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How's Your "WOW" Factor?

Posted by Jim_Daly on Jan 25, 2012 1:53:33 PM

When was the last time you stood and stared in awe and wonder?John316photo.JPG

 

I can remember those early days of fatherhood, when I would quietly slip into Trent and Troy’s room and watch their tiny chests rise and fall with every peaceful breath. It left me reaching for words that never came. Not only was I nearly speechless at the beauty of the new life before me, but humbled that I was blessed to have the new name of “Dad.”

 

In those moonlit nights, David's words took on new meaning for me:

 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14).

 

So if the gift of new human life strikes with such a spirit of astonishment, how then does the promise of eternal life grab you?

 

Please take 30 seconds and watch the following video, paying special attention to the message from the blond-haired girl at the very end. As a reminder, this spot ran during the AFC divisional playoff game between Tim Tebow’s Denver Broncos and the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots:

 

 

Her name is Channing, and in single word she deftly and powerfully summed up the Christian response to the Gospel:

 

WOW!

 

Don’t you agree?

 

How about your reaction to the Gospel? ponderanew1.gif

 

How’s your sense of “Wow!” these days? In tough times it’s easy to get pulled down and buried in our own little story. We allow ourselves to be shaped and influenced by the very sin that Jesus came to save us from.

 

I think it’s time to look up and “ponder anew what the Almighty can do,” as the hymnist wrote.

 

Is the search for awe a difficult one? Perhaps it's a matter of personal priorities.

 

“I asked for wonder,” wrote Brennan Manning, “and He gave it to me.”

 

Have you asked for the same? wonderofitall.jpg

 

Have you stopped to ponder in wonder and awe lately at the promise and guarantee of life eternal for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior?

 

The long-time friend and colleague of Dr. Billy Graham, George Beverly Shea, many years ago penned the great hymn, The Wonder of it All. Here is how it begins:

 

There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.

 

Amen?

 

I’d like to know: How have you maintained this sense of wonder and awe of the Almighty and the incredible gift of His son?

 

ALSO THIS WEEK:   Because She Chose Life...   What Christians and NFL "Goats" Have in Common   Are You One of the "Crazies" ?

 

 

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Comments (25)
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Jan 25, 2012 2:40 PM Guest Jane  says:
Keeping the wonder?  Yes, last Saturday's sunrise about 7:00 a.m. in Monument, CO.  Amazing and awe inspiring!  Loved it!
Jan 25, 2012 5:03 PM Guest Rita  says:
Thinking today may be the day Christ returns! WOW!
Jan 25, 2012 5:19 PM Guest Mark W  says:

Jim,

 

The sky and the flowers do a regular job of reminding me that the Creator knows what He's doing, and further, that He's watching us with the best for us in mind.

 

I do nature photography (or is it Creation Photography?), and share what I find in a new picture every day on my website.

 

The site was inspired by a question my wife asked "What do the stars look like?", as she had never seen them.  I made 41 star-charts, of various sizes of pearls on black corduroy, to graph the constellations.  That was the Pearls on Velvet project.  She has seen the beauty of the figures in the sky.

 

I have thousands of nature shots, so a sample on the web is easy to share.

 

"Look at the Creation, then read what the Creator says in His Book."

 

Mark W
Jan 25, 2012 5:33 PM Guest Barb  says:
Remembering everyday that I know Him!!! I know the Creator of the universe and He knows me.  His wonder is fresh in His creation, in every written word of the Word, in His amazing grace that holds me close through crazy times, and most recently in the viewing of the tiny baby He is knitting together in my daughter-in- love's womb.  I surely stand amazed in the presence of Jesus and see God the Father! Pure delight!
Jan 25, 2012 5:39 PM Guest Nancy  says:
To think that He gave his only son that we might be saved, WOW!
Jan 25, 2012 5:57 PM Guest Nancy L.  says:

I don't know that I'm very good at maintaining a sense of wonder, but on occasion I do feel overcome when I think of our earth--an enormous rock, molten at its core, hurtling through space, held up by nothing we can see (how can a rock float?), circling an unbelievably enormous ball of burning gas, and thanks to the care of our wonderful creator none of the 7 billion people walking around on this rock falls off!  What keeps us from spinning off into deep space?  Gravity, I know, but isn't it amazing!  We're just the right distance from that blazing ball of gas, so that we don't burn up or freeze.  We're just the right size planet so that gravity holds us down so that we don't float away, neither are we crushed.  Our atmosphere--plants making oxygen so we can breathe, and us making carbon dioxide so the plants can breathe, the moon and tides, the tilt of the earth, the seasons--basically everything about our world is so amazing.  Sometimes as the sun is setting and the sky is becoming dark, I'm aware that our world is turning away from the source of light and I'm looking out into deep space.

 

(Bit of a space geek with very little knowledge of astronomy, but all the same...isn't our God awesome!)
Jan 25, 2012 6:42 PM Guest Lucy B.  says:

Looking to the heavens at dawn or dusk, like today when there were huge waves of beautiful clouds. WOW.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Jan 25, 2012 8:54 PM Guest Stan  says:

No matter how much the world goes through, with all of its sadness and destruction and horror, God's plan is working everything in service of an optimal plan, and will reconcile everything in the end!

 

Ephesians 1:8b-11

 

"With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will."

 

WOW! In the face of everything discouraging in this world, God's promises provide the ultimate encouragement. He truly is worthy of glory!
Jan 25, 2012 11:19 PM Guest ken  says:
God has maintained the sense of wonder for my wife and me by placing adoption on our hearts. We have three adopted kids, with a fourth on the way, and there isn't a day that we don't experience a sense of wonder and WOW. My two sons and I watched Superman tonight. As iIwas putting our five year old to bed we were talking about the movie. He commented on how many things Superman could do. I told him that though it was a good movie that it was also make-believe. He thought about it for a few seconds and said, ' I don't want to be Superman. I like being me'. Words of wisdom to end the night with. We started this whole adoption process at a late stage in life and although I am worn out and very tired at the end of the day I have never experienced so much joy and wonder. To think that God chose us to bring these kids 'home'. I am truly a blessed man.
Jan 26, 2012 7:45 AM Guest Sharon  says in response to Mark W:
Awesome!  Can you tell us the web-site?  I'd love to see those pictures.  Thanks.
Jan 26, 2012 8:07 AM SunnyFOTF SunnyFOTF    says in response to Sharon:

Hi Sharon,

 

Thanks for asking about Mark W's website.  Actually, I'd love to see those pictures, too!  Unfortunately, our posting guidelines don't allow linking to blogs or personal websites.  Sorry to disappoint, but thanks for your understanding.  Bless you!
Jan 26, 2012 8:49 AM Guest Scott D.  says:
Almost 16 years ago, my first child was born. Having married at the age of 27, I had become very set in my ways and considered myself unable to love anyone else but my wife. It concerned me very much and I prayed about it often. The big day finally arrived and I still felt nothing for this child my wife carried. I prayed with desperation, " Lord, what am I going to do? I have nothing to share with this baby!" I was holding my wife's hand, the baby came into this world, crying and kicking, and I was instantly filled with an over abundance of love for her! I felt the Lord speaking in my heart, " You did not need this love until this moment. Now that she is here, this love for her is my gift to you". I had never experienced such overwhelming love for anyone until that intstant. To this day I am amazed by HIs power to fill us with the very thing we need, at the time His will has planned.
Jan 26, 2012 8:41 AM Guest Nanette  says:

Very nice. VERY nice. However; one quibble. Jesus is NOT God's ONLY Son. He is God's only begotten Son. Big difference.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,  even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12).
Jan 26, 2012 8:44 AM Guest Brianne  says in response to ken:

There's another source of awe and wonder....the goodness of the human heart filled by the Holy Spirit.  Ken's response brought tears to my eyes.....may God continue to guide and bless you as you nuture those young souls!
Jan 26, 2012 8:55 AM Guest Jeannie T.  says:
Just this past Tuesday night I was driving home and as I rounded a curve, the most spectacular sunset opened before me!  I started to cry at the sight of it and began to praise the creativeness of God.  I also wondered at others who see the same beauty but still don't believe.  It truly humbled me and made me thankful for the love that God pours into out hearts. 
Jan 26, 2012 9:05 AM Guest jonnell  says in response to Nanette:
absolutley agree with you--- Jesus is His only begotten son--- we who accept Him as our Lord and Savior are also now His sons (and daughters) --- how is that for a WOW!
Jan 26, 2012 10:05 AM Guest Laura  says:

I just read the evening meditation from Charles Spurgeon via email and the subject was wonder and the Scripture,Luke 2:18. He said that 'wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.'  I would agree that the Lord can restore our wonder as we take time to kneel down and worship Him.  We to often take the great exchange for granted: His righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness.  It's time for our "Wow factor" to be restored!
Jan 26, 2012 10:28 AM Guest Lorna  says:
Last weekend, away for our 34th anniversary, I walked down on a private beach, just as the very first moments of darkness settled in.  I was alone on that desolate stretch of sand.  I walked up to the water's edge.  In the new darkness, I was struck by the sheer power and treachery of the ocean.  I thanked The Almighty for the fact that He created such power and majesty and treachery; and that He is much MORE powerful and holds it back.  I was just so awestruck by His care for me in my little problems that are nothing in comparison to the vastness of all He has created.  Yes.......wow!!  Lorna
Jan 26, 2012 12:24 PM Guest John W.  says:

How can anyone wake up in the morning and look out at His creation and not believe in Him! The reciting of John 3:16 by the kids was great!
Jan 26, 2012 4:05 PM Guest Kathleen R.  says:
Each time worship services are held at Mom's Alzheimer's dementia assisted living facility, almost every one of the residents lift their heads and sing. Some of these dear ones are without much speech or recognition now, but deep in their souls they remember the words and tunes to hymns of praise to their Heavenly Father andHis Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Their inner man is very much alive. I am so very blessed and strengthed with hope each time I am able to attend.
Jan 26, 2012 4:36 PM Guest Lucille  says:

All of this week and last, I have been looking at the pictures of the northern lights and the auroras and the solar storm on the planets that have been posted on websites.  Beautiful pictures, simply amazing! Through satellite images, I have been looking at those awesome stars, too, the nebula and others who atheists say do not prove the existence of God.  Well, it does for me.  The Creator even named the stars, the very same name that scientists use today.

 

"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?  Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?  or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?  Job 38:31-32
Jan 26, 2012 5:08 PM Guest Dawn  says:
As I rounded a corner near our home this afternoon, a huge and beautiful bald eagle arose from the bank next to the road and glided past my car. My mouth fell open in a "WOW".  Good thing a car wasn't coming as I craned my neck to watch it. Another 200 yards further down the road the same thing happened with another bald eagle. Who is like our God?! WOW!
Jan 26, 2012 7:07 PM Guest Tim  says in response to Nanette:

Correct Nanette, but I think you start with the milk from a bottle, then you go to the steak :-)

This commercial is for people that have no idea about the word of God. I wouldn't get that deep with someone just learning about God's love and forgiveness through his "only begotten son" Jesus.

FYI, the ESV and the NET bible both use one and only son.  I think God's ok with that. Its a manuscript issue :-)
Jan 26, 2012 9:06 PM Guest Thomas  says:
Whenever I think about God, I am utterly overcome by the love he has shown me during my life. To be where I am now compared to where I came from, there is no comparison. He has always been with me - even before I knew Him. And yet, He has an even better place for us in the new life to come ! Thank you Jesus !
Jan 27, 2012 12:24 PM Guest Lorraine B  says in response to Nancy L.:
Dear Space Geek...okay, Nancy,  :-D  You wrote everything I feel when I stop focusing on myself, or when I look up to the sky.  This place is absolutely amazing!  Thanks for wording everything so well.

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