Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, when looking out at the starry sky, a song comes to mind: "My Lord! What a Morning!"[1] (From Rev. 6:12-13: ... when the stars begin to fall). A glimpse of fallings stars is the Perseid Meteor shower, in early August (Hey! – it's still Feb.!)

When we were kids out on the ranch, we'd locate the North Star with the help of the Big Dipper, among the host of twinkling stars. We just missed seeing the Southern Cross flying home from Australia one year. Both the North Star and the Southern Cross are used as guides by many.

Stars are a source of hope for Your people, Lord. We remember Your words to Abraham: "Your descendants will be like the stars." We might say with the Psalmist as we view the awesomeness of a night sky: "When I see the stars, what is man that You are mindful of him?" We remember Wisemen from the East followed a star to find, You, Jesus. Another scripture reminds us that You are the morning light from heaven to shine on those in darkness. And now, we are stars, points of light, in the dark sky of our universe, a light to shine God's glory to a dark world around us.

Lord, the incredible expanse of Your universe with its billions of stars truly exceeds our limited comprehension. Help us be a light in this dark world around us, to shine Your light in the lives of those You place in our path. You are the Bright and Morning Star!

Help us remember Phil 2:14-15, "Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."

Love, Mara

[1] That song was written by Donald R. Hustad – 1989