Tom and I are back in Ohio. But, before I tell you about our journey home, I wanted to share some final thoughts about North Dakota and our time there. All this week, and perhaps some of next, I will still be talking about North Dakota even though I am sitting in my office in our little house in Ohio. Today I want to mention the North Dakota skies.
North Dakota is not flat. The western part of the state is mostly rolling hills and buttes. The hills are covered with grass but no trees. The only trees are near riverbanks, and they are all cottonwoods. Any other kind of tree you see in North Dakota was planted by somebody. Although I missed the wonderful hardwoods and evergreens of Ohio, the lack of trees means you can see a long way. Because we had an open view of the low hills all around us, we could see the western and eastern horizons. The long view meant we got to witness some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
I am a sucker for sunsets and sunrises. I love to watch them and I take lots of pictures of them. Seeing God’s glory revealed in a spectacular sunrise makes me look forward to another day. The beauty of a glorious sunset makes me feel secure in God’s care. The clouds of a storm or the promise of a rainbow all reveal God’s attention to detail in our creation. During the last four months, I took lots of pictures of the North Dakota skies. Here are some of those pictures and some relevant Bible verses.
Samuel 23:4 “He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.”
Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised.”
Psalm 50:1 “The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down.”
Psalm 136:3-9 “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: to him who alone does great wonders, who by his understanding made the heavens, who spread out the earth upon the waters, who made the great lights – the sun to govern the day and the moon and stars to govern the night.“
Psalm 148:3-5 “Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.”
Psalm 72:5 “They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.”
Jeremiah 31:35 “He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is his name.“
Ecclesiastes 11:7 “Truly the light is sweet and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun.”
Malachi 1:11 “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.”
Job 26:8 “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.”
Job 37:16 “Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?”
Psalm 97:2 “Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.”
Psalm 104:3 “He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.”
I will miss the beautiful North Dakota skies.