Sing Praise, sing praise!
O God, you summon the day to dawn,
you teach the morning to waken the earth.
Great is your name; great is your love.
For you the valleys shall sing for joy,
the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Great is your name; great is your love.
For you rulers of earth shall bow,
the poor and persecuted shall shout for joy.
Great is your name; great is your love
For you every stream and spring wells up grace
from deep within your love
Great is your name; great is your love
For you our mouths are filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of praise.
Great is your name; great is your love.
For you the mist scatters from the crest of the hills,
the calves skip for joy.
Great is your name; great is your love.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise, O God,
Your love and mercy shall last forever.
Great is your name; great is your love.
Adapted from "Sing the Journey", Faith & Life Resources,
a division of Mennonite Publishing Network, Scottsdale, PA, c. 2005
Though summer is the time we often take for vacation, for that time away, to soak up the sun, to curl our toes in the lush green grass, to plunge headlong into the refreshing waters of rivers and lakes, I wonder—do we take time to listen, to honour the song of creation, to lend our voice to the ongoing song of praise to our God?
Perhaps here are some helpful suggestions as to how to incorporate praise as an integral part of your summer work and play:
Begin each day with your favorite creation hymn.
Read any number of the amazing creation psalms found in your Bible:
Psalm 8, 19, 24, 29, 89:1-17, 93, 95:1-7, 96, 98, 104, 113, 136:1-9, 148, 150.
Or read again the two stories of creation found in Genesis 1-2.
Become a modern-day psalmist: write your own verses of praise to God for creation,
for God’s goodness and love;
or re-write one of the psalms above in language that is meaningful to you.
And REMEMBER, no matter what activities you undertake this summer: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” Walk gently in respect of what God has given us, in respect of the ongoing song of creation, rest to listen and join with the song of all creation, the song of praise to our God.
Courtesy of Rev. K. Calkins, Grande Prairie, AB