Daily Encourager - April 24, 2020

And the world and it desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. - 1 John 2:17

I was watching the news the other day, and they were doing a report on Earth Day, and the effects that this pandemic, and more so, the time of quarantine was having on the planet.  We had previously heard reports from Italy, how in Venice dolphins were swimming in the canals.  The report went on to talk about how wildlife was moving around in areas that are usually occupied by humans.  Furthermore, that greenhouse gas emissions were being recorded at their lowest level in decades.  The report also showed images of mountains and other natural formations that were actually visible because the air quality is better than it has been in quite some time.  

I don't know if there is a grand correlation, however, what I saw in the those images was God who was making the world new again.

So often our desires, or even the functions of everyday life in modern society don't let us appreciate this world in which we live, and the beauty found herein.  God may be teaching us some lessons in this quarantine that many of us have neglected to learn.  We may be learning how driving less, doing less, and having less is allowing us to live more. The time we have to enjoy that morning cup of coffee, to sit and look out on the beauty of spring.  Yes, there are probably things on our minds that distract us still, items on our to-do list that still need to get done; however, the enjoyment of seeing the world that comes form God's love, which lasts forever... that's something worth enjoying.

I hope you enjoy the view of God's beauty from wherever you are today. 

Grace & Peace, 
Sam