The Atmosphere: Our Unseen Protector

I love science; it’s one of my favorite subjects. One reason is because I love exploring God’s creation. I am amazed how he’s made our world. Everything fits together like a well machine. I love looking at His creation, or His artwork.

Recently, I’ve learned a lot about our atmosphere. Before you say, how boring, remember that it is too apart of creation and very vital to our survival. I also think by the time we’re done, you’ll be amazed about the different roles our atmosphere plays.

First, the atmosphere and the air we breathe has the right mixture of gasses to support life. We need oxygen: “A person will die if deprived of oxygen for only five minutes” (Steele & Parker 23). Clearly, we need oxygen to live, but, too much oxygen is harmful to humans and can cause “lung damage, chest pains, and even blindness” (Wile). If we have too much oxygen, it is harmful, but if we don’t have enough, we’ll suffocate. We need to have a perfect mix of oxygen, which thankfully we do. According to Bakich, earth’s atmosphere is made up of 20.9% oxygen (7). This level of oxygen is “ideal for human life” (Wile). So now we have the right amount of oxygen we need, but makes up the rest of our

atmosphere? What is diluting, or thinning the oxygen? According to Bakich, 78% is nitrogen, and 1% is other gasses, like carbon dioxide and water vapors (7). The nitrogen helps reduce the amount of oxygen so it isn’t too potent for life. Nitrogen is the perfect gas to dilute since “it does not react with our bodies in any way. We breathe in nitrogen with every breath, but then we breathe it right out again because it does not interact with our bodies. Almost all other gasses- carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. - are poisonous to human life” (Wile). While most gasses are harmful to life, our atmosphere is made up of elements that don’t hurt us.

Isn’t that amazing how God’s done made this? I love it! This is just one of the amazing traits that our atmosphere has.

A+ student?

“I just to know what God wants from me.”

Have you or a friend every said that? I have. It's good to want to do God's will, but sometimes we do it with the wrong motivation. We often feel like we need to please God, and that He is disappointed in us if we don’t measure up. We need to do such-and-such, or God will be angry with us.

Sometime, we act like He’s a big school teacher.

If we show up for class, do well on the quizzes, and turn in all the assignments, then God will be happy with us. We’ll get an A. However, if we slack off and don’t do good work, God will be angry with us and give us a F. We aren’t as good enough. The A students make God happy, but God is disappointed in the F students.

Is this statement true? Does God really grade us? Of course not. His love for us never changes. His commitment to love us in not limited on our actions. If we are good, He loves us. If we are bad, he loves us just as much. John 3:16, “For God so loves the world.” Not just the good people. Not just the Christian. Not just the A+ plus students. He loves the world.

Just You

What can you give God? What is something you have that He doesn’t? You can’t give Him stuff; He created everything. He can make whatever He wants. You can’t give Him money; He owns that too. We can’t work hard enough; He can do it Himself. So what can we give Him?
You can give Him yourself. He wants you.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the father waited for the son’s return. He watched for his son, waiting hopefully. When the son returned, the father was overjoyed and joyfully welcomed the son back home.

God is always overjoyed when He has us. He rejoices when He has you. He just wants you. When the prodigal son returned, he didn’t have any money, or cloths, or anything of value. The father didn’t care; all he wanted was his son.

God doesn’t want your money or your stuff; He just wants you. You are His child, and He is longing to be with you. He doesn’t care if you don’t have anything else to give Him, or if you’re dirty; He just wants you.

The More I learn

The more I learn about God, the more I see how perfect He is. The more I see how perfect He is, the more I see how sinful I really am. The more I see how sinful I am, the more I see how much I desperately need His grace.

Sweet lie #1: All you need is love

You’ve probably seen this one in a romance movie. Girl is broken and unfilled. Boy is broken and unfilled. They meet, and suddenly everything is perfect. They’re life is fulfilled, their broken heart fixed. Everything is perfect! They are never broken or wanting again.

If only…

This lie states that human love is the answer to all life’s problems. This is a lie, but it’s close to the truth. The truth is that God’s love is the answer. It’s His love we need.

Human love is great, and we are called to love each other, but without the unfailing love of God in our life, we will found that human love is never enough. As my pastor likes to say, “It’s like pouring water through a grocery cart. Nothing sticks.”

Human love is not the answer to all life’s problems: God’s love is.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
Ephesians 2:4-5

As we grow

"Every year you grow, you will find me bigger." --Aslan.

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis's Prince Caspian. Lewis does such a good job capturing the natural of God and Christianity. As our knowledge of life and God grow, the more we realize how big and powerful God is. The more we learn about God, the more we see we He is too big to understand Him fully.

Psalms 31: Trust in the Lord

Psalms 31 has two very clear word patterns. The first theme describes God as a protecting fortress. The second theme describes all the trouble David is having in his life. So what is one to do when afflictions come? When sorrow and grief arise? When it feels like everyone has abounded you?

¹⁴ But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."

¹⁵ My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.

The word "but" is very important. Even though everything around David looks hopeless, he is remembering the promises of God. He remembered who God is. He remembered what He has done in the past. He remembered that He is a protecting fortress, and he trusted in Him.

Psalms 31; God is my refuge

I love how David describes God in the Psalms. He captures who God is with his good and rich adjectives. Psalms 31 is a good example. The whole psalm is well written; it describes God as a refuge, how wickedness is trying to destroy David, and last, how David cries out to God. We also see rich word patterns and a strong contrast between God and wickedness.

Today, we will look at the first word pattern in verses 1-5

¹ In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.

² Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

³ Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

⁴ Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

⁵ Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

Can you see the word pattern? David has a very strong and vivid description of God. He is strong fortress, refuge, deliver, etc. I like to look up the definitions of words. Let’s look at the adjectives in this passage:

Refuge-- a place of shelter, protection, or safety

Deliver--to set free or liberate: to release or save

Rescue--to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil

Rock of Refuge--a firm foundation or support shelter, protection, or safety strong fortress

My rock--a firm foundation or support

My fortress--a large fortified place; any place of exceptional security; stronghold

Free--pertaining to or reserved for those who enjoy personal liberty

Commit--to give in trust or charge; to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question

Redeem--to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.); to buy back or recover

Don’t you love David’s rich word choices? With his words, he is about to paint a dramatic picture of God.

Example of Faith

An example of faith was found on the walls of a concentration camp. On it a prisoner had carved the words:

I believe in the sun, even though it doesn’t shine,
I believe in love, even when it’s not shown,
I believe in God, even when he doesn’t speak

-God's Promises for You by Max Lucado

National Day of Prayer

"If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and I will forgive their sin
and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14

My people. The children of God. That means us. The Church. Not the "Sinners". Not those other people. Us. You. If we, the Church, humble ourselves, if we pray, if we seek his face and turn from our wicked ways, God will forgive us and will our land.

Today, on National Day of Prayer, humble yourself, pray, seek His face, and repent. May God heal our broken land.

The Separation

The garden of Eden was literally heaven on earth. Adam and Eve were in the presence of God. God walked with them in the garden. How cool is that! Imagine going on a walk with the creator of the universe.

It all ended with a lie. Did God really say…? Adam and Eve bought the lie, and ate the forbidden fruit, the fruit God commanded them not to eat.

For the first time in history, Man had disobeyed God’s commands. Sin entered the world, and Man was separated from the presence of God.

An important fact about sin: sin separates us from God. God can’t be around sin, so when we sin, we are setting away from God. It isn’t until heaven when we are sinless that we will be 100% in the presence of God.

Word Definition: Praise & worship

Praise: To say good things about; give a good opinion of
Worship: Very great love or admiration. The act of showing honor and respect for God. To take part in a religious service.

This Sunday, give Him glory and honor. Tell him how awesome He is. Praise needs to be about us letting God know how cool He is.

Praise needs to be about Him, not us. One thing praise does is remind us how great God is and how weak we are. It humbles us in His spirit. It takes our minds off of ourselves and puts it on Him, which is where it belongs.

Psalms 150
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise Him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!