Spring is here! I love springtime. I usually make the time for walks with my family in the countryside to enjoy the signs of spring. I find it so easy to praise God when I am surrounded by the majesty of His creation, and love to hike or drive through the hills in Hockley Valley, taking in that breathtaking view.

When I see the rolling hills, smell the newness of spring, hear the birds singing and feel the warm spring breezes on my face, my whole being joins in an overwhelming sense of praise to God the Creator - and thankfulness to Him for all of the beauty we have available to us if we only take time to look. I really hope that I have passed this gift of appreciation onto my children, so that they too can know what it means to offer spontaneous praise to God. Have you experienced this feeling of natural, instinctive praise that overwhelms you and just bursts out of you, almost without your realizing it?

It's a wonderful feeling, and I believe that it's something we can practice and learn, if it isn't natural or spontaneous for us.

It was Oswald Chambers that said that we can take any thought worthy of God and find something to associate with it in nature. The more I think about that statement and put it to the test, the more I find that it is true.

We often underestimate the power of the wind, until we see the damage a strong wind can do to trees, buildings and our patio furniture! So it is with the Holy Spirit. We almost forget about His presence in us until we see the evidence of His power at work.

Mountains reflect the quiet strength of God with their regal majesty as they tower over us. Days and days of rain are similar to the trials we go through - they seem dreary, tedious, troublesome but are so necessary for growth! Try drawing your own associations.

It's a wonderful exercise, and it's one way to become more aware of the complex beauty of the world which surrounds you.

If you have trouble appreciating nature, take a walk with a pre-schooler. Pre-schoolers notice everything! They delight in flowers, budding trees, small birds, unusual leaves and they spot things our tired eyes will never see. Try looking at things through the eyes of a small child who is discovering these wonders for the first time.

Open your heart as a child to God and allow Him to delight your senses with His creation. He would love to do it!

Many years ago my daughter brought home a paper from Sunday School about ways to delight yourself with the wonders of God's creation. There was some instruction on how to teach your children to consciously look for God in nature and appreciate what He has made.

They suggest taking your family for a walk to the top of a tall hill or small mountain, and bringing your Bible along. Take time to observe God's creation, stopping to look at different plants and anim als, what you see in the distance, etc. Does the sky look diff erent from here? What other things do you notice?

Have your children read Scripture passages such as Psalm 104 that describe in detail how God created our world and continues to care for it. Discuss how important it is that God doesn't take a "day off" and allow the sun to cool down or gravity to disappear, and talk about how birds, insects and forest animals eat, and how they care for their young.

With our minds focused on God's work in nature, we can discover many things about Him and about our special relationship with Him. Why don't you try this with your family, or treat yourself to the experience?

Since discovering this scriptural principle, my family has gone out many times and had "God Quests" on our nature walks. It has been a wonderful component of their spiritual growth over the years.

There are many, many Scripture passages which point to God in nature and the Psalmist gives us a glimpse into his own appreciation of God's creation. Psalm 104 is a wonderful example of this, and it's descriptive beauty helps us appreciate even more the hand of God at work not only as the Creator but also as the Sustainer of life. Try to picture in your mind the beautiful scene he describes.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul. How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you make them all; the earth is full of your creatures There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Praise to the Lord"
Ann McCallum,
Executive Director,
Highlands Youth for Christ