Naturally

Are you a nature lover? Maybe even a so-called 'tree hugger'? (Which I suppose is just a nature lover who takes it to an annoying level, in some people's opinion...haha!). I have to smile every time I hear the word 'nature', because it takes me back to a memory of my youngest. Many years ago, when all the cousins were young, they would have 'Cousins' Camp'. One year my brother and sister-in-law had all the kids; they were on an outdoorsy adventure somewhere and as they were loading the troops into the van, my daughter had a leaf in her hand that she planned on taking with her. Her uncle probably told her to leave it behind because it was just garbage....but her response to him was 'It's natuuuure!' (in her cute little preschool voice).

Nature = the physical world and everything in it; animals, plants and things not made by man

When I set out to make my own soap, I wanted it to be choked full of nature (and completely void of any synthetic, non-natural stuff). I use oils like coconut, olive, jojoba, almond, sunflower, avocado and more; and I use butters like cocoa and shea. I only scent my soaps with essential oils derived from the essence of beneficial plants (not fragrance oils with synthetic compounds made from scientific methods). I have always said that you shouldn't put anything on your body that you wouldn't put on toast! (Though I do not recommend eating my body butter #disclaimer ;). You will find that all these natural ingredients leave your skin feeling nourished and moisturized, not dried out and itchy (especially in winter). You won't be able to help but enjoy a bar so full of lathery goodness!!

Can we really say that we appreciate the phenomenon of nature all around us? Every day? A beautiful pink sunset, a florescent orange sunrise, a moonlit night sky littered with stars, vast ocean views, an abundant field of daisies, a cluster of sweet smelling roses, or purple mountain majesties.

And did you ever notice that nature just exists effortlessly? Birds fly. Dogs protect. Cats hunt. Flowers bloom. Grass grows. Snow falls. Rain waters. All of creation was made to worship by simply doing what it was created to do. How can one deny the existence of a Creator when we just stop and take time to notice and smell those roses?

Worship = act or expression of reverence and adoration (to God)

But what about us? People. We were made to worship as well, afterall, we are the 'very good' part of creation. We were created to worship our Creator. Not creation itself (back to the tree-huggers), but the Creator Himself. You might be thinking you'd never go so far as to be one of those tree-hugging, nature worshipping people, right? Whew!

But.....what do you worship? We all worship. We can't help our innate wiring to do so. Maybe it's money. Maybe it's stuff. Maybe it's your career. Maybe it's other people (family/friends/leaders). Maybe it's your religion. Maybe it's even yourself.

Jesus laid out what real true worship is, first it's to worship God in spirit and truth. That means you understand who God is and all about the Godhead. So real worship is more than going to church, singing songs, or even just acknowledging that He exists (even the devil knows that); real worship involves what Romans says; “your body as a living sacrifice.” Your whole self (mind, body, spirit). And when you truly understand who God is and what He has done for you, you will have the utmost desire to worship Him above all else.....naturally!