The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
(Psalm 29:3,4)
Tag: Canada
First
I made the mistake of checking the news right after I woke up this morning. I felt overwhelmed.
There’s a reason why Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God” in his advice on how to handle anxiety (recorded in Matthew 6.)
At the lake this past week I sat on the dock at 5:30 in the morning, praising my Saviour for his creation and for his goodness. I felt mindful of him the rest of the day. When we start the day with the peace and joy of Holy Spirit we can carry his peace of his kingdom into the world with us.
It’s harder to seek God first, when you are back at home, when the alarm goes off in the morning, and the news blasting into your cocoon of serenity smacks you upside the head with the reality of living in a world where hatred , cruelty and selfishness still flourish.
I wonder if the verse in Psalms about not fearing bad news is not that bad news will never come; perhaps it is actually saying that bad news does not have to trigger fear and give us anxiety attacks. I wonder if it means that knowing God sees the bigger picture and has better plans, and, if we seek his kingdom first, he will communicate that sound, wise love to his people. Sometimes we react, using the reasoning and weapons of the world, then panic and seek God later — if only to get us out of the mess we made when we realize we are short of provisions.
First things first.
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Singing Waters
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord
(Psalm 98)
I suppose it’s what we are accustomed to. I do feel sympathy for the people who move here from hot countries and who need to don layers of warm clothing, even in the summer. I have lived in a cold place most of my life, and my body is not happy with heat. My husband loves to bask in the hot sun. Me? I look for relief. You can always put more clothes on, but there is a limit to how many you can take off.
This has been an unusually hot summer, with temperatures in the 32-39 C degree range for weeks (in the 90’s F). Since heat waves usually do not last more than a week or so in this part of the world, few people have air conditioning. This week I was able to sit in the forest beside a beautiful stream as it tumbled its way down the mountainside to join Kootenay Lake. The water was cold, and a refreshing breeze calmed my over-cooked soul.
I rested in the coolness of the forest and joined the waters in a song of joy before the Lord.
You are good, Lord.
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Mountain Morning
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.
– Henri Nouwen
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Aspire to Rest
Men sigh for the wings of a dove, that they may fly away and be at Rest. But flying away will not help us. “The Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU.” We aspire to the top to look for Rest; it lies at the bottom. Water rests only when it gets to the lowest place. So do men. Hence, be lowly.
– Henry Drummond
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In the Theatre of Glory
I noticed a strange warm light outside my window last evening. I grabbed my camera and went out on the deck at the back of the house to check out the sky. Sometimes, on rainy days in the valley, the clouds on the horizon lift moments before sunset and allow golden light to break through. I’m glad I took the time to look. It only lasted a few minutes but the last bit of sun caught a cloud just before it dropped another shower of pine and flower-scented rain. God’s grand finale in his theater of glory on a warm Sunday evening.
I went back to my office after it started to fade and saw out the window that yet another rainbow had formed to the south.
I followed it outside. The fine misty rain felt so refreshing I stood on the sidewalk, face to the sky and thanked God for more wonderful visuals of his glory.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
(Psalm 19)
Jean Calvin called nature a “Theatre of Glory” that continuously speaks of the majesty of the Creator. Alistair E. McGrath wrote: “For Calvin, the creation reflects its Creator at every point. Image after images flashed in front of our eyes, as Calvin attempts to convey the multiplicity of ways in which the creation witnesses to its Creator: it is like a visible garment, which the invisible God dons in order to make himself known; it is like a book in which the name on the Creator is written as its author; it is like a theater, in which the glory of God is publicly displayed; it is like a mirror, in which the works and wisdom of God are reflected.”
A grand garment, a book, a theatre, a marquee, a mirror. Every one saying, “Beauty! Majesty! Glory!”
Yes. I see you, Lord, and You are Beauty. You are Majesty. You are Glory.
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Oh, Canada!
What can I say? I am just so utterly grateful that I was born here. I thank my grandparents who broke with everything in the old country to break the soil in a new country. I thank my other great great great… grandparents for enduring criticism and threats to become Loyalists. I thank God for such beauty in this place.
Happy Birthday, Canada!
Continue reading “Oh, Canada!”
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Ain’t It Good to Know That You’ve Got a Friend
June is the usually rainiest month in this part of the world. Combined with melting snow pack in the mountains it can be a dangerous season. When dire predictions of more flooding were broadcast on various media this week part of this song started playing in my head:
If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow,
keep your head together and call My name out loud.
Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out My name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there.
Hey, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a Friend?
People can be so cold.
They’ll hurt you and desert you.
Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them,
oh yeah, but don’t you let them.
You just call out My name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
all you have to do is call, “Lord!”
I’ll be there, yeah, yeah,
you’ve got a Friend.
You’ve got a Friend.
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a Friend.
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a Friend.
Oh, yeah, yeah, you’ve got a Friend.
(You’ve got a Friend by James Taylor and Carole King)
There is more than one kind of storm. Sometimes people have no idea of the kind of storms that rage inside our hearts. A line in another old song talks about “fightings within and fears without” and yet, “just as I am, I come” to the Lover of my soul.
Calling out for help is not always easy, particularly for those of us who don’t want to admit we need help.
I looked at the dark clouds. I called. He answered.
The rain was heavy, and there was some flooding, but nothing as serious as was predicted.
I looked at the raging storm within. I called. He answered.
Peace returned.
Yes, it’s good to have a Friend.
Thank you.
Charis: Subject to Change 