FOR WHO HE IS!

I have just returned to my desk from a trip with our seniors up to the mountains in Hendersonville, NC. It has been an annual Fall event in the life of our church for a number of years, and one which I especially look forward to. We take the scenic trip up highway 25 from Travelers Rest into North Carolina, and then merge onto highway 26 towards Asheville. From our route, we then take Highway 64 toward Chimney Rock, which allows us to pick from several well stocked apple orchard barns. The places we carefully choose to stop at are the ones with the best apple varieties, the biggest pumpkins and gourds, the most sweet potatoes and other vegetables, and oh yes, provides the freshest mountain cabbage. I must confess that I did not know there was a difference between cabbages, but I have been quickly informed that these mountain cabbages are surely the greatest cabbages in the world. While I don’t know if that is true or not, I do know that it is highly possible because this day has been one of the best in the world!
Along the route we are in awe of the majestic mountain skyline that is getting ever closer, until we seem to begin blending in with it, as we proceed up the ever steeping grade. The contrast between the large rock formations and trees only add to the wonder of our spectacular view. From the steepest peaks now we begin to see clearings with autumn foliage vistas, for what seems like miles, and it is absolutely breathing taking. There really are no words to describe it! Deep vibrant reds, brilliant yellows and oranges in the midst of some green background and blue sky, can you see it? When we arrived at some of the stops upon getting off of the bus the air was pure up there and it made you just want to take a deep breath. The smells of fresh apples being cut open, jams and jellies, salsa’s and chow-chow, apple ciders, apple breads, and fresh apple fritters being baked filled the air with a heavenly smell that could only have come from God and grandmothers. Are you the least bit jealous yet, that you didn’t get to go? Sorry, perhaps at some point you too will be able to take such a trip to the mountains and experience our great God’s awesome artwork on display that delights all the senses. As I reflect on our trip today, I just want to PRAISE God and THANK Him for who He is. Period!
After all, it is November you know, the thanksgiving month. I wonder how often we simply say thank you to Him, just for who He is, and not just for what He has done for us. Do you think He might like to hear us come to Him sometime, not asking for a thing, but just having a prayer or a meditation of God YOU ARE AWESOME? I LOVE YOU, just for WHO YOU ARE! Being a father I understand that it sure makes a difference to me, when one of my girls just out of the blue says I love you dad, or thank you for being my dad, when I haven’t done anything specifically to merit such comments. I can tell you that it melts DAD’s heart! Therefore, I am inclined to believe that when we just out of the blue tell our heavenly Father, we love you, and thank you for being our DAD, that it just might melt His too.
Get up to the mountains, if you have an opportunity to over the next few weeks, or from wherever you are sing a few lines of “HOW GREAT is our GOD”, or “HOW GREAT THOU ART” and thank Him just for WHO HE IS!