20161027 Natural beauty

Psalm 24:1 (NIRV) The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.  The world belongs to him.  And so do all those who live in it.

Every weekday morning since early October, I have had the privilege of starting my day seated in my office at Donvale Christian College, looking out over the middle oval, with a view interrupted only by the large, gnarled boughs of the gum trees just outside my windows.  As the students start to gather for their day’s activities, this is a moment each morning when I take some time out to contemplate God’s word, and its message to me for the day.

I’m not sure how you come to God’s word in daily study and devotion; for me, it is a number of ways. I commit to a plan for systematically working through the Bible’s books – that’s the long term plan. I also read some study notes – at the moment, the ones I am reading are from a local Australian Bible notes provider. And, I try to read a passage from one of the many devotional books I have been given over the years.

Psalm 24:1 was the verse from a devotion I read a couple of weeks ago. And what a wonderful reminder it is – our natural bushland setting constantly reminds me of the magnificence and beauty of God’s creation. As a trained biologist, I can sit for hours and marvel in wonder at the intricacies of God’s amazing design – at the macro and micro level, God’s design gives me great reason to praise Him for what he has, and continues, to do.

As a school, it is a wonderful blessing of this community that the contents of this verse speak to our common ground – our faith shared. It reminds us that God knows all, and is in all. It encourages us to know His purposes better. The verse also inspires us in our worship of God in its many forms – and it provides the context for the way we meet each other in our daily “to’s and fro’s”.

We as a community at Donvale Christian College have inherited a wonderful legacy 41 years in the making. Past and present staff, students, parents and Board have all contributed to the rich tapestry that makes up our history as a community seeking to honour and glorify God.

We have a strong future to look forward to, and the certainty that the God of the universe, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, holds our community in His hands as we venture forth in faith in His name. I am looking forward to exploring with you what this journey can and will look like.