This Shirt.

This shirt. What can I say about this shirt? Well I'll tell you one thing, it is definitely a conversation starter. No matter when or where I wear it, someone always asks about it or inquires about what it means. Whether I'm out walking, at work or even at Aldi (a woman at Aldi actually stopped my wife and I and proceeded to tell us that the shirt was not Biblically accurate). Someone always has something to say about it. Just to give you a little back ground on this shirt. Every year We Care Pregnancy Clinic has a 'Walk For Life'. This shirt is from one of those walks. I have several in my wardrobe as I have been partaking for several years now. But this one. This one seems to always get the comments and questions. I don't know why. It just does.

I always enjoy telling people about where it comes from in The Bible. You know me, I love to talk about God's word!

Psalm 139:13-14 English Standard Version

¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.

 

I tell them, that before they were even born, God knew them. He knew what they would look like. How tall they would be, what color eyes and hair that they would have. Read all of Psalm 139 to get the complete picture of God's love for us. People keep saying "you are wonderfully made." I tell them, "we are all wonderfully made." In God's image.

 

Genesis 1:27 New Living Translation

²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image.
    In the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

 So, that is the story of this shirt. Much conversed about every time I wear it. And that my friends, is one of the reasons that I still wear it.

 

The Trip!

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I took a 10 day road trip out west. We just had to get out of Illinois for a little bit. I think that this virus and everything that is associated with it was getting to us. So we decided to head out and explore God's creation.

Psalm 24:1(NIV) ¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;

Our first stop was at the Badlands in South Dakota. We had been there a few years ago, but decided to see it again. This time from the air. We took a helicopter tour over them. What an amazing site let me tell you.

The next leg of the trip we went to see Devils Tower (mans name for it, God's creation) in Wyoming. We parked and got out and hiked around it for about an hour. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. What an incredible thing to see and witness in person.

From there we went to the Big Horn mountains. To see them forming in the distance as you drive towards them. Felt like I was in a movie. The trees on the sides. The snow caps. The mountain itself. Gods glory on full display. A visual I will never forget.

We spent a couple of days in Yellowstone National Park. We got to see a lot of wild animals roaming around. Some so close that you could almost reach out and pet them (which is frowned upon by the way). We saw bison, elk, moose, fox, deer, prairie dogs, goats. The one animal that we didn't see that I really wanted to was a bear.

Revelation 4:11New Living Translation

You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased

To see all these animals in the wild, just roaming around. I loved it. Every minute of it. I could just imagine God saying, "we need one of those, a couple of them", and He just kept creating and creating, till He was pleased.

We stayed two nights at a hotel in Montana. After dinner we would go out and just look at the sky. With no light pollution around, we were able to see the stars and constellations with ease.

Psalm 19:1 New Living Translation

¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.

 

The only "bad" part about driving through Yellowstone, were the roads. Steep inclines and declines. Sharp, and I mean sharp curves. We did the drive at night our first night. Let me just say that was a bit harrowing!

 

We made our way down to see 'Old Faithful'. That was really cool to see. I still can't believe that it erupts on a time schedule. But when it does, it is a site to behold. Another one of Gods awesome creations on display.

 

The final leg of sight seeing was going to see the Grand Tetons. Another majestic site. I was amazed to say the least. Being from Illinois and never really seeing anything other than corn fields. Then since we were so close, we had to drive into Idaho. We found this little restaurant, and had one of the best breakfasts I have ever had.

 

Then finally we started our trek towards home. This was definitely a trip of a lifetime. I have always wanted to go out west, and I was not disappointed. The shear beauty of it all. I had no idea. I mean I had seen pictures and movies. But to see it in person, much different story.

 

We drove well over 3,000 miles and covered 8 different states. The memories made were worth every mile. Time spent with my beautiful wife enjoying this trip together, priceless!

 
Thank You Lord for it all!

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Psalm 19:1 New Living Translation

¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.