On Sunday morning, I opened the living room drapes as usual before doing my daily stretch routine. When I saw the sky, the awesome painting in the east, I had to take a picture. Barefoot and in my pajamas, I stepped out on to the concrete stoop. The air was a crisp 13ºF (-10.6ºC), but even more breathtaking was the morning sky that my Father had painted for me.

Six miles to the east lies Lake Michigan, where the water temperature this time of year is about 40ºF. The cold air over the warm water creates a cloud cover, and the rising sun reflects off the clouds and the water to produce the spectacular sunrise. While the sky overhead at my house was pale blue, the flaming sunrise in the east changed rapidly. By the time I was done with my morning routine, the eastern sky was just gray.

I often wonder why God made so much natural beauty in this world; autumn leaves, brilliantly-colored birds, spring flowers, and misty mountains. The bible gives the answer: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1). God is constantly revealing Himself to us, if we will only stop and see. The Father reassures us with these visible manifestations of His power, creativity, and steadfastness.

Please, if you should happen to see something beautiful today, give thanks to the sky painting God, who made the heavens and the earth.