Prayer: Creator God, we are in awe of your creation and the wisdom by which you have created the earth and all that we see in it. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tapestry
(Adapted from Christ in Our Home – daily devotions)
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Yesterday, I remember it rained most of all day. Mostly a steady, wet, and cold rain. But just two days ago it was gorgeous sun. Birds were singing and the rhododendrons and azaleas were in full bloom. Although a cool 60 degrees, the wind was singing through the wind chimes. The views were spectacular. I await the dawn today in anticipation of what is to come.
The word Manifold comes from the Greek, meaning many sided, variegated, multidimensional, colorful…when we interact with nature, we can see the complexity of what God has done. Indeed, even in our human interaction there are wonders to behold. God’s work is everywhere. Would that I could understand and comprehend it all.
It is harder on rainy cloudy days to see all the beauty, but there is beauty even on those days. I can understand that the rain brings and nourishes life. It led our devotion writer to proclaim, “Where do we find God then? Then life is like the underside of an intricate tapestry: a chaos of colors and textures. It doesn’t make sense. This is what we see in much of our earthly life, but when the time comes for us to rise, we will see the other side and fully understand how God’s manifold works wove together our beautiful stories and the creative work of salvation.”
“Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!” (v. 35)
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you for your undeniable presence. Help us see beauty in the chaos. Amen.”
Psalm 104:24-35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, great and wide;
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
28 when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!
Gary's Devotion Comments 