Signposts of Glory on the Blue Ridge Parkway

 "O LORD, how manifold are your works! 

In wisdom you have made them all; 

the earth is full of your creatures.

Here is the sea, great and wide,

which teems with creatures innumerable,

living things both small and great.  (Ps. 104:24-25)

As I was driving through the Blue Ridge parkway on Saturday, crisp fall air flowed through my windows and my eyes were filled with the vast beauty of the mountains. I couldn't help but feel thankful to a God that deserves much more thanksgiving than I often give Him. Thankful that God created seasons and mountains and beauty. Thankful that even in a dark, pain-filled, sin-stained world, there still exists glimpses of glory, glimpses of what should be and what someday will be. All these things are signposts, signposts that point us to the Giver of all good things. The Lord that created all these things longs for us to see them and be drawn to worship Him. After all, "Compared with thee the sun is darkness,/all beauty deformity,/all wisdom folly,/the best goodness faulty" (taken from The Valley of Vision).

What a beautiful thing to know that as seasons change and as the field that once bore fruit becomes barren, there is and will always be much to give thanks for in the gospel. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). There is no greater gift than the provision of God's son. Jesus died to save a wretch like me.

What gifts are pointing you back to the Giver this week?

"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;

let this be made known in all the earth." (Isaiah 12:5)

Here's a few photos from my weekend adventure...

The view from the top of the Craggy Gardens pinnacle...gorgeous!

I loved getting time with this beautiful friend. Thankful for you Caroline!

There were wild flowers along the whole trail...one of my favorite parts of the hike!