God, Google Earth and The Three O’s

Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earthby your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. ~Jeremiah 32:17

To my friends near and far and around the globe, I am sharing a post I wrote in my earlier blogging days. A time when I wrote and shared prolifically. In those early blogging days, I wrote about my dear daughter, Katherine Grace, occasionally. These are moments captured and I long to look back through the lens of time and see what encouragement I might find in the remembering. As I am (and we are) still trying to fathom our great loss in the death of our precious daughter- our one and only child, I wanted to revisit these earlier writings and share them here. I originally wanted to compile a list of these writings with links, but thought it might be better to re-post them as some of them needed mild revisions having been transferred over from my former blog, Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith, and were glitchy.

I hope these bless the reader. I am often blessed and surprised as I re-read some of my writing. I write to remember because, well, honestly I think I am just forgetful. Maybe that’s why God allows me writing. It keeps me connected to Him…and mindful of what matters when I forget.

Originally posted October 4, 2011

While driving back from an impromptu trip to the local library, my daughter said, with youthful revelation, “Mom, Google Earth is really amazing because even when my Ipod does not have WiFi it can still track me and locate where I am!”. I listened intently, appreciating this moment of sincere sharing in contrast to our earlier “communication” over TV watching, homework expectations and trash on said childs’ bedroom floor. Hmmmm. It was one of those moments. Wait for it.

SO, I asked her why this was so fascinating to her, wanting to pinpoint the specific point of interest that seemed to cause her such joy (perhaps I could bottle it for use at convenient times). She returned my question with this answer (here it comes): “Well, just that it (Google Earth) can find me anywhere I am  and”,  she continued, “show me pictures of exactly where I am.” Light bulb moment.

It was one of those moments where it felt like Jesus was sitting in the backseat, leaning forward into the front between us and smiling as He listened to our conversation and watched our faces.

WOW. My God is like that. He is magnificent and mighty, yet He is with me. He is Alpha and Omega, yet He never abandons me. He is Lord, yet He is my friend. He is wonderful, yet He is meek.

How I am in awe of this King, Messiah, Savior, Teacher, Lover, Friend.

You see,
He is Omnipotent: One having unlimited power and authority; almighty.
He is Omnipresent: Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful.
He is Omniscient: Having total knowledge; knowing everything.

You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139: 5-12

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes
of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
Psalm 147:5

Nothing is too big for Him. My God is the Creator of the Earth and everything in it.
Yeah, my God is like that. To Infinity and Beyond. Oh, how I long for the day when my sweet girl will see the God who is both magnificent and mighty and not ashamed to call us His own! This God, who is so much greater than Google Earth and all else that so wonderfully comes from the hands of man, yet is still filtered and sifted through the hands of the Great I Am. That’s Him. That’s my God.

Sing with me, How Great is Our God, How Great is Our God….

*****

February 5, 2021 Reflection: I have often thought back to this ride with my daughter. How I told her how much more awesome our God is than Google Earth, or any other thing in this world as we know it. My sweet girl fought many battles and had many challenges. How we need to remember today, how great and good this God is. And how He is not ashamed to call us His own. How I need to remember Him as I go through my days, and the days go on. That’s what we all need to do. All we’ve ever needed to do. Because if we do, surely He IS with us. AND He will finish whatever He starts and bring it into fruition. If we can just do this…He is able to do the rest. Whatever it is. He is faithful, and can be nothing else but true to Himself. This I know and believe, Amen.