Absolutely BREATHTAKING

Breathtaking: beautiful, awesome, amazing, astonishing, heart-stirring, magnificent, thrilling, awe inspiring

When it came to traveling, my husband and I lived with no regrets. In our younger years, when our budget could only afford weekend trips to nearby places and lakes, we thoroughly enjoyed time away with our children and we embraced God’s creation in the sweetest ways.

On our 25th wedding anniversary, we took on a new fervor for traveling to foreign and distant lands. One of our “must do’s” at every place we went was to visit cathedrals (in these photos are The Berlin Cathedral in Germany, Notre Dame in Paris and Cathedral of Milan, Italy). I continue to make that a priority today. BREATHTAKING are those cathedrals as they soar toward the heavens. My breath was always taken away at the architecture, and symbolism found in those buildings that presented us with an overwhelming experience of wonder and magnificence. We were captured by the those early master craftsmen and artists who, by hand, created such majestic monuments to God.

Those structures were built to reflect God’s all-surpassing splendor, but I wonder how we could possibly recapture in our hearts that BREATHTAKING feeling of God’s grandeur and be reminded again of His majesty. My blog, yesterday, was about being heavenly minded. We can’t be heavenly minded without acknowledging the ONE Who made the heavens and the earth.

Just think about the greatness of what God has created. All we have to do is to take one look at a starry night sky and think of God’s power as He spoke the universe into existence. I remember the snow-covered mountains of Alaska and the majestic Pacific Ocean that was teeming with millions of God's creatures and I imagine the power that holds this earth and all its wonders together. I remember the BREATHTAKING moment when I held my newborn babies and grandbabies in my arms and I thanked God for the miracle of life itself.

Man isn’t wrong to reach for the sky with those BREATHTAKING structures that are intended to point us to God. But our truest BREATHTAKING moments should be reserved for God Himself as we say to Him, “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

Lord, You do take our breath away with Your greatness. Thank You for reminding us of Your grandeur in Your world and in Your Word.

The 2016 Rio Summer Olympics Are Upon Us

I’ve always loved watching the Olympics, so I’m excited about the Opening Ceremonies this Friday night, followed by the games and events for the next two weeks. Whether we're from the USA, Canada, or another country, we have one thing in common -- it's cheering for our “home team”! Regardless of nationality or country, seeing the sheer will and determination of those athletes who have staked their life upon winning at their sport, is so inspiring.

I really enjoy watching the games, but even more so, hearing the stories of those athletes who were relentless in their training, making personal sacrifices and overcoming so many adverse circumstances just to get to the games.

Nothing displays the drama of Olympic achievement like gymnastics. Okay, I’ll admit – that’s my favorite to watch. Seeing those young men and women who have devoted their lives to such a grueling sport, and considering how they are judged for perfection. Whew! I can’t even imagine being on display like that. 7.5; 8.8; 9.8 – in a matter of minutes, their hours upon hours of uncompared devotion to their sport, comes down to a fraction of a point to win.

In the last Summer Olympics of 2012, we were introduced to, and fell in love with, 16-year old, Gabby Douglas – a spitfire, outspoken Christian witness of her faith, who went on to become the Best All Around Gymnastics Gold medalist. I'm excited that she's back this year, as a 20-year old -- competing again. Though she had put in the hard work and diligence, when she won in 2012, she didn’t assume that it was just her skill that caused her to win. When a reporter asked “How do you feel?”, Gabby said, "Being an Olympic Champion is definitely an amazing feeling, and I give all the glory to God. It's a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him -- the blessings fall down on me!"

I love that. Isn’t that the way we should feel and then express it to others. As a Mom or Dad, if someone asks you “How do you feel?” Or, as a student or careered achiever….”How do you feel?” Shouldn’t our response be like Gabby’s “Being a Mom/Dad/student/businessman/teacher/lawyer, etc., is an amazing feeling…..AND I give God all the glory. It’s a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him – the blessings fall down on me!”

Whether we are pursuing gold medals or not, shouldn’t we be giving everything we’ve got in attitude, drive, determination and relentless pursuit to be the best God made us to be? Then I know for sure…..one day, we we will be hearing “WELL DONE, good and faithful servant, enter into my rest”……where there is a GOLD crown waiting for us at the FINISH LINE!