O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! .

How do you feel when you see rolling mountains,  vast shorelines,  fields of daisies,  or a glorious sunset?  Does it cause your emotions to run wild with joy?
You are not alone when you feel moved at the grandeur of nature.  God feels it to!  God loves nature at least as much as you do.  After all, He created it!
But there is something that He enjoys even more than the beauties of heaven and earth, something that makes His heart race with joy.
That something is you–yes, you!
Psalm 8 begin with as a song of  praise to God’s creation.  “Lord, our lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth. . . . When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy hand, the moon and stars you have set in place,”
Then the psalmist goes off in a very different direction.  “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you should remember him?” 
The glory of the stars and the heavens may be wonderful, but God is not mindful of them in the same way He is mindful of us.  They are his creation–we are His children.
When my children were young, they would sing in the children’s choir at church.  All the children were wonderful in my eyes, but I could pick out the voices of my daughters above them all.  No matter what the other children did I was still mindful of my children first.
God has made you His favorite in all creation. The psalmist writes. . . “You have made him (that is us)  a little lower than the heavenly beings, and have crowned him with glory and honor.  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands. “
Do you that you, you God has places in such an exalted position, would ever  be forgotten by Him?  Do you think that God would forget His favorite.
God has not forsaken you.  He will never leave you.  He will keep on loving you through all eternity.
“Oh Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!”

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)  was a Catholic priest and theologian and the founder of the Soldiers of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits.

Ignatius (originally Inigo Lopez di Loyola) was a soldier, braggart, and womanizer.  But in 1521, he was severely injured in the Battle of Poloma when a cannonball shattered his right leg.  He eventually recovered, but he was laid up at his sister’s house for over a year.
During this time,  Inigo had only three books to read–the Bible,  stories of the life of Jesus, and the Imitation of Christ.  He was a changed man.

Ignatius devoted himself to the priesthood and to study.  His most notable contribution to the faith was a series of Christian exercises, or disciplines designed to help Christians discern their calling from God, and to deepen their commitment to Him.  These exercises emphasized not just study of Scripture, but using the imaginations and habits to hear what God was saying personally. These Spiritual Exercises usually were done in a four-week intensive retreat, and were required for entering Ignatius’ order.  They are still being used today, not only by Catholics but other branches of the faith as well.

Before a person could enter into this program of discernment, Ignatius insisted that the learned certain foundational principles.  Without them, he did not believe that a person could be certain of their calling.

The first of these foundational principles is this–That God Loves you completely and utterly.  

Sometime today take some time to get out into nature, even if it is just a few minutes. Smell the flowers and the dirt. Feel the wind and sun on your hands and body. Think about how great it is that God has given you eyes to see it,       ears to hear, a nose to smell, and fingers to touch. Nature is pleasant to us because God gave us the connection between our bodies an the earth, to appreciate this creation. God does not give His gifts lightly, or to those who he does not love. Our appreciation of nature is proof that God created us to enjoy Him and His works. Give thanks to Him right now.

I am loved–Mack Brock

Rescue–Laura Daigle

All Creatures of our God and King–Dave Crowder Band