Psalm 136
"Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain..."
(PSALM 147:7-8)
It has been said that we don't know what we have until we lose it. Some of the most valuable things I lost when I ended up in Corcoran Prison were the sounds of nature. The cells at Corcoran do not have windows that open, so we never heard the morning chirp of the birds or the rain as it hit the sidewalk. For nearly four years I went without the sounds of nature.
I will never forget a February night and early morning hours in 1993. I had transferred to Soledad prison, a much older joint with cells that had windows which opened. When I went to bed that first night, it was raining outside, and I could hear (and smell) the rain. When I woke the next morning, I heard the birds, squirrels and cats all crying out to their Maker. I rolled over on my bed and joined with them in a chorus of praise, thankful for the blessed mercies of rain and animals.
The goodness and kindness of our Savior to us is like the refreshing sound of rain and the delightful sounds of nature. May you never lose sight of His mercies.
INSIGHT
BE THANKFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL MERCIES GOD GIVES US IN CREATION, PRAISING HIM THAT EVEN NATURE TESTIFIES TO HIS GOODNESS.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 19-20
Psalm 35
Mark 15
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
LEARNING TO LOVE [PART 1]
with Gary Chapman
Everyone has a deep emotional need to feel loved. But we don't often give or receive love in the same way our spouses, children, or close friends might. How can we better communicate our love?
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