I have always been a fan of nature. Ever since I was a kid, I loved being outdoors and going camping. I don’t know what it is – maybe the beauty in the created, the mystery of the woods, the grandeur of the mountains. There came a turning point (probably my first camping trip after becoming a Christian) where nature became more than something to be enjoyed, but it became a means of worshiping God for His power. Even today, the closest I feel to God is sitting on top of a mountain with my snowboard strapped to my feet. There is something about being immersed in His dwelling place, away from distraction and chaos. Floating through the woods in fresh powder . . . there are few things better.

Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Heart!
I love that David took the opportunity of a storm (granted, probably a pretty wicked storm) to write Psalm 29 and to worship God for just how powerful and majestic He is. Matthew Henry, as he always does, paints a beautiful picture of what stirred in David’s heart:

It is the probable conjecture of some very good interpreters that David penned this psalm upon occasion, and just at the time, of a great storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, as the eighth psalm was his meditation in a moon-light night and the nineteenth in a sunny morning . . . So composed was David, and so cheerful, even in a dreadful tempest, when others trembled, that then he penned this psalm; for, “though the earth be removed, yet will we not fear.” He calls upon the great ones of the world to give glory to God. To convince them of the goodness of that God whom they were to adore, he takes notice of his power and terror in the thunder, and lightning, and thunder-showers, his sovereign dominion over the world, and his special favour to his church.

It reminds me of a story Troy Nesbitt told at Cornerstone about a boy in a thunder storm. The boy’s mom was concerned that he would be afraid of the horrendous storm, so she poked her head in his room to find him staring out the window crying out, “Bang it again, God! Bang it again!”

Oh God, would we be so enthralled by Your power and majesty as shown in Your creation that we would cry out in wonder! That we would call out to everyone to give You the glory due to Your name.