Have You Seen the Extraordinary in the Ordinary?

I love this time of year when the heat of summer subsides a bit and the occasional cool breeze kisses your cheek. I like sitting on my porch, staring up at the clear blue skies. My eyes feast upon the green treetops, anticipating that in a few weeks they'll explode with vibrate orange, yellow and red.

I took a walk yesterday out in the field and returned with what looks like three small cattails. Their soft bristles and long stems made a perfect teaser for my kids. I snuck up behind Jill and gave her quite a fright by running the cattail along her neck. Nothing usually startles that girl. She's not even ticklish on the bottom of her feet! I got such a kick out of being able to scare her for once. She thought for sure a bug had crawled across her face. Then there's Elijah giggling and flinching as I ran the bristles along his neck. He loved it and couldn't believe such a wondrous gem was ripe for the taking, freely accessible in his own front yard.

It’s the simple things – natures wonders – that fascinate me most. I don't spend much time dreaming about fancy houses or luxury cars. Give me a gorgeous day and time to explore it. It's the blessings freely surrounding us that remind me that God loves me and is in control. I am convinced not only does He delight to bless us, but He also has quite the sense of humor. Our cat who asks permission before he eats -- or our silly dog who insists upon marking his territory a half-dozen times on every walk we take -- are evidence that God has a bent for the comical.

Look around you. Have you seen the wondrous, the comical, and the miraculous in the ordinary? It's been said that "All things denote there is a God." Have you seen God's face today?

"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:7-10

Comments

[Leslie]

Hi Marnie,

I have felt God's face today in my life. Through the children in the bookstore, my friend's voice, my 91 year old father's voice, and my sweet animals(cat and dog) voices, and also when I prayed today.

I know my Heavenly Father is with me always. So blessed I am!

[Dr Scottie]

I felt God's presence as I sat quietly alone for ten minutes in a serene chapel yesterday. I felt it as "breaking my heart" so that I was fragile before the Lord. Wow!!!

[Busayo Sawyerr]

Hi Marnie,
Thanks for reminding me about seeing God's face in the ordinary yet extraordinary happenings of a day. I have seen God's face severally in my life. However, the experience that readily comes to mind is the one I had when I went to a place called Akure,in Nigeria. The scenery of rocks and rich green vegetation took my breath away and made me have a certain awe and reverence for God.

[Brenda]

I felt God's presence yesterday when a long awaited answer came to a continuing stressful problem in my life. A few short words were whispered into my ear "catch them doing something RIGHT." Not only did it resolve my current problem, but it changed my total perception of how I handle a lot of things. Sweet!

[Sharon Braun Eiskant]

Most definitely felt God's presence this weekend; bike ride along the Mississippi River with my husband, Church on Sunday, Dr.Daivd Jerimiah's message on TV last night and a day at home listening to Joy FM music today. The sun, the wind and the fresh air is a blessing after a long hot summer.

[Nancy Collins]

Oh,yes! I worked in the garden today, weeding and getting the soil ready to plant greens. A gentle breeze cooled my body while the Blue Jays announced my presence. The butterflies were beautiful and plenty, and I discovered a flower I've never seen before! God is so great and wonderful!

[Barb Pinion]

I see His face every morning when I wake and thank Him for todays gift of life. I never forget that it is HIS breath of life that sustains me..sustains us all.

[karen]

:) Yes!!!! I see Him in everything big and small...how He cares and how He shows us that He is concerned and cares and also that He understands us through and through....

[REJOICE]

l did go before His face to tell him thank you,for the miracle of sleeping and waking up.Another miracle.

[Wilma]

Sometimes, although we feel that we are alone and lost in space, because we are children of the most awesome God and therefore in His master plan, we can relax and take a deep breath and know that all is well, because GOD IS IN CONTROL. This is from a quotation from Karen Taylor-Good. I believe this as GOD IS REALLY IN CONTROL, although me might not always realise that.He is so awesome!!

[janice]

Thanks God for waking me up to see what is going on in my life. I see you now,and as I change to a whole different person, this is what it is all about. The Love you are giving me to change. Thanks for this Marnie. God is in control and wants me to go on the right path.

[monique]

I see him everyday I wokeup in the morning, praising him for the day. He is there for whatever I do leading, giving knowledge of every step. I thank him every evening for night's rest and for the warring angels he send and I always see him near me God is great & wonderful all the time!!!!

[monique]

Father in heaven, thank Father thank you for loving me. Thank You for choosing me and setting me apart for Your glory. I receive Your love today and invite You to have Your way in every area of my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen. monique, Zambia

[Leah]

I see God's face in everything. I even see it in my troubles. I know that without him, I would not get through it. I know that without him, I would not learn what I do and grow as I have. I am always in awe of the sky and stars, in the way the clouds form. I am so amazed at his imagination when I look at the variety of creatures that crawl and fly in this world. I am humbled and blessed with how he has taken care of me and my family. I know that as the birds are provided for, I will be taken care of even better than them.

[Sophia Ampofo Kusi]

God richly bless you for the article. God is every where and those who seek Him will find Him daily.Those who don't seek Him may not find Him. I felt His presence this morning as I prayed. His love extends to all men.Amen

[Janet]

Yes, I have felt God's presence just recently. We have had a drought and we have had to pray for rain most every day, we prayed for "even a little bit", and our prayers were mightily answered by God, He sent some rain, "just a little bit" but he answered our prayers exactly as we had requested.I also see His humor often, most every day when my cat, Smokey Joe, comes and gets me and wants me to follow him to the food bowl so that I can be with him while he eats his food. He does not want to eat his food unless someone is with him. What a Creator we have! Or the way both of our cats will follow us from room to room, whereever we go, they go, tells me that God gave them the ability to love and want to be close. What an awesome God we have!! Thank you Marnie for lifting me up each and every day.

[Kemi]

O Yes. Our God is indeed awesome and none can be compared with HIm. He is so faithful. He has recently blessed my family with some beautiful gifts. He is indeed alive and answers prayers. I love you Lord Jesus.

[Millie Sandoval]

thank you Marnie, you are beautiful, God bless you, yes I see God everyday, in all the beauty, pain, and everyday life...I thank Him for everything, and seek His blessings for me my family and all humanity.....Thank you for your messages....

[Mary]

Thanks for reminding me to Look~! It's so easy to be caught up in the dramas of life and to be 'busy'- I need reminding to stop and LOOK.A huge earthquake shook the city [Christchurch NZ] where my sons live- we had to marvel at the timing- 5 hours earlier or later and many would have been killed- but no-one was- so I saw the hand of God~! But I will look for His face. Thankyou and God Bless.

[Kathy]

For the past few years now, when I wake up in the wee small hours and look at the opposite wall in my bedroom; I've seen a tiny bright light. It is so comforting, and yes, I certainly feel the Presence of my Abba Father!

Kathy

[barbara]

thank you marnie for that word of wisdom yes ive seen god face 2 Day in the sun shine & the rain the flowers the birds &the bees all his creation he is so good to look upon.god bless

[Gratitude Girls (Elizabeth)]

What a great reminder! Thank you! I love nature, I believe it is God's canvas to inspire us and remind us of his loving presence. I see God in every face, and surrounding me in nature!

[Prof Ratna Kumari]

Dear Marnie
thank you for your question.I am happy to inform that for the last one month after my return from USA, I have faced lot of problems from various ways like press and electronic media.But insite if all false eligations God has given me strong mind and courage to continue my life.i felt it is a great blow from satan or tests from some body.Even than I became strong in Him i have seen face in my Principal and Vice -chancellor of Our Andhra University to console me and asked me to continue the job as a Chief warden for 1260 higher education girls.So god is our real fortress and shelter in our difficult times and He never put shme .Thank you for your beatiful narration about God' s face.
with prayers
Ratna