A Blinking Code

 

Breathless! When I see a dark sky littered with brilliant stars, that is what happens to me.  I am in awe of the Milky Way, a truly dazzling phenomenon.  God was so generous when He sprinkled those twinkling miracles high in the heavens, scattering flickering illumination in pulsing patterns across the indigo darkness.

God gave everything purpose, for sure the stars can cause us to glorify Him. I praise Him every time I see them and since I am an early riser, that’s mornings as well as nightly if the weather permits.

Of course, we also know He had other purposes.  He used a star to guide the Magi to the manger when Christ was born. For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2 (NKJV)

For centuries stars were primary navigational instruments. When my husband and I sailed for weeks at a time (before maritime GPS), we used oceanic charts and played around with star charts. We marveled at how sailors could have made their way around the world using the constellations.

Stars are so magnificent we choose them as symbols. As a child, I worked hard to get gold stars on my schoolwork. Now the number of stars rates our Netflix movies, Amazon purchases, hotels, and restaurants. Christianity uses the seven-pointed star to represent the gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and delight in the Lord.

I have always wanted to be adept at picking out constellations and naming the heavenly orbs. But the earth moves, so it’s a big task. Once I find the major ones, Polaris (North Star) Venus, Mars, Pleiades, Orion’s Belt, or the dippers, I can find others. Often, I resort to a chart or an app. I can identify so few of them. I could never name the billions of them. But He knows them all! Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)

To me, that is proof the stars are personal to Him.  Like they are to me.

When I was eleven, having been nurtured by grandparents to have a keen interest in all things Native American, I wondered… if I were to have a Native name, what would it be? When I learned that God had named every single star…well, it was only natural I would go to The Source with my request. What would He name me?  Where we lived, I would crawl out of my bedroom window at ground level, lean my back against the foundation, and pray with my eyes wide open looking up at the night sky, astounded by the Milky Way. I liked to imagine that God was using Morse Code through the twinkling brilliance and that deep in my brain He had implanted an instinctual guide to understand His encryption, not logically but intuitively. I prayed that God would somehow send me a name, just as He had each of the billions of stars. Surely, he could spare one more. To my astonishment on a deep cellular level one night, it was as if I heard Him say, “You admire the stars with wonder. You even listen to see if I speak through them. From the heavens, you are a Little Earth Star Listening.”

My personal name! “Little Earth Star Listening!” Even now I look up and pray, “Lord, it’s me, Little Earth Star Listening.” (Until now, less than five people have ever heard that truth). I have never gotten another message in that way. But that name defines me. I am listening. I want to hear His voice. In whatever way it comes.

So, what if the musings of my juvenile mind were correct, and star-powered Morse Code reaches a part of us that understands our Creator intuitively? What if we interpret that knowledge as wonder and reverence, and while we are glorifying Him, we are being downloaded with heavenly guidance?

Stargazing often leaves me with more than a feeling of astonishment. Sometimes I am inspired or motivated or have creative thoughts while I look up. For sure my emotions always shift to a more positive position.

Maybe… just maybe…some part of us understands without proof, that when we connect to the stars it connects us to Him.

If nothing else, praying and meditating on His majesty beneath that magnificent carpet of deep darkness littered with flickering lights fills my heart with praise. And glorifies Him.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

 

 

I would love your comments. Or maybe answer a question or two.

Do you have experience under the night sky that you can share?

How do you think the Magi knew it was “His star?”

How do you feel when you come away from a stargazing experience? And if it changes your mood, how?

 

The Conversation

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6 Comments

    The Conversation

  1. Tina says:

    A year or so ago, I was struggling to sense God’s love. Having a significant trauma history it is difficult for me to feel what I know. One night an image of the milky way appeared on my screen and God say that is how many ways that I love you, as numerous as the stars! So I am continually reminded of His great love by the multitude of stars! Thank you for sharing your passion for Jesus and the intimate way that He has loved you as well.

    • Deborah Maxey says:

      Tina, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I love the miracle you shared! I love it when He reaches us through unconventional ways. And how awesome that you were receptive, heard Him, and allowed yourself to know it was your creator. Talk about unfathomable love! What an incredible illustration He showed you!
      I can’t wait to see the milky way again and think about what you shared. Thank you. Deborah

  2. Also Deborah says:

    I love your share about the heavens and how God speaks to you through the twinkling of the stars. I miss my youth of being way out of the city under the huge Texas sky wheere I could really see the stars and feel so close to God. I have been to much in the city ever since and miss that awe, your story brought that back for me. I never thought of asking God to give me a star name! What an awesome idea. The next time I am out under the stars I will ask as well.

    Right now I find myself frequently asking God for intuitive insight to my life instead of pryaing for answers to questions. That seems to be enabling me to be more open and receptive to what God wants to say to me instead of me having preconceived ideas of an answer or what I need. Despite the COVID and the lockdown we are all under and more people here dealing with health and death due to life and not COVID, I still find myself at peace as I know the God of my undertandign is in control of all things and my job is to be a friend and try to love in the ways that I am shown, not the ways I think I need to love. Being open to direction is such a blessing in my life as I was not always that way. I even have one person here ask me to help her navigate hospice when the time comes for her or her husband as I have offered that to my fellow travelers. Not that I am an expert, but I now have experience, strenght, and hope in an area of my life I had not had before. That is my responsiblity now, to share my limited corner of understanding to anyone who wants me to share. I cannot wait for your book to come out and will present what I know to out bookclub at the end of the month to consider for our reading!Als

    • Deborah Maxey says:

      How wonderful that you have “star memories.” And asking for intuitive insight is brilliant! When I read about how God has you serving currently, I’m reminded of a wonderful praise and worship song, Josh Wilson – “Dream Small” (Lyric Video) – YouTube
      http://www.youtube.com › watch
      We don’t usually think of it in the way this song describes and I hope you enjoy it.
      Thank you for your feedback. And thank you for your support. It seems that is one of your true gifts.

  3. Tammy Elliott says:

    First of all, thank you for that amazing story. I love the name given and I truly believe it was given. I have always loved the stars and have a special relationship with them. They make me feel safe for some reason. I feel home. One experience I do remember was when I was 21, I sat on a stoop outside and prayed to God looking up at the stars, particularly Orion. I was so disheartened. I felt that I was different than everyone else and that no one loved the way that I loved. I prayed that God would one day send me someone who would love me as I loved them with all of my heart, mind, and soul. I just realized…he answered me then and there with His love and probably was wanting me to recognize the same thing about Him. He’s always been with me.

    • Deborah Maxey says:

      Oh my word, thank you for sharing that. And, how beautiful. How true. And I love that you learned that under the stars. I do believe we have better “clearance” to God out there 🙂 I know I do.