This week we learned of the passing of our friend and honorary family member, Isabel Burns. Our long-time readers may know her as “Scottish Granny“.
The draft of this post led with a phrase about “mourning the loss” but after writing those words I realized they weren’t really true. We are not mourning, we are celebrating the joy we experienced in knowing her. Isabel had been bedridden for the last few years with limited capacity to communicate. It was her time to go home to her maker; to be relieved of the pain and suffering she had endured for a very long time.
Let us all turn our mourning to praising God today for all that he has done. For the friends and family members he has given us; those we have lost and those with us. God’s timing is perfect, he makes no mistakes, everything he does is out of love for us so that we can do good things according to his plans.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)
Today’s reading is Psalm 145, a song of praise, written by King David. Perfectly fitting for us to take a moment to praise our creator. What really hit me were the many attributes to describe God. The one TRUE God is:
- God and King (v1)
- Eternal (v2)
- Worthy, great (v3)
- Mighty, powerful (v4)
- Splendorous, miracle provider (v5)
- Doer (of deeds); not idle (v6)
- Good, righteous (v7)
- Merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, his love unfailing (v8)
- Good (to everyone), compassionate/merciful (v9)
- Thanked and praised (v10)
- His kingdom is glorious; he is powerful (v11)
- His deeds are mighty; he reigns (v12)
- He rules forever, keeps promises, gracious (v13)
- Helper, uplifting (v14)
- Giver, sustainer, provider (v15-16)
- Righteous, kind (v17)
- Near, available (v18)
- Giver, listens, responds, rescuer (v19)
- Protector, destroyer (of the wicked) (v20)
Just think, even on our very best day, in our very best moment, we may display only a few of those attributes. God was, is, and always will be every one of those and more. He is worthy of all praise, and as David closes out the song, may our response be the same.
I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)