Experiencing God

I'm doing the Bible study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby in the mornings right now. 4:45 a.m. comes early, but it's seriously the only time I can get in Bible study and a possible walk before all the little ones arise. Every day it is totally worth it. God meets me and it is beautiful.

I'm learning to listen for His voice. It is steady, and gentle, and reassuring. He is speaking to me a lot through His Word and through random circumstances in my life. He always speaks to me personally through nature and music. It's interesting, Allie and I were recently studying genetics in her Anatomy course, about how children get traits from both their parents. I think God speaks to my Daddy through nature and my Momma through music. Neat how they both speak to me. :) Anyway, that is why walking in the early mornings with my praise music is such an experience. All of creation seems to say, "Praise God!" and display His beauty and majesty. Look at the sunrise I saw today at the top of this hill:

This morning I heard "Wonderful Merciful Savior".
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men? Oh, You rescue the souls of men!


Next I heard "How Deep the Father's Love For Us".
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure!
How deep the pain of searing loss,
The Father turned His face away!
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.


I mean, how can you not praise God after that??? :)

I also had a really neat affirmation of God's sovereign work in my life the other day. I was reading this book to my children:

It is a perfect Bible story book for young ones age 3-6 years old. Beautiful artwork, short stories with lots of questions to keep them interested. I still remember this image from when it was first read to me as a child and think of it every time I read this story in the Bible:

Anyway, after reading a few selections with Maggie, I turned to the front cover and saw this note:

How cool is that?!?! My best friend Liz Ann Wright and her mother Martha gave me that book on my fourth birthday. Fourth! I couldn't even read yet! And God was already providing a book for me to read to my children that He knew I would have. Isn't that the coolest thing? No one knew on my fourth birthday that I would have lots of children and want to read the Bible to them. But God knew. And He was providing for me even then. Such an awesome affirmation that God was working in my life even before I trusted in Him. I was already experiencing God. He is good!