I am Thankful for… “Oh Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord?” (Psalm 89:8) I am extremely grateful for our God’s magnificent creation. I never cease to be amazed at the thousands of varieties of birds, flowers, trees, leaves, rocks and plants. I love gazing at different mountain ranges such as the Rocky Mountains in Western Canada in all their grandeur or the mountains of California and Arizona with their varying shadows I love quiet streams; gushing waterfalls; rivers; lakes; and oceans. I am continually amazed at the way God controls the oceans – how he allows the tides to come inland just so far and then it has to retreat again. We read in Isaiah 42:12 – “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?” When I consider that all the water in the world can fit in God’s hand, I know he is a BIG God. My job keeps me in front of a computer for most of the day and my husband, Marvin, has made a wonderful garden for me just outside my office window. I get to enjoy rhododendrons, hydrangea, azaleas, and many other flowers while I am working. He has also placed the bird feeder within my view. One morning, last winter, after a heavy snowfall, I filled up the bird feeder and the birds were so happy. They proceeded to put on a real show for me—flitting from one branch to another and then back to the feeder. Many different birds visit us and although I love them all, humming birds have always made me stop what I am doing to watch them. They are amazing: • They fly forward, backward, shift sideways, stop in midair. • They can beat their wings 60 to 200 times per second. • They lap nectar with their tongues (some say that their tongue is like a straw). • They can fly up to 60 miles an hour. • They live 5 -6 years in the wild. • They are the smallest bird in the world. • They consume, on average, half their weight in sugar each day. • Some of them migrate 600 miles to a warmer climate. When I see these little birds with their magnificent iridescent colors, I am reminded of how wonderful and majestic and amazing our God is. And because He has created so many wonders for us to enjoy here on earth, I know they are but a taste of what He has in store for us in heaven. For this I am so thankful. “Father, I am so thankful for the wonders of your creation. Thank you that you didn’t create the world in black and white or without sounds and smells. I love you God, because you are so great and so kind! Amen.” --Katherine Kehler