The Beauty of God's Creation

My family and I took time at the end of June to spend time together in God’s good creation in Colorado.  Marvelling at the beauty God has created helps me to ground myself in God’s love and goodness.  It encourages me and fills me up, giving me the strength I need for when beauty isn’t so obvious.  This summer I encourage you to find moments to stop and notice the song of nature - the wind in the trees, the melody of the birds, the chatter of squirrels, a babbling brook… wherever you are able to stop and listen, pay attention and stand in awe of what God has made.  In the following Psalm, the Psalm writer looks to nature and is inspired to praise God, imagining that the animals, trees, and stars themselves all join in the song.  Thanks be to God!

Psalm 148:3-13

Praise God, sun and moon; 
praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God, you highest heavens;
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the Name of Yahweh,
by whose command they were created.
God established them forever and ever 
and gave a decree which won’t pass away. 
Praise Yahweh from the earth, 
you sea creatures and ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and mist, 
and storm winds that fulfill God’s word,
mountains and all hills, 
fruit trees and all cedars, 
wild animals and all cattle,
small animals and flying birds, 
rulers of the earth, leaders of all nations, 
all the judges in the world, 
young men and young women, 
old people and children—
let them all praise the Name of Yahweh 
whose name alone is exalted