Monday Morning Devotion-April 29, 2013
God's Autograph
Marvelous are your works that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14
What is
it about an autograph that makes people seek them. It's a signature, a
handwritten inscription. It serves as a
memento especially if the autograph is from a celebrity or a well-known person.
I guess what it does is it sets apart that item from the
run-of-the-mill ones. If someone writes
a book and takes the time to sign it that means they cared enough about the
reader or the book purchaser to personalize it for them.
While certainly, not in the celebrity stage, I've been
able to do some book signings and also one-on-one situations in which someone
had a copy of my book and wanted it signed.
When that occurs I always try to write a personal note that goes beyond
a signature. The fact that someone took
an interest in my writing is special to me, so I want to make the experience
special for them as well.
Now there are autographs and then there are
autographs. What I mean by that is some
autographs you can read and some you cannot read. Like mine for example. My handwriting is not the greatest in the
world, so I have to take extra care in slowing down and making an effort in
trying to write legibly. I mean, what
good is an autograph if nobody can read it or tell, in a quick glance, who it
belongs to.
Scribblers can take a lesson from one of the all-time
greats in the world of golf Arnold Palmer.
The way the public took to Arnie, back-in-the-day, popularized golf universally
and had folks clambering for his autograph.
Being also one of the all-time good-guys on the tour Arnie never wanted
to disappoint anyone. So, despite how
large a crowd surrounded him Arnie always took time to legibly sign their
items.
Arnie explained on the Golf Channel, "My first year in
grade school, my teacher was a lady by the name of Rita Taylor and the
blackboard around the room and we learned the Palmer Method (not named after
him)." But it was a method of writing
legibly that Palmer carried with him and makes sure every fan can read his
name.
I guess the point of all that is that people who are
revered by others and take time to appreciate that are special folks.
When I started thinking about this it became clear that
people only autograph things that they take a certain amount of pride in. A book they wrote, picture of themselves,
t-shirts that have a message they feel good about endorsing or a myriad number
of things. Autograph seekers can be
pretty creative.
Taking it to a higher level I thought about what God's
autograph would be like. Then it
occurred to me that we see His autograph every day in many different
places.
Each person you see has been autographed by God. He is proud of his work. And well He should be. How many people have you seen in this world
that are exactly alike with you differences.
Even twins have something about them that is different. Even though they may look alike and often
think alike each has his or her own unique personality making them different in
certain ways.
Just the act of creating us is amazing in itself. In Psalm139 David states his amazement.
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and
knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous---and how well
I know it. You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day
had passed.â€
Not only did God make us he stays on top of what’s
happening in every aspect of our lives.
Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your
bottle. You have recorded each one in
your book.â€
Yes, we are, each one of us, autographable by God. We are workmanship He is proud of. That’s something to keep in mind in dark
times. When we get depressed because of
life’s hard knock remember you have not only been created buy you have been
autographed by God,
Actually his autographed work is all over the place. You can see it in your flower garden. Look at
your nice green lawn. OK so some weeds
have creeped in. That's your
responsibility to keep those out. Hey,
God created all the beauty you see, it's up to you to maintain it and not let
it go to...uh, seed.
Somehow whenever I am fortunate enough to go somewhere and see mountains ( you don't see too many of those in Florida :) ) I feel that I am seeing God's autograph at
it''s most beautiful and awesome best. I love being up in the heights and looking
down at the valley.
Seeing a waterfall cascading down the mountain-side is
impressive, The wild flowers planted
only by God are beautiful and if I'm fortunate enough to be there in the fall
the changing colors of the trees that God planted are awe-inspiring,
We see God's hand in all the animals, birds, insects he
has created. Especially dogs and horses,
my two favorites. Not so much in cats
(I'm allergic to them). Just
kidding cats, too, are God's special creation.
Now I have to wonder about snakes, spiders, ants, roaches, etc. But, God had a purpose in each of those as
well. They bear his autograph. I just don't want to get close enough to any
of those to read His inscription. :)
Yes, God loves us so much that we are privileged to see
his Autograph on his work everywhere,
Thank you Lord!
Monday Prayer: Lord we don't have to ask for your autograph. We see it everywhere. We are blessed! Amen!
***author's
note: Have an outstanding week and look
for God's autograph everywhere and you'll find yourself smiling. :)