Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“O Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies!
When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made—I cannot understand how you can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him! And yet you have made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head.
You have put him in charge of everything you made; everything is put under his authority: all sheep and oxen, and wild animals too, the birds and fish, and all the life in the sea. O Jehovah, our Lord, the majesty and glory of your name fills the earth.”
Psalm 8 (TLB)“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 4-7 (NKJV)“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8: 28 (NLT)
Here we are, a little over half-way through the year we began together.
And I assume that everything seems to be on the right track, as always.
Probably wrong with both assumptions, right?
Because I know that many of you are struggling with, and worrying through some fairly difficult, frightening, anxious, uncertain moments stretching out before you or before someone you love.
And you wonder what is next. What can you do. What will happen.
In fact, they may feel a bit like the life the Apostle Paul experienced—beaten, whipped, jailed, shipwrecked, and without food or shelter and not sure where to look for any relief.
Well, maybe not all of that, but it feels like it at times.
And as Paul presses on, he tells all to rejoice, to be anxious about nothing, but give thanks to God.
Why?
Because Paul has experienced and knows the truth that the Lord is aways at hand, and the peace of God will protect and comfort our hearts and minds.
Because God is always at work in our lives and causes everything to work together for our good because we love Him. Paul praises and raises the name of a God who loves him, lifts him, and will forever watch over him.
And in Psalm 8, David paints a picture of a God who casts the stars and moon into the heavens. A God he believes values him, and values us, demonstrated by God’s making us just a little lower than the Angels, putting us in charge of His creation, while placing a crown of glory and honor on our heads.
The same God Who paints the sky for us with a beautiful multitude of colors when we need a lift up.
Who opens our mornings, so often filled with uncertainty, with a sunrise that takes our breath away and then calls us to press on with Him.
And closes our full and sometimes anxious days with the quiet majesty of a warm, comforting and hope-filled sunset.
The devoted God Who, when He sees us lifting our prayers to Him, sets aside all else, to take our call.
All, and so much more, reminding us that no matter what we face, what mountains, difficulties, disappointments, and long valleys seem to be stretching out before us, God is always there with us.
No matter what unexpected illnesses seek to control our hearts, minds and hopes for tomorrow, God is there to fight for and with us, and lead us through to the picture of wholeness and health we imagine, claim, and hold within our hearts.
Feel alone at times? Down? Uncertain about tomorrow? Not sure about the next steps?
Remember this—you are not alone. Never, never, never alone.
The selfless, compassionate, majestic, Divine, glorious, and eternal God of grace, mercy, and all Creation sees you, loves you, is with you, and He’s got you.
The majesty and glory of God is over you, always.
And for that we can praise Him forever and ever.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen and Amen!
In His Name–Scott
You will be blessed when you listen to this presentation by the Dallas First Baptist Choir and Orchestra, of Tom Fettke’s “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name”—
