What are the life experiences that you just can’t seem to get enough of? One of mine is making lists about experiences I can’t get enough of!
- The symphony of birds singing as a new day dawns.
- The birth of spring as flowers we’ve seen hundreds of times seem to become new again.
- Laughing so hard that it hurts.
- Observing people showing kindness to others who need it, didn’t earn nor even deserve it.
- That “first smell” when walking into a home where there is something amazing being cooked…. lasagna, cookies, roast beef, French toast or anything with cinnamon and/or butter, and on and on…
- The joy that comes from giving. While giving involves sacrifice, there’s something inside the soul that sparks; remarkable and indescribable. We just know it is good.
- Being warmly welcomed whether by known friends/family and even more so in situations where we enter with some hesitation or fear. We want to be accepted and loved.
- Engaging in a live worship service, deeply sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit. Singing and hearing praises with the reminder that this is a glimpse of eternity.
The reason the aforementioned subject of “experiences” came to mind is related to today’s reading (Psalm 97). One of my initial thoughts on the psalm is that it seemed like a lot of other psalms so what’s new to write about? While the chapter may be original, the theme is not. Then it hit me that God put eternity into our hearts and the psalms of praise give us a glimpse into our future with Him, praising Him! We will praise him for eternity and that will never get old!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Whether the psalm is new to us or we’ve read it a hundred times, it isn’t about the song, it is about the object of the song and our relationship with our creator. Verse one starts out saying that the Lord reigns… NOTHING else reigns above him, he is above all things! And he is the giver who allows us to experience the joy of spring, laughter, a new day, love, filling our senses with goodness, all for HIS glory.
Where’s Jesus?
Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right. (Psalm 97:11)
As we go about our day today let us look differently at what might seem mundane. God is in it all. All good things point to Him. This day has been given to us as a gift. May others see today the “light of the world” (Jesus) in us; through our love, generosity, gratitude, forgiveness, sacrifices, words, and our self control.