Awe - Some

You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.  Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35

When my family moved to Colorado almost twelve years ago, our three kids were full of energy, youth, and innocence.  We moved them from a tightly knit neighborhood in Vermont to a house in the mountains with just a few neighbors whose houses we could barely see.  In order to get home from town, we wind our way up Flagstaff Road.

Flagstaff Road climbs approximately 2,000 feet over five miles, offering breathtaking views of Boulder and the plains below.  This makes it a favorite of motorists as well as bicyclists looking to challenge themselves on one of Colorado’s most famous rides. 

Maybe our kids were lonely living in the mountains.  Maybe they were just sick and tired of being stuck in the car so much, but for whatever the reason, they started what I called a “a mountain ministry”.  They’d roll down their windows and yell enthusiastically from their car seats at the bikers we passed as we ventured up Flagstaff.

“You can do it!” or “You’re awesome, keep it up!” they’d scream.  I loved watching the bikers’ faces as we passed.  In my rearview mirror, I’d see grimaces of pain instantly change to smiles and laughter. 

At the same time, the kids loved a song they’d learned at church camp, Our God is an Awesome God.  We’d blast the music, sing praises to God, and cheer on the bikers all the way up the hill. I loved those days.

Those were the days of innocence and “child-like faith”.  How I wish I could snap my fingers and freeze those three precious kids in time.  Those were the days before school pressure caused anxiety, girls broke your heart, marijuana was legal, and car crashes were an everyday concern… before curfews, crushes, braces, acne, Google, Netflix, Snapchat, became just a few of the distractions and temptations swirling around my teens now.

Reminiscing recently, I listened to Our God is an Awesome God, while driving up the mountain road alone.  The chorus is catchy:

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from Heaven above

With wisdom, power and might

Our God is an awesome God

For the first time, I thought about the spelling of the word “awesome”… AWE – SOME.  I asked God frankly, “Why do only some people stand in awe of you?  

We all receive blessings from Him every day. Though some are easier to recognize than others, He is always walking beside us, providing. Why then, don’t ALL people stand in AWE of Him?  

I knew the answer already…because God gives us choices.  He loves us but gives us the choice to love Him back.  He will save all but won’t force anyone to accept His free gift. We have to choose to be in awe of Him.

Are you in awe of what God has done in your life?  Do you see Him as the giver of all good gifts?  Do you accept His unconditional love?

Unlike all the choices our teens have today, God’s ways are quite simple.  Think back to the chorus.  Do you call God your own?  Can you sing, “MY God is an awesome God”?  Do you believe He is “Reigning from Heaven above with wisdom, power, and might” in your life?  

Let us stand in AWE of our AWESOME God and dream together of a day when ALL of God’s children with stand with us.  That will be quite an incredible day of cheering and celebration!

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