Marvelous Works

08Jul
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; 
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, 
and speak of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy Name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Search for the Lord and his strength; 
continually seek his face.
Remember the marvels he has done, 
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth.

-Psalm 105:1-5


Give thanks to the Lord! Speak of all his marvelous works!


What are some of God’s marvelous works that inspire you to give thanks?


For me, children are God’s marvelous works that I always have to give thanks for! Let me give you a few examples.


A few days ago I was covered in sweat and grime, scrubbing mold off the second story balcony of our house with a rough brush and bleach when I was lifted from feeling moldy and grimy myself by the two little seven-year-old girls down the street singing at the top of their voices: “Come and get it! Come and get it! Fresh lemonade for only twenty dollars a glass!” As they hawked their potion t hey changed my whole experience of the afternoon. I found myself giggling and singing with them! My heart was lifted and my job was lightened as I had lingual fantasies of a multitude of glasses of their delicious tangy delight!


“Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvelous works!” the psalmist proclaimed to me. Those little ladies weren’t singing divine praises, but to me their unrestrained joy seemed to be Creation’s exclamation of exultation to it’s Lord! For those fifteen minutes of their arias I was singing God’s praise in my heart!


I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but I completely missed the sermon a few Sundays ago! All of our preachers are great. And that Sunday’s was no exception – but he got upstaged by the charming seven-month-old in the pew right in front of me. My little guy was bouncing in his father’s arms and looking over his Daddy’ shoulders at me. We made faces at each other! We played a modified peek-a-boo! We blew bubbles at each other! It so took me to another place that I laughed out loud! I have no idea what the Lord’s Word was to the rest of the congregation that day. But to me God’s message was: “Richard, do you see my face and hear my voice in that precious little one in front of you?” “Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek his face!” In the visage of that little one I was seeing the face of God. For that brief span of time, the Divine was laughing and playing peek-a-boo and blowing bubbles with me! Eternity had opened and I was a child of God playing with the Child of God in front of me. I could feel God’s strength in the creation of that joyful young innocence. I am so grateful to his parents for bringing him to church that day!


“Give thanks to the Lord...make known his deeds among the peoples”


And then there are scads of kids who join Trinity every summer for TEEP – the Trinity Episcopal Enrichment Program! Since 1966 our neighborhood kids have been filling Trinity’s campus for six weeks of extra academics, music, art, and just plain fun. Everyone who works with them tell stories of what they have learned from their camper-students. Our TEEP students and families blessed us by joining us in Church last Sunday. We heard them sing! “Sing to him, sing praises to him and speak of all his marvelous works.” 


This is God’s incredible creation! God made it with fierce loving. God has always been here and God always will be… blessing and ever uplifting God’s Creation. As Christians we know who God is because we know who Jesus is. We know whose we are.


Jesus came to us as a little child and God still comes to us as little (and big – young and old) children to remind us just who we are!


“Give thanks to the Lord. Remember the marvels he has done?”


Musical Reflection - Celebrate! by Kool and the Gang - Playing for Change


Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 


-For the Care of Children Book of Common Prayer p 829

PsalmsPentecost Praise

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