“So that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:20 NIV

My husband and I went on our first ever cruise to Southeast Alaska. It was on a smaller ship and we were able to go into less traveled areas. I want to share it with all of you because the hand of the Lord was in that place; that beautiful wilderness of God’s creation. I just happened to be reading Isaiah 41 while we were aboard the ship and jotted down the above verse.

I also want to share a verse that I read from Isaiah 42 the next day. “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices.” Isaiah 42:10-11a NIV Both seemed timely and so appropriate for all that we saw!

A brown bear and her cub capturing a salmon for lunch (which seemed almost effortless!) and the cub running to catch up after some beach exporation.

An orca family pod swimming close to the ship. There were actually five altogether and they seemed to be playing and enjoying the day. Singing their own praises to the Creator.

Bird island filled with cormorants and gulls. And a puffin with its bright orange beak.

A humpback whale coming up for a breath and then diving for a snack of small fish or krill.

Two glaciers, one mostly snow pack and the other with layers of silt and rock picked up along its grinding path down to the sea. The pressure is tremendous and the cracking and popping noises are very loud.  Periodically chunks will break off (“calving”) and float in the water.

 

Moss blanketed rain forests, beautiful and quiet; and glacier cut depressions that become water filled bogs.

A mountain goat enjoying a precarious breakfast on a ledge on a rocky mountain.

Sea lions basking in the sunshine.

Waterfalls flow to the blue green sea from the mountain tops, cutting the path of least resistance.

A spectacular sunset, “singing a new song” to God, our creator. And we sing along with joy and wonder!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we sing a new song to our Lord and praise Him for His majestically created world.