Divine Reflections in Times and Seasons

by Eva Peck

Overview

Divine Reflections in Times and Seasons explores how everyday phenomena mirror spiritual realities. Readers are encouraged to take a fresh and deep look at the world around them -- to gaze at the glory of a sunrise, the unfolding leaves in the spring, and the starry heavens, for example, and to contemplate the spiritual insights they may receive.

The unfathomable reality and divine purpose is far larger than our minds can surmise. But perhaps it can be imagined as a giant holograph wherein each part contains the whole. No matter into how many parts a holograph is subdivided, the same picture remains. After a great many cuts in half, the holograph begins to get a little fuzzy, as it loses some of its detail, but the entire picture is still there. The chapters in this book therefore take a deeper look at various everyday aspects of physical realities to see what can be glimpsed of the total picture. The book then draws from what we see, based on the Bible, lessons for physical and spiritual life.

Readers are invited to come and read both the Book of God (nature) and the Word of God (the Bible) to see what treasures may be found there as far as God's character and the divine plan for humanity. Try to break away and spend some time in nature - noticing the sun rays on trees and flowers, the unfolding of new leaves, the variety of creatures of different shapes and sizes that cross your path. Take a fresh look at the sea and the dry land, the birds and the bees, the sky and clouds, as well as the starry heavens.

May such a new look at things we take for granted bring us to a sense of wonder, awe, and gratitude at the marvels around us. May we come to recognize the sacred and divine in all things and begin to feel at one with God and all of creation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780987090584
Publisher:	Pathway Publishing
Publication date:	01/18/2013
Series:	Divine Reflections , #1
Pages:	118
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.28(d)

About the Author

Eva Peck, teacher and writer with a wide international background, has loved and been interested in nature since childhood. Growing up in Central Europe, she observed her family's small backyard garden transform during each of the four seasons. In the spring, she watched the first crocus flowers break through the cold soil. Then came the tulip leaves and peony shoots. Before long, the tulips, peonies, pansies, and fruit trees were all in bloom. As the year progressed, the garden continually changed. Early in the summer the family picked cherries, then apricots. Later came the apples and pears. By late autumn, the flowering plants dried up, the leaves fell off the trees, and the whole garden went into hibernation to again awaken in the spring.

During various times of the year, family trips to the woods, meadows and mountains always spoke to Eva's heart. She admired carpets of violets and anemones on the ground, pine trees towering in the air, interestingly shaped cones sometimes having been nibbled by a hungry squirrel, the various kinds of mushrooms ranging from shades of brown to bright red, ferns by the side of a gurgling stream, fish and tadpoles in the water, and much more.

There were beetles and butterflies of various colours and sizes, pink earthworms and hairy caterpillars, hares and deer almost always on the run, birds such as pheasants or woodpeckers, mice and other rodents scampering into their holes, and even an occasional snake. Eva would pick up cones, bird feathers, flowers, and coloured autumn leaves. With her parents, she also feasted on blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. She was taught the names of the many living things that she encountered on nature walks, as well as which mushrooms were edible and which snakes were dangerous. In winter, a blanket of shimmering snow on sunlit forest trees provided a different kind of atmosphere, but no less inspiring.

While nature has always spoken to her, and her interest in it later led her to study science in high school and university, God as the Creator or the Mind behind all that exists was not a part of her consciousness as a child. It was only in her late teens that she was led to start reading the Bible. At that time, it was again nature that confirmed to her God's existence. The analogies of a watch having to have a watchmaker, laws having to be made by a law giver, and design requiring a designer made perfect sense as she continued to study both the Holy Scriptures and nature.

As time went on, she became well acquainted with the message of the Bible and the divine plan it reveals for humanity. Then she began to see nature and many daily occurrences as a mirror of the spiritual realities portrayed in the Scriptures. This became the genesis of this book, the first of the Divine Reflections trilogy. The two sequels are Divine Reflections in Natural Phenomena and Divine Reflections in Living Things.

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; All in a Day; All in a Week;All in a Month; All in a Year; Little by Little; Turning Points; Time for Everything; In the Nick of Time; Strangers in Time

Editorial Reviews

The book, Divine Reflections in Times and Seasons, which "connects nature with spirituality" is a very easy and relaxing read for all, even people who regard themselves as "non-religious." Eva takes the familiar in nature and time and compares it to spiritual realities with an abundance of scriptural references as footnotes. The small book can be comfortably read in one or two sittings, and the footnotes do not detract from the text.
Reading the book made me more reflective on the times and seasons going on around us every day. Eva weaves together the world of nature, astronomy and even the rise and fall of empires to illustrate the hand of God in time.
Nicholas P., Victoria, Australia

Your style of writing is very readable and sympathetic, and the way you reflect on the beauties of nature is lovely. Your message and discussion is soft and gentle and makes the reader feel God's love.
Margaret S., Thornlands, Australia

Divine Reflections in Times and Seasons celebrates God's creation. It's about the spiritual inspiration one can find while appreciating the beauty of nature. In my mind, nature is the most convincing evidence of the very existence of God. It all seems to work in such a perfect order. In the book Eva Peck says,"...we can see a reflection of the divine in nature.." Absolutely. It's like staring up in the sky on a starry night, and that peaceful, awe-struck feeling at the vastness of the universe. It's a feeling of being closer to God. The author links the spiritual with nature, using references from the Bible throughout. What a great book! I really enjoyed reading it.
Becca

Again, another great book from the author. I have been continuously impressed by the author and her ability to see the divine. It is easy in today society to miss the wonder. The writer uses their great experience and travels to illustrate how the seasons and the lunar calendar had a major effect now and in biblical times and how the changes in this cycle has been an inspiration in the divine for many over those times including writers and poets. Allowing them to use their skills to describe the beauty of creation. The section on when God does not intervene is particularly interesting and it good to see each page linked to a bible verse to illustrate the points made.
Cai Thomas

I like all of the books of this author, as each of them is written with love and warmth and, of course, this one is no exception. Here, the author writes about her understanding of how certain natural occurrences can be viewed in spiritual terms, as she sees the nature as a mirror of the spiritual realities. Reading that book will give you new and fresh perspective and will make you think wider.
Overall, another great and very inspiring reading from the author. I recommend it to all nature lovers and if you think you are not one of them, you will definitely become when you read this book.
Yania

Divine Reflections in Times and Seasons is a beautiful journey through nature and spirituality. Author Eva Peck has a talent for conveying the correlations between the world around us and our spiritual existence. It is a wonderful feeling to see our creator in the beauty of nature and its cycle. It is inspiring and surreal to know that we can be so close to something so pure. Peck's insights are thought-provoking and meaningful opening your mind to new possibilities and treasures. Her thoughts and revelations are intelligent, calming, and comforting, guiding the reader on a remarkable experience. I highly recommend it!
Ally McMahon

From the Publisher