The last couple of nights Dave and I have spent time sitting on the porch at the fire ring. Our conversation always centers on how much God has blessed us.
The life we’ve had, our family, the experiences that have molded and shaped our lives. The friends, the breath-taking moments and the mundane, He has always been present.
Last night friends joined us and told us they will probably be going to Portugal next fall for a destination wedding. How wonderful! Since you’re there you must go to Greece. Greece for us was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Not for all the touristy reasons. It was the sense of the presence of God. I know I’ve told you before, but the most remarkable part of our trip was engaging in conversations with the locals and listening as they told the stories of the cathedrals and the godly influence of their communities.
Those are the stories that we recounted to our friends.
The presence of God – “the heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows His handiwork”. (Psalm 19:1)
“ Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. 19 When we love others, we know we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God. 20 But even if we don’t feel at ease, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we feel at ease in the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him. 22 He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.” I John 3:18-22 CEV
These are the words of the Apostle John. Feeling at ease in the presence of God – that is what we experienced while we were in Greece.
In the wee hours this morning, my heart began to sing.
“God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain, no syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science, follow the sound of Your voice
And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature, so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky, a canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You, so will I
So will I
If the stars were made to worship, so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence, so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness, so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I
If the wind goes where You send it, so will I
If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times!” So Will I (100 Billion X)
This is a song we sing frequently in Sunday worship but when it comes rolling out of my heart at 2 a.m. it has a greater depth of meaning.
In just a few days our nation will have a celebration of Thanksgiving. The focus wasn’t football or parades, not family gatherings, or food; it was a gathering of people who had survived immeasurable hardships, and they were giving thanks to God Almighty.
Make a resolve this Thanksgiving, if all of creation will praise You, so will I!