Clothed in Stripes and Spots

We spent a glorious day at the zoo.
The fall air was warm, not too hot.
We saw lots of animals, not too many people.

The sun sparkled through the trees to create magical moments.

Rick thanked God over our picnic lunch for his creative display.

Emma and I are studying the senses - so far sight and hearing.
God's creativity certainly takes on a whole new twist when considered from the eye and ear perspective!

I realize that there may be many reasons that God has for using His vast imagination to place the stripes and spots and dots and wings and fuzz onto the animal population. But the way I see it, the greatest reason is to point right back at Him and show His very glory. God revealing His glory is one way that He shows us His heart - whats important to Him. I love knowing what is important to God. Each individual design, stripe pattern and thumbprint hint at God's love for artistry and detail. I love that uniqueness and creativity are important to Him. I love that He is right here, active in the present - putting stripes on the newborn zebra. His care of the details on that zebra is only a shadow of His lavish, intimate care for me and you.

Although there is great wonder and awe in the natural world. None is more wonder-invoking than us. Human beings. You and I. We are the only ones created in His very image. We are the pinnacle of God's creation. The ones He declared to be very good. Why is that easy to believe when we look at an infant's tiny fingers or the sweet smile of our children? But not so much when we look in the mirror at ourselves or try to remember what it is that we are good at? God revealing His glory in and through us - that gives us a picture of His heart.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ...See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? -Matthew