In the name of quick and relevant impact we minimize the very greatness that would be his renown. Without this, we will not boldly and graciously reassert his rightful place in all of life.

What we need is a big picture of a great God who is utterly committed to joyfully demonstrating his greatness in doing us good. That is, we need to see the majesty of God and know the splendor of God overflowing toward us with exuberant omnipotence. It is not enough to believe that God is big and strong and fearsome--which he is. We must experience this magnificence as the explosion of God's uncontainable zeal to satisfy his creatures by showing them himself.

-John Piper