By 
Since moving to Texas I have valiantly tried to maintain the flower gardens of my northern years. With earnest effort, and a lot of water, I am able to enjoy a semblance of that charm. Creating beauty in areas where it has not been before is especially pleasing. And the rewards of blooms and colors and scents is worth all the effort.
“For these bursts of color and beautiful blooms are bright dabs of grace, witnesses to a promise, reminders of a spreading beauty more eternal, and therefore stronger, than any evil, than any grief, than any injustice or violence.” —Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy, Volume 1.
From the very beginning of His Word, we see God creating and enjoying what He had made. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31, ESV).
David acknowledges that not only does everything belong to God: The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein (Psalm 24:1, ESV); but also creation displays His signature: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 19:1, ESV).
The beauty of God’s work is all around us, and He has woven glimpses of His glory throughout His creation.
Augustine asks:
“And what is this? I asked the earth, and it answered me, ‘I am not he’; and whatsoever are in it confessed the same. I asked the sea and the deeps, and the living creeping things, and they answered, ‘We are not thy God, seek above us.’ I asked the moving air; and the whole air with his inhabitants answered…‘I am not God.’ I asked the heavens, sun, moon, stars, ‘Nor are we the God whom thou seekest.’ And I replied unto all the things…‘You have told me of my God, that you are not he; tell me something of him.’ And they cried out with a loud voice, ‘He made us.’ My questioning them, was my thoughts on them: and their beauty gave me the answer.” (Confessions 10, 6)
Paul Zuez, writing at catholic.com asks, “What can bring people to their senses - like a splash of cold water - bring them out of their stupor?” Beauty!
Have you ever experienced something in nature so magnificent that it slapped you out of your stupor? Perhaps you have been awestruck by the immense beauty of the Grand Canyon, or experienced the deafening roar of the water tumbling over Niagara Falls.
Creation contains countless opportunities to view the reflection of God in the everyday beauty around us. We see individual trees spread out against a blue sky, their green leaves softly moving in the wind. Or you may have stood under a flowering tree, alive with the buzz of bees woven into a bright pink canopy draped overhead.
There are fields of flowers, stretching their necks to the sun in every shade of the rainbow, fragrant and varied beyond our imaginations. Ripened fruit hangs from trees and bushes, bursting with color and enticing us with the promise of sweetness. The songs of birds fill the air as they flit from tree to tree, proudly displaying their talents.
An example of the artistry of God is found in the general color scheme that He employed in nature. The restful shades of blue and green dominate and beckon us to peacefulness and relaxation. Green also makes the perfect canvas to show off bright and colorful flowers. And while blue dominates the sky, it is the least common color on the ground. Looking up into that endless expanse of blue reminds us of our Lord, sitting on the throne, ruling over every aspect of this world.
”Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37:16, ESV).
Beauty in creation is not an accident. Yes, God chose to add it for His own pleasure; but there is scientific evidence for the necessity of beauty for survival. Throughout the animal kingdom beauty is used to attract mates, ensuring the survival of a species. The beautiful aspects of creation are so meticulous and unique, that man struggles to replicate the quality.
God, the originator of music, has made songbirds to sing not just random notes but rather songs with structure—like melody and key signature. Musical structure does not just happen by chance; it must be created. Furthermore, some birds purpose to end their songs with an interval such as a major third or fifth, to signal that the song is finished.
Why did God create so carefully and artistically?
In Romans 1:19-20 (ESV) Paul tells us: What can be known about God is plain to (men), because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The beauty in creation shows us that God cares for man. While beauty is not necessary to make the "world go round”, He chose to weave it into all He designed. Matthew 6:28 calls us to consider the lilies—to note fully their beauty. If God would so meticulously fashion a flower which is here today and gone tomorrow, think how much He cares for us, His children.
In Job we see that God is not only creator, but also sustainer of His creation: “In his hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10, ESV).
The Lord is beautiful, and He desired to share that beauty with us through what He created.
“We became God’s co-workers and faithful citizens of His kingdom, by acts both small and great, bearing witness to the perfect beauty that was, to the ragged splendor that yet is, and the hope of the greater glory that is to come.”
—Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy Volume 1.
Nanette Smith
A transplanted Texan, Nanette Smith spent most of her life in western Pennsylvania where she and her husband Tom raised their 6 children. When not homeschooling her children or helping her husband run his construction business, Nanette volunteered with Samaritan’s purse, crisis pregnancy centers, and served as Women’s Ministry Director. In 2013 God moved Nanette and her family to Texas and she attended her first Womenary class in 2016. Currently Nanette works as the Missions Coordinator at Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview, TX. When not working or playing with one of her 11 grandchildren, Nanette enjoys reading, writing, photography and baking. 
