“Let me see THY love everywhere,
not only in the cross,
but in the fellowship of believers
and in the world around me.
When I feel the warmth of the sun
may I praise THEE who art the Sun of righteousness
with healing power.
When I feel the tender rain
may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul.
When I walk by the river side
may I praise THEE for that stream that makes
the eternal city glad, and washes white my robes
that I may have the right to the tree of life.
THY infinite love is a mystery of mysteries,
and my eternal rest lies
in the eternal enjoyment of it.”
-Valley of Vision.
Too often I do not understand just how much GOD really loves me. Sure, it is an unfathomable love, but that is not what I mean. I continually take for granted the unsurpassing love of JESUS as something that I deserve or have earned rather than the free gift of which it is.
I often forget the love of GOD for me. I get caught up with the desire to be loved by others that I lose sight of the Unchanging Love. This love is all around me: the “warmth of the sun,” “the tender rain,” “the river side.” They all proclaim GOD’s love and goodness to me, and yet I take them for granted.
Often times I not only neglect these instances of love, but feel they are due me. “I deserve the warm sun because I have suffered cold. I deserve rain because it has been barren. I deserve this beautiful river because I had not.” It’s when I realize how unworthy I am of all GOD’s blessings that I truly realize how magnificent HIS love is.
All creation not only proclaims GOD’s love, but it recognizes this love and returns with praise. GOD loves us in every way so that we might respond in praise and thanksgiving.
Sun, you give warmth to bring glory to GOD. Rain, you bring growth to bring glory to GOD. River, you give life to bring glory to GOD. Sam, you sing praises to bring glory to GOD. Sam, you laugh to bring glory to GOD. Sam, you love others to bring glory to GOD. Sam, you live to bring glory to GOD.
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
-St. Francis of Assisi
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