Tags
creation, Creator, environment, gardening, God, love, nature, seasons, the LORD, wildlife, winter, worship
Reading: Psalm 136
(Verses 1-9)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever (NIV).
Reflection
Here are some straightforward facts about me. I love nature. I enjoy all four seasons. I love getting out of the house and hiking through the woods or riding my bicycle along nature trails. I am fascinated by the wildlife I encounter on these excursions. I like planting a backyard garden in spring, and harvesting the produce from it through the summer and fall. I feel knitted to the land and its seasons.
![IMG_20170308_090816[91]](https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/img_20170308_09081691.jpg?w=529)
A winter walk in God’s creation — photo by David Kitz
Psalm 136 extols the virtues of this awesome limitless God. His love endures forever. For a total of twenty-six verses the psalmist expounds on the goodness of the LORD. In response His people reply, “His love endures forever.”
Today’s reading lays the foundation for our worship. That foundation rests on the wonder of God’s creation. We are to give thanks to God because He alone does great wonders. By his understanding, [He] made the heavens, and spread out the earth upon the waters.
As you go through your day do you find moments where you give God thanks for the wonders of His creation? In an urban, man-made environment we can easily lose touch with nature and our Creator. We lose something precious—something fundamental to our well-being—when that happens.
Response: LORD God, help me to appreciate the wonder of your creation every day. Give me opportunities to see the beauty in it, because it’s a reflection of your magnificent character. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you enjoy nature? Does that appreciation of nature translate into love for God?
I love the Psalms 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
I love sunrises/sunsets. I live in an area that’s on the MST and am fortunate that I get to see the sun rise even without waking up super early. Our home is on a higher ground and the landscape in front of us is flater so we get to see the sun set from our home. I love the colours He mixes together , and that every day it’s different. I’m in awe of the Creator when I see those things. Thanks for posting.
I too love how the Lord paints the sky with every sunrise and sunset. Most often I get to appreciate the sunrise because our home is across from a park, so I get a long unobstructed view toward the east.
It always amazes me how deep these words speak into my heart. Thank you David Kitz for bringing all this to my attention.
God’s word is good, nourishment to our bones.
Great work David. Thanks
Thanks, Joyce. Be blessed today!
David, it is interesting to read different translations; one is “His mercy endures forever;” another “His steadfast love endures forever.” We are reminded of this steadfastness in how He continues to preserve and reveal His own work in His creation and in us. Have a blessed day. ~ Fran
Yes, His love and mercy are steadfast and enduring. My need for His love and mercy endures as well.
God’s invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (Romans 1:20)
Amen, Peter.