But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. They’re back, the daffodils in the cove; singing of joy and hope! They have made it through the long winter and came up through frosty ground. They are not native to the mountains but were brought here by early settlers as a way of reminding them of the land they left. You will likely find them close to old homesites. These I found in my favorite place to look, under the large trees close to Hyatt Lane. Every spring I journey to the mountains to find them again, sheltered under this tree. They bring me hope after long winters.
After voicing his lament over God’s seeming absence in Psalm 13, David ends his lament with words of trust. He has seen God’s goodness in the past, and like the daffodils in spring, sings his doxology of God’s unfailing love. Today I join the daffodils in their doxology. Prayer Lord God. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye Heavenly Hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
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Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. From the “Height of Land” overlook in Rangely, Maine the expansive landscape opens before your eyes. Even on this day when the sky was filled with clouds, the view was still awe inspiring. We need times in our lives when we see and feel God’s greatness and stand in awe of our majestic and mighty God Creator. We need to celebrate God's expansive love for us and sing his praise.
Prayer Glorious God Fill our lives today with awe and wonder. In our hearts and maybe even out loud we sing our doxology: Praise God from all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Amen Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. The mountain streams bring life to everything around them. Along with many others,I love to go there to enjoy their beauty. They refresh my soul. We come to God’s word in the same way. We need to read passages like these words of Paul to remind us who we are and to give us strength to go forward in difficult days. I love these beautiful words about this passage by N. T. Wright from the For Everyone Bible Commentary on Ephesians.
“As we read Ephesians today, to be strengthened and encouraged as Christians for the new tasks that lie ahead, we should remember that all genuine Christian life and action flows out of worship. True worship of the true God cannot help telling and retelling, with joy and amazement, the story of what this God has done in Jesus the Messiah.” Prayer Jesus Messiah We stand amazed at your love for us. May love for you flow through our praise and worship and strengthen us for the tasks you lay before us this day. Amen I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. It was getting dark the summer afternoon that I took this image. The twilight makes the white flower stand out against its surrounding. It seems to shout joy in the darkness, opening up its petals to reveal its heart.
The words of Mary’s song ring out like the flower. She praises God even in a time that was not going to be easy. How could anyone believe her story, the story that would mark her maybe her whole life, unwed mother. This in a time when an unwed, pregnant women could even be stoned. She rejoiced because she trusted in a God who was her rescuer. Our joy and praise can ring out too. Christmas is coming and many will be away from family sheltering in place from the virus that ravages out world. It won’t be easy but join Mary and sing praise for the One who has come to rescue us. Prayer Break into our hearts with joy in our darkness this day. May we spend this day bringing glory to you. Amen Sing praises to God, sing praises! When I think about kings I imagine palaces filled with gold, stunning in their beauty and filled with light. The palace of Our King is so much greater than any building for our Great King created the universe. He has given us a beautiful place to life and fills our world at this time of year with the brilliant colors of autumn. As the sun warms our hearts God's love shines in our lives with the golden light of autumn.
Prayer Great King This day we bow to you and seek to serve you with our obedience. We sing your praise in the golden light of autumn. Amen This is the day that the Lord has made; Sometimes in dark and difficult times it is hard to remember a day like this one with clear, blue skies and white, fluffy clouds. I imagine Psalm 118 being sung on such a day. This psalm is part of the group of psalms known as the Hallel that were used as processionals to the temple during feasts days filled with joy.
It is easy to rejoice in a victory on a day like this, but all our days are not clear, blue-sky days. Even in difficult days we can still rejoice when we put our focus on Jesus. For it was Jesus who conquered death. In him we find victory even in our darkest days. In him we can truly say, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Prayer Lord God Remind us of your steadfast love this day and help us keep a heart of joy as we put our focus on you. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! The Psalmist begins this Psalm calling other people to join him in worshiping the Lord, the God of Creation. Today, even though the day maybe both physically and emotionally cloudy, worship the God who not only created the trees and the mountains and the skies but the God who made us and makes us his people. Like the grass and trees who brim with new life in the spring, God brings new life to us through Jesus Christ. Spend time today in God’s creation and be amazed by its range from a sky filled with dark clouds to a clear, blue sky with white fluffy clouds, from the smallest blade of grass to the biggest tree, from the deepest ocean to the highest mountain.
Prayer Lord God Creator We bow and worship you this day. Thank you for the beautiful world you have created and for making us your people, the sheep of your pasture. Amen “Glory to God in the highest, Fireworks are used to celebrate all kinds of things - this one happened to be the Fourth of July. You might think this is an unusual picture to choose for Christmas Eve, but when you think about this verse it is a celebration. That first Christmas night, the angels were celebrating God's plan to send a Savior to the earth in the form of a baby. Next time you go to a fireworks show, listen to the crowd. They ooh and ah and tell each other to look at the amazing spectacle of light. We all celebrate Christmas in different ways; but on these days of Christmas may we also remember to celebrate and be amazed at the birth of Jesus.
Prayer Lord Jesus We stand amazed at your love for us seen in Jesus Christ. May we tell others about your glory this day. Amen Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! As we made our way up the trail to Hidden Falls we were passed by a group of very strong men all in red shirts with backpacks. After a while of steady up hill we got to a broad place along the trail overlooking the lake where we could take a rest. I looked up and saw those tiny red specks on the mountain and realized those were the men that had passed us. So big and strong when we first saw them and now against the mighty mountain they were only specks of color. (Look closely at the bottom of the image for the red specks)
When I look at God’s world I feel like those men so small against something as majestic as the mountain they were climbing. I question how could God care for mankind so small and insignificant in this vast created universe. David also asks this question in the middle of his beautiful Psalm 8. Instead of an answer to the question, the psalm just begins and ends with praise. There are times when we will all question God, doubt his care for us, be overcome with our insignificance. In those times we speak the words of this psalm and doubt and praise exist together. Anxiety is replaced by awe. And we continue climbing trusting in the God who made the mountain. Prayer Majestic Lord When we look at your amazing world we stand in awe of your majesty. We sing your praise even when we don’t always understand how and why you care for us. Replace our anxiety with awe. Amen How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; The wood lily’s bloom is not just one but many small blooms. You don’t see this until you get up close and see that it is a flower made up of flowers. While each little flower is similar it is also unique in its coloring. And this is just one small part of God’s creation, a creation full of amazing diversity. When I see the wood lily, this small part of God’s creation, I can hardly fathom the wisdom of God that created this diverse, complex, and interrelated world. So I sing praise to him and I will sing to the Lord every time I step into his beautiful, amazing world.
Prayer Great Creator God May our praise be pleasing to you this day in your beautiful world. Amen Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. It is that massive, ancient boulder that controls the boundary of the mountain stream and the smaller rocks that create the cascades. Even when you can’t see the stream you can hear the water as it follows the course set by the boulders and rocks. The constant sound of the water is like the clapping of an audience after the performance of a master. We have such a master, a great King, the Lord Most High. Follow the course set before you by a great and loving King and you will find joy.
Prayer Lord Most High We clap our hands with the mountain streams. We sing for joy to you. As we walk with you set our course and replace our anxiety with trust of your greatness. Amen Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! We were on our way back down the hill to the end of the trail when I happened to stop and turn around to see this little scene. I almost missed it. There weren’t any bright blooms, just so many colors of green around the base of the tree in these small plants, each of a different type, yet existing together. They were so small in comparison to the tree but they made me smile. They just seemed to be happy together. These little plants remind us that praise happens best when we each sing our individual song but sing it together gathered around our great and loving God, rich and poor, old and young, strong and weak.
Prayer Majestic God We bow in praise to you. Give us the courage to sing the song you have given us to sing and to invite others to join in the song with their unique and individual voices. Amen Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! On this past Easter morning, there were just the right amount of clouds for just a very short time just as the sun rose that bathed everything in golden light. The grass and trees seemed to be lit in such a way that made them shine like gold. It was so beautiful. As I was thinking about that experience and looking at those pictures I took, the words to an old hymn by William Cowper came to mind: “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings; It is the Lord who rises with healing in His wings.”
There are 150 Psalms in our Bible, some teach, some remind us of God’s faithfulness, some are songs of lament, and some are songs of comfort; but the last Psalm, Psalm 150, is just a simple song of praise. On mornings like this when God overwhelms us, surprises us with his light then our only response can be praise. Prayer Great King We sing joyous songs of praise to you this day for your beauty and healing. Amen So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. One thing about picnic tables that I only noticed when I started taking pictures is that most of the time they just unused. When they are used, it is usually some kind of special occasion like a holiday or just a day spent at the park with special food prepared before or even cooked right at the table. Sometimes I think we treat God like we do picnic tables. We think of him only in special places and special times. God invites us to come to him everyday in our ordinary times of meals and rest. Accept God’s invitation and come to his table for that is the only place where we will find satisfaction for all our needs. Then celebrate and sing for joy for a God who is your help and shelter.
Prayer God Our Help and Shelter Bring us to your table. Teach us to find our satisfaction in the food you provide. We sing for joy and praise you as long as we live. Amen Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Today I got to watch the sunrise over the mountains. It wasn’t going to be a good day for pictures because there were no clouds to make the sky light up with color. It was also very cold up at the top of the observation tower with 20 mile per hour winds. So my pictures aren’t very good, but it doesn’t matter. I got to see another day begin in a beautiful place and I am grateful. Today, raise your voice in praise. Sing a new song, for he has made you a new creature and given you another day to love and serve him.
Prayer O Great King We sing praises to your name. Amen and Amen. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. The Carter Shields Cabin was probably built in the 1830’s. Just think about that, it has been standing for almost 200 years. It is a simple one room cabin with a loft, a porch, three doors, and two windows. When the national park was created there were lots of structures like this still standing. Some of them were kept as a way of preserving the way of life of the early settlers for future generations to see. When I visit this cabin I always go around to the side door and look through the cabin and out the window to the beautiful trees that surround this place. I think about what it was like to walk through this doorway a hundred years ago. It is like looking into the past. As I grow older I want my children and grandchildren to be able to look into my life, like I look through the door of the cabin, and see a wondrous God. I want to be taught by God all the days of my life. I want my life to proclaim his goodness to another generation. I want them to know and be taught by God who has shown me his love from my youth.
Prayer Father God Thank you for all you have taught me from my youth. Make my life proclaim your goodness to another generation. Amen Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Gates mark protected areas. When you enter a gate you enter into that protected place. To enter the gates of the Lord is to be surrounded and protected by his steadfast love. Enter his gates today with gratitude not for good things we have that may come and go. Enter his gates with gratitude for a good Lord whose steadfast love will endure every circumstance we face, good or bad.
Prayer Good Lord and King Today we thank you for your great love. We praise your name. Amen I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; As a landscape photographer you are told that your best images won’t come in the middle of the day. It is only in the golden light of early morning and late evening when you will make an image worth keeping. While I love the golden light when the sun is low in the sky, there are times when I find such joy in a clear, blue sky with white fluffy clouds in the the middle of the day. Sometimes we need to just ignore man's rules, rejoice in God’s beautiful world, and go out and take a picture in the middle of the day. And, even when it is hard, when the clouds cover the blue sky and rivers rush with the power of a flash flood, I will remember the blue sky days and sing praise as long I have being.
Prayer Great Creator God, We sing your praise and stand in awe of your world and your love for us. Amen The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; On a journey to the Northern Great Lakes, I stood in awe of these great inland seas. On some beaches the waves lap gently against a sandy shore, but on others the waves crash against the rocky shoreline. We truly serve a mighty God who speaks to us in gentle waves and those that crash hard against the shore.
Great and Might Lord Open our hearts to your voice. We bow in awe in your might as we join the waves in praising you. Amen But I will sing of your strength; We got up very early and drove to this place that I had read about with a large, rocky, peaceful beach that faces east and was good for sunrise. After driving down unfamiliar roads for a while we found that place, but when we got out of the car the sound was deafening. We thought it was thunder but soon learned it was the sound of crashing waves against sea cliffs. The large beach was covered in high water, the winds were strong, and the waves were powerful. I thought about the power and strength of our God who made these amazing waves. We were afraid but we walked on and did find a place that wasn’t quite so high and I took pictures of the sunrise. God has truly been my strength and fortress on many days like this when I found myself in unexpected places with crashing waves and strong winds. He has been my refuge and turned difficult times into times of beauty and peace. In the morning I will sing of his strength.
Prayer Great and Mighty God, In days of high winds and strong waves, be our fortress. Show us beauty in your power and steadfast love. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan