Venus and Jupiter

This month, a phenomenon called a planetary conjunction is visible in our skies. Venus, the bright “star” planet you see almost any night, is accompanied by a pal who only visits every 13 months, Jupiter. You can see them so close together that my husband said jokingly, “they’re about ten feet apart.” They certainly look that way!

The Bible says, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)

I was reading my Bible at the beginning of this year again in Genesis. I’ve taught the story of Creation many, many times in the past, but this year, I learned something new! For me, it was quite a revelation.

Now, we all know the Days of Creation and what God created on each day. The first day, He created light and separated it from the darkness. The next day, the water above the earth (atmosphere) and the water on the earth (seas) are separated. The third day brings us dry land and plant life. Then, on the fourth day, God made the sun, moon and stars—to give light and divide the day from the night. Let’s stop there.

What existed first? Genesis 1:2 says, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. What was here first? Look at the third word! The EARTH!

Now, I don’t consider myself dense, but I have been DENSE! The focal point of God’s creation of the whole universe was the EARTH! Everything started with the earth! The earth was here before the sun and moon and stars. Even though, in size comparisons to Betelgeuse, Mu Cephei, and other huge stars, the earth is insignificant, in God’s view, it’s the center of His design, the central focus of all of the universe. God’s creation of the earth, furnishing the earth with wonderful plants and animals—all was for the benefit of man. All the rest of God’s creation was to be a setting for God’s purpose—His creation of man and His redemption of man through Jesus Christ. God’s focal point is the earth. The rest declares His glory!

I was never convinced with the Big Bang anyhow, but this completely blows that theory apart! (Pardon the pun, please.) The earth was formed before the sun, before the moon, before galaxies of planets and stars. It was here first! It’s not a chunk flung out with all the other chunks that exploded millions of years ago and then settled into order and orbits. It was here first!

I think we can count out E.T.s too. (Sorry to disappoint some of you!)

As I was looking at Venus and Jupiter in “close proximity,” I was moved to think about our Great God and what He is doing in mankind. Truly, the heavens declare the glory of God!

I should have been Italian!

Is there a genetic predisposition towards tomato sauce and pasta? I don’t have one drop of Italian blood in me, yet the foods that call my name contain cheese, tomato sauce, herbs, pasta, cream sauces, more pasta, homemade pizza dough with tomato sauce and cheese, mushrooms sautéed with garlic . . . .

I recently received a travelogue from a friend who went to Rome with her husband. She said they lived all week on pizza and gelato. I could do that!

My bloodlines run the Scottish-Irish-Welsh-English-German route with one Native American in there to spice things up. So, why don’t I like potatoes and cabbage more than tomato sauce and pasta? Why don’t I crave shepherd’s pie and Cornish pasties? Why does one whiff of garlic send me swooning into ecstatic culinary visions?

Today, I was preparing my own concoction, one that our family calls simply “Garlic Chicken.” First, you fry salted and peppered chicken breasts in olive oil, then you add several cloves of pressed garlic, then tomato sauce and a couple of shakes of Italian herbs, and you let it simmer. The sauce is served over linguine pasta al dente. I make a huge green salad (with onions!) and sometimes, I serve crunchy garlic bread with the meal. Yuuuuummy!

Do you reckon there’s Italian food in heaven? I think just maybe!

Loud Birds!

Like every morning this week, I've heard the birds loudly singing as I got up. Their singing lasts all day long, until night has completely settled in. I always know it's almost spring when the birds sing LOUD.

Yesterday, our first daffodil opened, and this week was the first time in many days that the temperature was over 50º. Over the last two weeks, we've seen the sun shine most days. Some, like today, are domed with cloudless, blue skies. Just wonderful!

I'm reminded of Psalm 150:6 "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD."

"The winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come." (from Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

Spring and LOUD birds! :o)