READ: GENESIS 1; MATTHEW 6:26-33

As the trees start to change colors each year, I am in awe of all that God has created. Why did He choose to make the leaves turn different shades of orange, yellow, and red? Why didn’t He just make all of them turn a single color? Why did He choose to make maple trees, oaks, and palm? Why not just make a single type of tree? I think of old-school video games where you see the same tree repeated over and over again without a single change; God could have made the world simple like that, but He didn’t.

As we experience different types of weather, I think about the creativity of God and the gifts He’s given us here on earth. For some, cooler weather is a welcome relief from the heat of summer. For me, I’m always extremely grateful when we get a surprisingly warm day in the middle of the winter.

God gave us an earth that is truly beautiful and truly special. He could have kept things simple, but that’s not the way He likes to work. He delights in variety—He is an infinitely creative God! I look around at all that He has created, and I am in awe. We can trust this God, who made such a wonderful place for us to live, to take care of us each day and to prepare an even more wonderful home for us in the new creation. • Emily Acker

• What is one part of nature that you really appreciate? What do you see around you today that leaves you in awe of God and all He’s done? Consider taking a moment to praise Him for this!

• Even though we can see the effects of sin in the world, we can still see so many glimpses of God’s goodness. And just think about what it will be like when Jesus returns and renews the earth, healing all the brokenness caused by sin! Everyone who has put their trust in Jesus has this eternal home to look forward to. What do you imagine it will be like to live with Jesus forever in the new creation? (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 11:6-9.)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NIV)