March 29, 2024

The Maker

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I see You in the sunrise
I see You in the rain
I see You in the laughter
I feel You through the pain

Everything that You have made is beautiful
Oh, my God, I can’t believe my eyes
But in all of this to think that You would think of me
Makes my heart come alive

Your love is like a mighty fire deep inside my bones
I feel like I could climb a thousand mountains all at once
And I never have to wonder if somebody cares for me
I love the Maker
And the Maker loves me

I see You, You are creation
I see the grandness of Your majesty
The universe is singing all Your glory
I can’t believe You live inside of me

Everything that You have made is beautiful
Oh, my God, I can’t believe my eyes
But in all of this to think that You would think of me
Makes my heart come alive

More than just some words upon a page
You’ve shown me in a million ways
But there is one that stands above them all
Hands of Creation on a cross

Singer / Songwriter: Christ August

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

And God said,”…Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:3) and there was light.  A beautiful sun that rises, and shines and brings such joy.  Whether it is a cold, brisk day with snow falling down or a warm, humid day with white fluffy clouds.  Can’t you see God in the sunlight?  I picture Him just beaming down at us, loving on us with His smile.  Those are the happy days.  Then there are the rainy ones, too.  Where nothing goes as planned, tears may fall like rain, and we may just be sad.  God is there, too.  He is everywhere.  He is our Creator, our Maker.

His art fills this earth.  After He had to send Adam and Eve out of the perfect garden that He had created for them and the first sin tainted the earth, He could have left it dark and dreary because isn’t that what was deserved?  We sin and disappoint yet He created all this beautiful art for us to enjoy.  He paints the sky pretty colors as the sun begins to set each night and wakes us with a gorgeous sunrise for all the world to see.  At night, He placed little white stars for us to enjoy on a black background and all this was because of you!  He had you in mind the entire time that He was making this world.

It’s easy sometimes to tell someone else that God loves them.  Right?  But do you ever say to yourself,God really does love me“?  Say it now.  Are you smiling…yes?  I am, just thinking about it. “I love the  Maker and the Maker loves me.

As you continue to listen to this song, I encourage you to close your eyes,  shut the world out, and just be with God.  Just think about how much He loves being with you and how He can’t wait until your feet hit the floor, just so He can spend time with you. Let this encourage you, my friend.

And don’ t keep this to yourself! It’s too good. This world needs lights like you to spread this hope to them!  Who can you reach today?  I leave you with His Words.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3

God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day,
and the lesser light to govern the night: He made the stars also.
Genesis 1:16

He is the Maker of Heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- He remains faithful forever.
Psalm 146:6

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Let us pray:
Dear Lord, You are awesome and loving and so precious.  You are worthy of praise and worship.  You created all of this world with the sound of Your voice.  And You were thinking of us all the time. You had each one of our names on Your hand.  Thank You for the beauty of this world that we get to enjoy.  For the sweet sounds of birds and waves and wind and the warmth of the sun—we praise You.  For all You do is perfect.  And when we are down and feeling low, all we have to do is look up to the heavens and see that all of this was for us…the sun and stars and moon and trees and flowers.  All to show us that You are love.  Thank You for the Cross, the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be with You forever.  We love You…in Jesus’ name, amen.

Count Your Blessings

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
*Alternate text

Written by Johnson Oatman, Jr ~ Music by Edwin O. Excell ~ Sung by Ann Williamson

  *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Written over a hundred years ago (1897), this hymn is still sung today and is still reminding us that we have much to be thankful for.

Be thankful in all circumstances,
For this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

When I sing the first verse, I think of the disciples out on the stormy sea.  Actually, there are two accounts I want to share.

Matthew 8:23-27, tells the story of Jesus and His disciples in the boat when a fierce storm came up.  The water was swamping the boat, and the disciples were panicked! Jesus was calmly sleeping because the storm wasn’t bothering Him.  In the midst of the storm, Jesus was right there with them.  Instead of seeing Him as their example to stay calm and trust God to protect them, they cried out to Jesus for Him to use His faith to save them.  Thankfully He was there, He did intercede for them, and commanded the wind and the waves to be calm.  The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ power, and were counting it a blessing that He was with them.

In the next account (recorded in Matthew 14:22-33), Jesus sent the disciples out in the boat without Him.  Night came, and a storm developed.  The disciples were fighting the strong winds and heavy waves, but to no avail.  They hadn’t even thought to call out to God, evidenced by the fact that when Jesus came to them walking on the water, they didn’t even recognize Him.  But He came, because He loved them, and never had planned on leaving them helpless.  Peter even walked on the water—until he took his eyes off of Jesus.  When Jesus and Peter got back in the boat, the storm died and the waters calmed.  The disciples (maybe especially Peter!) were surprised and blessed that Jesus came to them and saved them.

In our lives there are times when we are ‘tempest-tossed,’ and we do become very ‘discouraged, thinking all is lost.’  As believers, we can count on Jesus to be there for us.  He’s in the boat with us.  He is our example of trust.  And even in the times when we are trying to carry our heavy cross alone, He’s walking on the water toward us.  He just wants us to call out…even to walk out to Him…and He will lift us up. What a blessing!

Proverbs 10:6, tells us that “The godly are showered with blessings.”  Do you count your land, your home, your money as blessings?  Yes, they are, but they are just to help us get by here on earth.  God has so much more for you/us. Do you count your salvation, the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, God’s love for you, your family’s love, your reward in Heaven, and other spiritual gifts as blessings?  Money can not buy any of those because they are priceless blessings from God.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is by His great mercy that we have been born again,
because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance
—an inheritance that is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled,
beyond the reach of change and decay.
And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power
until you receive this salvation,
which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.”
1Peter 1:3-5

“So amid the conflict whether great or small, do not be discouraged, (remind yourself) God is over all. Count your many blessings.” It will lift you up, and it just may surprise you to see what the Lord has done!

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Dear Lord, in this season of Thanksgiving we come to You with our hearts bursting with thanksgiving.  We, as Your children, have so many blessings to count!  Truly, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).  All day and all night, in every season, we count our many blessings and our voices lift up praises to You, the Giver of all good gifts!  Praise the Lord!  It Is So!