Sunday Serenity

…. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1  NASB

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Monday Musings: Be thankful in small things

Advent: Love

This second candle is sometimes called Mary’s candle or the Bethlehem candle as well as love. I stand in amazement and awe that God loves us all so much. His Son came willingly to dwell among us because He loved us so.

The Magnificat – Mary’s Canticle of Praise Luke 1:46-55

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Everyday Miracles

Miracles are all around us.  God, the Great Engineer, designs and creates them just for us because He loves us.  We only need to “open the eyes of our hearts” to see them.  He created us to worship and these miracles are the hymns of His heart.

Sunday, as I was leaving for church, I looked across our little road and had to blink my eyes several times to ensure I was not seeing things.  Sun rays burst upon a tall pine and it seemed that not only was the sun glowing so incredibly golden, but that the gold had voices and movement. It took me a moment to realize that hundreds of goldfinches had taken that opportunity (?!) to perch in that tree and trill their greetings to each other and to God….and to me!  Just for me! I was the only one around to experience this.

I fell to my knees at the wondrous, personal, amazing miracle just….for….me.  I was humbled at the outpouring of God to me.  And He does this sort of thing for all of us, everyday.  We just have to slow down and receive them.

As the birds sang, I had to sing with them:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Hymn to Joy (Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, words by Henry van Dyke, 1907)