Hey, good morning, everyone. Welcome to another Morning Devotion with Brother Mark, where we are walking together on our walk with Christ. Today is August the 13th, 2024. Well, actually, when I'm recording this, it's August the 12th. Monday evening, I just returned home from the Creation Museum. My wife and I went there for a pastor's breakfast today. We got to spend the day enjoying the museum. We went up last night and spent the evening, and we had a great time. But I want to talk to you about the world that God created. You know, I took a couple of notes during the speakers today, and here's just what I thought. God created this world to express his love. I want you to think about that, all the different ways that we can look at the world today and see His love. And then, another note, God created this world for us to enjoy. Paul told Timothy, charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us all things richly to enjoy. And we're talking about the goodness of God and the marvelous works of God and all of that. And today, I just want you to think about all the things that are in this world that God has given us to enjoy. I mean, God, if he wanted to, he could have created this world with no variety. He could have created this world black and white. We could have all been stick men and there could have been no beauty in this world. But think about all the things that God has given us to enjoy. I mean, when you think about the things that God gives us to enjoy, think about the beauty of smell. I mean, think about fresh baked bread, or you think about a meal that's on the stove, or a smoker, or whatever, and there's a smell. The other day we were talking about the smell of rain and so there's the beauty of smells. Then you can think about all of the vibrant colors. Again, we don't live in a drab world. We live in a world with bright colors and a contrast of colors and there's so much beauty in this world because of color. As we were walking around the the museum today, the museum grounds, there was these lily pads with these pink flowers shooting up out of them and beside that a purple flower and the pods and just so much beauty there. And then you can think about the different kinds of trees that were there. And we were able to see some exotic trees and some standard trees, but beautiful trees. And you can even think about one of the favorite things to look at in the spring is when the magnolia trees and the tulip trees begin to bloom. And there's so much beauty in the trees and then enjoying a good meal. food that God has given us the ability. God could have just like, you know, just wrote kind of like, you got to take this in and, and, you know, it could have been without any taste or anything like that. And it could not have been an enjoyable process to eat food, to sustain our bodies, but God gave us, gave food great taste and we can sit and enjoy that. And what, a blessing it is to enjoy a meal and how that is a beautiful thing and something that God has given us to enjoy. How many of us love to sit down to a good meal? It's because God chose to give us that luxury. And then think about friends. Today we were there at the Creation Museum and we met some old friends. Some friends we had not seen in a number of years and some we'd seen recently. And then We've made some new friends, but what a blessing it is. to be able to enjoy friendship. Again, God could have let us be loners out here in the world and not have friends, but God gave us this desire in our hearts to fellowship and to enjoy one another's presence and all of that. And we could talk about sunsets and sunrises, and I live in Kentucky, so at one of the waterfalls here in a part of our state, there's a thing called a moonbow. the moon shines a full moon shines on the waterfall and there's a rainbow caused by the light of the moon and then the beauty of a rainbow and you can think today as we went in there was some mist over part of the grounds and and to help the uh the plants to grow and you know there are what about a cool breeze on a hot day and you get a cool breeze it's something God has given us the ability to enjoy. And then what about running? And I'm sure you could think of so many other things to think that you enjoy. I mean, today I just got back from a run and got in four miles on a run. And you know, when you're out there and you're running and you're exercising, your heart's beating and you're sweating and all of that, you know, it's enjoyable. Again, that's something God has given us to enjoy. So we give us all things to enjoy. So when we're thinking about this wonderful world we live in and the wonderful works of God, we can think about the blessings of the things that God gives us to enjoy. So today, think about the things that God has given you to enjoy. He's expressing his love to us by giving us things that cause us joy. There's lots of things we could say about this, about focusing on joy instead of other things, but anyway, just think about this. God loves us so much, he gave us this world to enjoy. So enjoy the things that God has given you today. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this opportunity we have to think about the things you have given us to enjoy. And I pray, God, that we will enjoy your creation. God, we will enjoy our fellowship one with another, and God, we'll enjoy our fellowship with you. Thank you for loving us and giving us things to cause us joy. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen. Well, I hope you have a good day today. Until the next time, Brother Mark signing off.