You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
The
gold finches sing outside my window.
Springtime—I walk outside and study my
tiny flower garden. Which beauties will bloom soon? What leaves need to be tied
down to allow others to sprout? What annuals do I want to add this year?
No matter what goes on around the world, my flower
bed continues to grow. The rain showers fall and the sun shines. Soil enriches the plants,
and the blooms burst with beauty.
A few weeks ago, I hung a finch feeder outside the living room
window. From my chair, I watch, with delight, as the little gold and brown and red
house finches stop by for breakfast and dinner. They flit and flutter, sometimes knocking each
other off the bag, as they vie for the thistle seed. Those sweet birds add joy
to my day.
In Psalm 65, David writes about God's constant
presence. He's always with us. I witness Him in my natural surroundings. Go
outside and look up. The clouds appear in the sky as does the sun. Look around. The grass,
meadows, wheat, oats, corn all continue to grow. And if you live in the
Midwest, you know the rain tumbles down on any given day.
No matter what we endure, God remains the same. He
offers hope and joy for this weary world. Find a tree and thank God for the
shade. Listen to the call of a bird or watch it take off in flight and witness
the wonder of creation. Smell a bloom in the garden and thank God for the
beauty. Take a bite of salad and remember who provided the nutrients for growth.
Seeking joy? Look to God's creation.
The birds rejoice with singing.
The birds rejoice with singing.
