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Psalm 19:2-4


"Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world."

Nature. That is what this verse is talking about. Being out in nature.

I recently read an article in The Guardian,that said, “…Ask anyone over 40 to recount their most treasured memories of childhood play, and few will be indoors. Fewer still will involve an adult. Independent play, outdoors and far from grown-up eyes, is what we remember. As things stand, today's children will be unlikely to treasure memories like that: 21% of today's kids regularly play outside, compared with 71% of their parents.” Studies have shown that children who spend time outside have:
  • increased academic achievement (mind)
  • enhanced problem solving skills (mind)
  • decrease attention deficit difficulties (mind)
  • decrease in childhood obesity (body)
  • improves vision and vitamin D intake (body)
  • protects the psychological well being of children (spirit)
  • less stress (spirit)
  • increases positive mental/emotional health (spirit)
  • decrease of depression (spirit)
  • enhances social/relationship interactions (spirit)

 As I read that,  I thought back to my own childhood and my mind was flooded with memories of being down at the creek behind our house catching minnows, playing baseball with friends down the street, riding my bike with my brother around the block, and running all alone through the woods near our house. I even remember my mom telling me about one of her favorite memories…She said she had great memories of when she would climb trees and sing out from the tree top, “The hiiiils are aliiiiive with the sound of muuuuuusic.. Aaaaaaaaaa.” Most of us tend to feel something invigorating when we are out in nature… I think these verses explains why we feel that way.

The verbs in these verses keep popping off the page at me: “pour” and “reveal”. The definition of “pour” is to flow rapidly in a steady stream. (dictionary.com).  I began to think about rain or a waterfall. Those are both natural examples of water pouring out. It would be extremely difficult to stop a natural waterfall from running and it is completely impossible to stop the pouring of rain. As I meditated on this scripture, I began to think about God’s speech pouring out from creation. It is impossible for anyone to stop God’s voice from shouting out of creation. His handiwork naturally shouts His name. His creation is pouring out speech to us. And much like the downpour of rain, it is impossible to stop His voice from saying through His earth, “Here I am! Here I am! Look at me. I am POURING myself out to you.”

The online Webster dictionary defines the word reveal as 1. to make known through divine inspiration or 2. to make something that is secret or hidden, publicly or generally known.

The night sky, through divine inspiration, makes publicly known to us the “mystery of God”. The night sky reveals knowledge. Night after night, God provides anticipation and excitement of what is to come by what He has placed in the heavens for us to see. The stars, their order, their vast numbers, their changing positions, and their abilities, all reveal the knowledge of our God.

Creation is a universal language. There is no one in the world, no place in the world and no language spoken in any tribe or land that can misunderstand the language of creation. God created a world that allows all people of every nation and tribe to understand that there is a creator and he is called God Almighty. His name is clearly written all over the earth. We can choose to stay out of church, we can stop listening to our pastors, we can quit listening to Christian music and choose to stop hanging out with our godly friends, but still we cannot escape God’s sweet voice.  The voice of creation sings sweetly to the ends of the earth. His voice reaches every mountain, every valley, every piece of sand, every desert, to the bottom of the sea, to every piece of land or water ever created, God’s beautiful voice is heard. We are never able to get away from the general revelation of our God. Hallelujah!

No wonder we feel rejuvenated and refreshed when we are outside!!! We are experiencing the pouring out of God’s speech and the revealing of His knowledge. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported recently that on average, 8 year olds to 18 year olds in America spend more than 53 hours a week “using entertainment media”. This should not be so! Our children are losing the opportunity to hear Gods creation pour out speech to them and they are losing the ability to sense the knowledge of Him night after night. We must allow our children time outside to experience what God’s hands have made, for this is good for their whole being; mind, body and spirit! 

Lord, let us all spend more time in Your handiwork with our spouses, with our grandparents and with our children, so that you can pour your speech over us and reveal your knowledge to us. Amen! 

www.sparkpeople.com

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/16/childre-nature-outside-play-health
http://www.nwf.org/be-out-there/why-be-out-there/health-benefits.aspx



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