Place of Gratitude and Wonder
Place of Gratitude and Wonder
What is the true secret of happiness?
Most people believe that they will be happy when something happens in the future that will bring them what they think they want and need to be happy. That might be owning a home, starting and owning a successful company or getting the long overdue promotion. It might be meeting one’s soulmate, then having children, that would make them happy. Most of what people think will make them happy is “in the future” “someday when I have, when I obtain, when I accomplish this or that specific goal. Having goals are great and are highly recommended in building a good life but achieving them does not guarantee happiness. A cherished goal is just another step forward but as soon as one reaches that goal, a new goal will appear. That’s life and doesn’t necessarily lead to a feeling of lasting happiness. Happiness is elusive, always moving, changing. But, if you let go of that desire and put your trust in the "hands" of God, and you believe that He loves you and has a purpose for your life and that life itself is the unfolding of one’s knowledge of God; then He will bring you the utmost happiness, inner peace, and glory. "I’ve learned that the more I’m thankful, the more I’m filled with praise to my Heavenly Father, and the more I praise God, the happier and more joyful I become". This is the ultimate place of gratitude and wonder.
Attitude is Everything:
It all comes down to living with an attitude of gratitude. William James, a great philosopher of the 19th century, opened the doors to the past 100 years of self-help psychology when he said something new that caught the imagination of popular culture of his day... “You can alter your life by altering your attitudes of mind. The first attitude to change is to believe that it (changing one’s attitude) is possible. Belief is strong; stronger than we can imagine.” We contend that anyone can raise their level of happiness by simply being aware and thankful for what they currently have and then expressing it, feeling it and loving it. The sincere (vs. lip service “thank you”) experience of gratitude is always positive. If gratitude is sincere, then the thankful person in that moment is having an emotional experience that renders one humble - while being exalted at the same time. Gratitude is a uplifting spiritual experience that conveys a feeling and message of divine thought rooted in love. At some point in this learning process, while combining the belief in an all-powerful creator with the unconditional Love of God, you’ll reach a turning point and a light will go on. You'll become aware of God and a new wisdom will manifest itself in your consciousness. A knowingness will appear within your heart and soul; a knowingness that is rooted in pure unadulterated love. You'll know that beautiful planet earth is a place in time and space for us spirits to explore, expand and grow. We are to grow in love and compassion while we're here, because that's what love does and that is our ultimate purpose - to love. Knowing this - is where you'll find your bliss.
Getting to the root of happiness..
How does it feel? How do you feel? How do you want to feel? These are the questions you should be asking yourself if you want to truly be happy- since there is a feeling of happiness; that is what our perceived happiness actually is. Happiness is a feeling and not a destination. It does not come from things we possess, but rather, a feeling we get when we realize how in that moment, at that exact time, all is right with the world and your heart is full of grace and gratitude- overflowing with appreciation for what you've been given! This is when one suddenly realizes how beautiful the world can be and is. This is a feeling of bliss, joy and happiness. Are you feeling it yet? Of all the gifts there are, the greatest one of all is the gift of life on planet Earth - your life! Sometimes we feel we are just one person and question whether our lives can make a difference. I believe that one person can make a difference, and especially when that one person combines his or her efforts with the efforts of millions of other like-minded people. This is how things change for the better. Tell someone they are beautiful today, and tell somebody else tomorrow! Make it a habit to start seeing everyone as beautiful. Turn on your love light.
Increasing Your Gratitude & Wonder
For all of us on this planet, there are literally millions of things that are wonderous to behold and untold things to be thankful for. We suggest starting with being aware and thankful that there is a benevolent and loving God who is on your side and wishes the very best for you. Be assured, He will never leave you nor forsake you. This is not wishful thinking, it’s reality. This means that the greatest thought you can think of or imagine - is absolutely true! What a great thought. So, start with being thankful for that. (See how to get there in the discussions below.) Understand that gratitude Is the foundation of all love and happiness and "wonder" brings joy to the soul. Remember to always be aware of how truly blessed you are in your own personal way - and express that gratitude to your Heavenly Father - all the time! Pray without ceasing. This is something you can learn to do. You always want to be expressing your love and gratitude to God the Father, who is the object and source of all your blessings. Basically: always be thanking God for every little blessing in your life. As you do this, God will fill you with His love and His Holy Spirit and that will change everything for the better. Guaranteed!
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Everybody focuses on love but sometimes it's hard to obtain, hard to find and hard to experience. Gratitude is the next best thing to love and will ultimately lead to love and loving life. Gratitude is the closest emotion to love, however, it's much more of an obtainable emotional state and one that is easily acquired by anyone who cares. Gratitude will lead ultimately to love and happiness. The first step is being aware of this potential for your ultimate happiness. It's easy to improve your experience of life by simply by being aware of what you've been given and blessed with. There is always a positive side, there is always hope and a promise to those who believe. Sure, there is a lot of darkness but the aware person focuses on the light and thereby multiplies it. Be in love with the concept of gratitude and wonder and you’ll soon be in love. Being filled with gratitude and wonder creates in you the "Kingdom of God" (which is love) and everything else will be added to you.
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God is Love! Your personal knowledge of God's love for you is key to finding your bliss - so first it's important to believe that God (who is best defined as LOVE) exists and is real. Do you believe in love? Then you believe in God because God is love. But perhaps you aren't sure? Maybe it's hard to simply "believe" and you need more "proof" of God's existence. If so, millions of people have found the following discussions helpful in providing the intellectual underpinnings for your belief in this loving God. The idea of the existence of a loving personal God is not just wishful thinking any more, it's a reality, and Intelligent Design Theory combined with the understanding of the meaning of Near Death Experiences will take you there - to the 'Place of Gratitude and Wonder'.
Sincere Gratitude: The Real Secret To Happiness
True gratitude touches the heart of God. Gratitude generates a connection between the grateful one and the one who is the receiver of the gratitude, be it man, woman, or God. In either case, a heartfelt message of love is being manifested and given. This conscious thought creates a positive force and sends a wave of goodness into the world. In other words, gratitude is a valuable ingredient in a workable formula for happiness. Therefore, mastering sincere gratitude should be your first step, if you really want to be happy. It's the easiest and shortest distance between where you are now , (in your level of happiness) to where you have the potential to go, something most of us didn't think was possible. So, please believe me, if you want your life to change for the better start with appreciating your life now. Be aware of all the gifts around you. Enjoying the modern infrastructure someone else has built and paid for. Transportation, cars, planes, electricity, medicine, hygiene, running water… We are all very rich and blessed compared to almost every other generation who has ever lived up until one hundred years ago. Notice and embrace that and soon you’ll be smiling!
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"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands." -Psalm 19:1
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
-Romans 1:20
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Why now? Because there is a need for the divine to intervene in world affairs in order to save it from itself. Soon, more people will start to understand that there is a loving God and if they continue growing that faith and begin seeking His will, they will be transformed into beings filled with love, gratitude, and joy. A metamorphosis like nothing they will ever experience.
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How can we work with God to save the world? First the universal reality of a living and loving God needs to go viral. It’s coming soon. Science is proving God’s reality. It’s now so obvious that soon belief in God will become common knowledge. And so will the love of God. This will be our salvation. So, this is the first step in changing the world! This is because it’s become obvious to any thinking person, that the world is intelligently designed. We are intelligently designed. For those who need more reasoning to bring you to this place of scientific truth, more has been provided. There are now dozens of scientific books written that discuss in detail the amazing complexity of DNA and the living cell. With the help of reason and use of mathematics and probability theory, they conclude that this creation we call planet earth could never have happened by itself. Probability theory says all we see in our world could not just simply happen by chance, not in 14 billion years, or a hundred billion years; in fact, it’s becoming absurd to even still ponder such a concept! Only an intelligent mind with infinite creative ability could make and manifest what we see around us. Gods' consciousness made everything! All we can do is try to study and admire it while improving our lives here on earth with our blessed creative minds and the abilities we've been given. The deeper we go into the scientific research, the more imbedded information and intelligence - MIND is uncovered. "The more they think they know, the more they reveal what they don’t know.”
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The obvious question then becomes: Where did the information come from? And why is there something rather than nothing? How did intelligent life come into existence from lifeless dead mater? How did dead mater become self-conscious? Random chance mutations? No. How could one believe such a thing? Based on the science, an infinitely intelligent Being is the most logical answer, some would call that supreme intelligence - God. And for the record, the word "God" is just a symbol we use to describe the indescribable. Here is one way to think of God: There is a God, I can feel him. He is unlike anything and everything we can imagine. He is not an individual, nor a separate entity. He is neither a male or a female, He shares no characteristics with us except consciousness and intelligence of which ours is a drop in the ocean of his. He is everywhere and anywhere. He is the grand universe that views us from outside and from the inside. He is the large gargantuan mass that exists which contains us and everything else. The universe itself is a manifestation of this creator. The grandeur, the beauty. He is the way and why everything exists. The Great magnificence of our majestic universe - is God. That is what God is. He is the source of everything. “In him, we live, we move and have our being.” It’s almost crazy and ignorant to actually look at yourself and see your surroundings and see the world and the incomprehensible universe and see the miracle of our planet and not be in state of Gratitude and Wonder. It's natural to feel a reverence for the power and intelligence behind it all. The power behind love, evolution and the unfoldment of my life and time - that is God to me.
"Personally, I refer to God as my "Heavenly Father." It works for me. So, my Heavenly Father is something good that has always been there for me throughout my entire life, even during the 10 years when I didn’t believe in Him. He was still there protecting me and helping me and keeping me alive and out of serious trouble or danger. For me, my Heavenly Father has always been the best part of my life. He has shown mercy and come to my rescue too many times to count. I love God because He first loved me. This is just a taste of what God means to me!" - John Wilkins
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So, what’s the point? The point is, the world seems to be in a dangerous place right now. Strange things are happening in the world and it seems to be out of mankind’s control. There is a deep seeded fear and feeling that the world and civilization itself is on the brink of something cataclysmic. We are all living in a world that is in flux… and anything is possible. Its scary because most people don’t have faith in mankind’s ability to wise up in time to change the world for the better. Most unenlightened people are are cynics and think the world is going to get what’s coming to it. The consequences of bad judgement and a lack of wisdom has set the stage for all hell to break loose. So, the world is in trouble, it’s been pushing the limits and living on the dark side for too long. The cynicism is turning putrid. The bad attitudes are making us all sick to our stomachs. But, it’s time for the pendulum to begin to swing back to a universal belief in a loving God. We are at the point where, optimistically speaking, the world is ready to make a change for the better. People want to cleanse their souls and become righteous and good and feel clean and become a positive force in the world. They want to be loving and not hateful. They want to be giving and not taking. They want to be positive and not negative. They ultimately want to believe in a loving personal God that created them and loves them and has a glorious purpose for their lives! They want meaning! Surrendering to God’s love brings all of the good that there is in life - to us.
The 'Wonder' in Gratitude & Wonder
We know that intelligence exists in the universe since human beings exist and we have language and cognitive skills, creative abilities, and can solve problems in subjects like mathematics, physics, biology, etc. Out of man’s intelligence have also come great structures like skyscrapers and atom smashers, like CERN's L.D.C. – Large Hadron Collider. So, intelligence indeed exists on planet earth and therefore we can infer that intelligence should also exist in the outer depths of the expansive universe. Why is it such a leap of faith for some to believe that there could be a greater creative source of intelligence (God), and that he/she/they could exist somewhere in the universe or even outside of the universe? If we can imagine intelligence on other planets in our universe, and we are actively looking for that signal of intelligence...why can't we believe that there is a ultimate source of intelligence that we can imagine as a creator God? On planet earth, humans are like gods when compared to apes and other animals.
Our intelligence gives us god-like powers over most of the animal world in that we can manage, control, and dominate them. This is a fact of life here on planet earth. However, if man is so advanced beyond other species on Earth, and our planet is just a speck of dust in the cosmic scheme of things, then why is it difficult to imagine that in the vast cosmos, populated with unimaginable black holes, quasars, stars 100 times more massive than our sun, and supernovas whose explosion creates a greater brightness than the stars in our galaxy; that these things conveyed to us show how anything is possible?! If man is so insignificant compared to the rest of the universe, and we have such great capability to create, then why is it difficult to imagine that a God-like power created the universe and everything in it too? We've been conditioned from birth to center all of our focus and attention onto ourselves and our immediate problems, rather than seeking the truths of life and understanding what our real purpose of existing is.
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Atheistic denial of the possibility of a creator demonstrates a level of pride, ego, and lack of humility that is tricky to understand for us, spiritually-minded folks. As intelligent as we perceive ourselves to be, we aren’t so intelligent to say with undeniable certainty that a greater consciousness and force – combined with greater creative abilities than ours – does not and cannot exist.
Wonder Quotes
(1) "He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed." (2)"The scientist is activated by a wonder and awe before the mysterious comprehensibility of the universe which is yet finally beyond his grasp. In its profoundest depths it is inaccessible to man." — Albert Einstein
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"People who’ve had any genuine spiritual experience always know that they don’t know. They are utterly humbled before mystery. They are in awe before the abyss of it all, in wonder at eternity and depth, and a Love, which is incomprehensible to the mind." — Richard Rohr
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"Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me."
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"What is sacred is what is worthy of our reverence, what evokes awe and wonder in the human heart, and what, when contemplated, transforms us utterly." — Phil Cousineau
Wonder Synonyms
awe · admiration · wonderment · fascination · surprise · astonishment · amazement
…but Wonder fits them all!
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Wonder is caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. Wonder is the feeling of awe and inspiration with the world around us. Some describe it as a child-like delight and admiration with the natural state of the world. It is a positive feeling that can permeate through the body when you experience it. The benefit of wonder is that it gives you an opportunity to slow down, pause and experience the momentary magic that is happening every minute around you right now.Experiencing more wonder can increase your level of happiness and joy that your everyday experience brings you. Wonder can take a normal drive to the grocery store and turn it into a transcendental event. It’s all about attuning your mind to perceive and seek more wonder. Your God given imagination is the primary tool to access more gratitude and wonder.
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• Gratitude & wonder go hand-in-hand in creating a powerful, personal "world view."
When I begin to thank God for all my blessings, I cover all the bases - including all the infrastructure that was provided for me in this life since I was born. I am amazed and stand in wonder at how lucky I am when I consider something as common as getting a hot shower when I really need one. I reflect on the fact that most people who have lived on planet earth for the past 10,000 years, billions of people just like us - never had the opportunity to get a proper hot shower. That is something that I’m happy and grateful for and it’s wonderful! This takes some focus and training of your mind, but it’s totally possible to create the glorious habit of Praising God…it’s like a mantra that you think of throughout the day. Think about the cool fact that you are trusted to drive a 5,000 pound, air conditioned vehicle, complete with an amazing sound system that connects to your smart phone that allows you to download any recorded music in history from the Beatles to Beethoven! What do you want to hear? It’s there for you…now! right now! This is a wonder and is truly wonderful and I am filled with gratitude for it all.
There's thousands of things in our everyday lives (just on the technology front) that we can point to and agree, yes, that is truly wonderful. So gradually, the easier it becomes for you to think in this new 'wonder' mindset, the sooner you'll be on your way to a richer and more fulfilling life!
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The next natural step from “wonder” that will create more happiness in your life is to feel the gratitude that flows from the wonder. Yes! When I gaze upon a beautiful sunset, or look up on a clear night into the starry vastness of the universe…I allow myself to feel the wonder of it all and then I naturally thank God. And yes, sometimes I Thank God for a needed hot shower. Expressing thanks is showing gratitude. And showing gratitude feels good and feeling good is kind of the idea of bliss. Bliss can be found in anything, it can be found anywhere. There is always something your senses can pick up that you can observe and be thankful for. This could be called “the practice of the presence of God.” Practice bringing to your mind the never ending Grace…( as in praying without ceasing) remembering the gifts that are all around you every minute of every day. Now, remember to thank God for bringing the many benefits into your life. Just use your imitation to think and be grateful for even the little things that we all take for granted. Like the fact that you were taught to read at an early age which opened up the world of books to you. Compare and contrast the fact that Billions of humans before you, people just like yourself, didn’t have books to read and most were illiterate anyway. How about the ability to travel the world in a flying jet powered aluminum tube at almost 500 mph! You can get places pretty quickly at that speed.
The kings and lords of earth didn’t have that luxury until the 20th century. How lucky we are to be living at this very time in history!
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And what about the wonders of the world itself? It’s all there for humans to see and experience. We are filled with awe and wonder when we see sights like Yosemite, The Grand Canyon, Tahoe, Victoria Falls, Yellowstone Park, and the beautiful beaches, waves and mountains of Kawai - to just name a few! And what of the magnificent oceans? And what about the endless assortment of life on the planet. From Ants to Elephants, from fish to whales. Think of the wonder of Birds and the honey bees. The flowers of the fields and color and sound and music. It’s all so amazing and wonderful for humans to behold. If only they had eyes to see. And what of humans? We and our bodies are wonderfully made. We are given the ability and senses to observe all these wonders that life has to offer. Life itself is a wonder and a mystery and we get a lifetime to figure it all out. (And the truth is there for the taking, although its hidden in plain sight.) It’s never too late to be the right thing. I love a good Hollywood ending, and I love the fact that “all is well that ends well”. And let me assure you, it ends very well for all those who find their bliss in the place of gratitude and wonder.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” -1 Corinthians 2:9
So be happy and glad, you are indeed a blessed soul living in the midst of an on-going miracle of existence where God lives, moves and has His being. And never forget, He loves you with an everlasting love. If we are alive, there is always hope and hope itself is a wonder. What a wonderful gift of life we’ve been given! Life is the greatest wonder of all. We wake up each morning with a fresh start on a new day. We are given another opportunity to think and do the right things that can make the world a better place- for ourselves and others. This is a meaningful time and great place to get busy doing good.
The wonder of it all, and the greatest thing is that I get to have a love affair with the “person and spirit of love.” as time passes, I have become convinced that this relationship is really working and is solid and real. I can trust it and that is truly a comfort and helps me in times of need.
If you want to be happy and in a state of bliss most of the time, then be filled with wonder as much as possible. It’s easy! Yes, it’s as easy as bringing thoughts of gratitude to mind. It will take some practice and mindfulness - training on your part. You will need to make it a meaningful goal for the rest of your life. Practice, practice and soon you’ll train your mind to dwell in this place of gratitude and wonder. Do you wish to find real happiness? Bliss? Then try putting in the time - in prayer and meditation - on the meaning of gratitude and wonder as it brings you closer to the Father, seeking always to be humble and thankful as you strive to love God and Love People. When you do, you’ll find yourself in this place of gratitude and wonder more often. This is where one finds ultimate bliss and the pure joy of living. It’s all a glorious wonder! Thank you my Heavenly Father, forever and ever I thank you for it all.
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*NOTE: My Heavenly Father-God is something good that has always been there for me throughout my life. Even during the 10 years when I didn’t believe in Him, He was still there protecting me and helping me and keeping me alive and out of serious trouble or danger- danger I could have easily fallen into. For me, my Heavenly Father has always been the best part of my life. He loves me and gives meaning to my life. He has shown mercy and come to my rescue too many times to count. I’ve learned to depend on Him for support and direction. “One day at a time, John, one day at a time.” I love God because He first loved me. God is love, the very essence of pure love. All things come from this expansive infinite loving being. And I say God is a being, because He is a “being” to me, like a person with a personality that cares for me and my life - even more then I do. I love God so much that I just want to thank him all the time, since I know what my relationship with Him has meant to me all these years. “God is the true lover of my soul." This is what my God is to me and He could be the same for you too, and maybe even more! - J.W.
Worship is a believers response to God's revelation of Himself. It is expressing wonder, awe, and gratitude for the worthiness, the greatness, and the goodness of our Lord. It is the appropriate response to God's person, His provision, His power, His promises, and His plan. The feeling of awe and sense of wonder arises from the recognition of the deep mystery that surrounds us everywhere, and this feeling deepens as our knowledge grows! When you consider the widely accepted experiences of Near Death Experiences along with the fine tuning of the universe for life, the case for believing in a loving, creator God is impossible to ignore; and why would anyone use their God-given intelligence to come up with reasons why life has no meaning or purpose? Richard Dawkins, the most famous atheistic scholar of our time, is a true believer in scientific materialism and says that his findings bring him to believe that- "Life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA. Life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.”
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Why not use your intellectual reasoning abilities to affirm life and meaning and love and hope, when there is a plethora of good arguments for that position? As for Dawkins and those who hold this point of view, the bible says this:
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Disclaimer:
I'm aware that only a handful of people will be drawn to this site and its message of love, but that’s OK. If only a few come to this beautiful, peaceful and loving place and find a deeper walk with their God, then mission accomplished.
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1. This site is for anyone of any creed or religion. It has a Christian heart and I am not ashamed to say I am a Christian. It was the simple message of the Gospel, and the greatest story ever told that totally drew me in to God’s love and forgiveness and mercy and more love. In a moment, I was miraculously saved from myself. I’ve been protected all my life by my Heavenly Father. I’m thankful for the interesting and amazing life I’ve been privileged to live. So, this could be labeled a Christian site (and I’m sure that will upset some Christians somewhere.) But I’m just doing the best I can to share what God has shown me. The site is Christian but it’s more than just Christian, just as God is greater than Christianity. The sight is meant to draw all souls to it as a safe place to feel God’s love and presence. Everyone is welcome, no one is excluded. We are all God’s children. We are all ONE.
* There are no spiritual arguments here. Every person is equally accepted and loved.
2. The use of the Pronoun “he” and the use of “Father’ when describing the infinite God is not meant to upset anyone, quite the opposite, but I’ve always used the male pronoun to describe God as my Heavenly Father, and this is just what works for me personally. Personally, like Jesus, I refer to God as my Heavenly Father. I like the comforting idea that a loving heavenly Father gives me. Anyone can describe God in their own terms. The Force, the Source, Love, the infinite Creator, etc. etc. Of course, I know there is no way to express what God is in reality. We don’t have the facility to begin to comprehend the true nature of God. We use the term God and our Father as a form of short-hand to make it easier to communicate the big idea of an infinite God. But here are a few attempts I’ve made to describe the indescribable. It’s almost comical to imagine how someone could look around at their surroundings or at themselves- seeing the world with all it's incomprehensible universe, and the miracle of our planet and at the same time not be in awe or feel a deep reverence for the power and intelligence behind it all. The power behind evolution and the unfoldment of life and time. that is God to me.​
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"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
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"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." (quantum mechanics)
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"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
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"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him."
