Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

Psalms 29: 1 Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!" 2 In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him! 3 God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters. 4 God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic. 5 God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars. 6 The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats. 7 God's thunder spits fire. 8 God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. 9 God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!" 10 Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. 11 God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. (NRSV)

We live in a thirsty part of the world. Our region has been through one of the roughest droughts in history. It was great news this week that we would have rain storms in this area. We were cautioned to be careful, to secure things, protect things, and prepare for much rain. The clouds played along, as did the thunder and lightning and all throughout the social media-sphere we saw comments of those who were thankful for God sharing this with us. And the storm did not quite deliver, at least in this area, that which we had hoped. But it did not diminish our gratitude towards God for what God shared with us. The psalmist knows how nature works, as did the hymnologist who wrote the lines, "Let heaven and nature sing." Those present at Jesus' baptism also saw how creation joined in with the glory displayed that day at that special event.

To hear the thunder, the psalmist said we are hearing "Glory, bravo, encore!" The lightning is shining its brilliance on God's creation and we stare in awe. God is awesome and we are blessed. May we receive this as a way of making us strong and as a way to receive God's peace.

PRAYER: Loving God, for what You have shared we are thankful. May our voices join in with the heavens and nature as voices erupt with our joyful and grateful praise to You and what You provide. May we be stronger and may we have peace. We pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde