Praising the Creator--our Father!

     "Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!  Praise Him all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!  Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him all you shining stars!  Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Praise the Lord from the earth you great creatures and all deeps,

     fires and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word!  Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!

     Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!

     Kings of the earth and  all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!  Young men and maidens together, old men and children!  Let them praise the name of the Lord for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.  He has raised up a horn for His people, praise for all His saints, for the people of Israel who are near to Him.  Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 148)
     Oh might we praise the Lord this day as our awesome Creator, Savior, and Sustainer!  For He is so infinitely worthy.    
     Our son, Preyer, and I traveled across the country yesterday, and we are quite literally perched on the opposite shore of this nation in San Diego, CA (well, really in La Jolla).  Now while I'm a Carolina girl through and through--because we all know North Carolina is the finest place to live in the world!--goodness gracious, God has created so much astounding beauty all over this remarkable planet!
     So shouldn't our immediate and consistent response be thanksgiving, praise and adoration to our Maker and Redeemer?  
     Thank You, Father, for crafting seals!  Preyer and I stood transfixed as they lounged on the sand and then slowly inched themselves into the water to gracefully swim off into the blue ocean.  You've never seen such a picture of complete relaxation as they sunned in the sand! They reminded me to slow down, savor this fleeting life, and rest in my Savior.  I silently prayed the Lord would bring them to mind the next day when I would be watching Preyer play golf and would be tempted to worry and stress!  (I think watching your child play sports is just practice for learning to deal with--and, Lord willing, eliminate!--our tendency to fret.  Ridiculous to worry over a game, I know.  But then, when the Lord of the Universe is Your Father, isn't it absurd to worry about anything?)
     Thank You, Lord, for the birds...and the sandy cliffs...and the crashing ocean.  Thank You for eyes to see them.  Thank You for my child with whom I could share the gift of enjoying this remarkable place.  Thank You for Your creatures and all they teach us about You.  Thank You for the summer sun and the slower pace.  Thank You for our dear family and friends back at home.  And thank You for home!
     Thank You most of all, Lord, for the gift of salvation and the privilege of calling You--the awesome Creator of all this beauty--my Father, my Abba, my Daddy.  Oh might we never ever get over the astounding wonder and joy of this!  Our Father--the Almighty Lord who dreamed and fashioned all this in His mind, who created all this out of nothing, and who sustains all this every day and night by His omnipotent power.
      Such is our God and there is none other.  Might we live to the praise of His glory this day and everyday.  To God be the glory.