Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Heavens Proclaim God's Handiwork

Acts of Worship
Awe of God


Glory To God in the Highest

Psalm 19 The Message

A David Psalm

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.
That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
 
For Reflection
In the mountains of Virginia,  on an island off the coast of  Georgia, in a field in Kansas or anywhere far from the city lights one can gaze into the night sky and wonder at its depth and brilliance.  On a rainy day deep into a forest trail or after a rain when the mist rises from mountain valleys and the sun plays its warm shadow game as dark clouds disperse, one can stand in awe of the beauty of the natural order of things.

The time stolen from everyday pressures is time embraced.  It is time of refreshment and renewal.  It is time like no other time when God creeps into your soul. and you know the hope that drives you even if the path is not yet clear.

Pray
Steal time to pray.  Steal time to see God's handiwork.  Steal time to listen to the hope messages which surround you.  Pray so that time stolen becomes time renewed.

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