God's New Morning

Morning has broken, like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dewfall, on the first grass

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden

Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning

Born of the one light, Eden saw play

Praise with elation, praise every morning

God's recreation of the new day.

     Morning in the mountains--overlooking Pilot Mountain, low lying clouds nestled amongst the valley look like dew. How I wish this photograph could capture the serene beauty of this fine morning.  The sky has now lightened a bit and has a wash of pink all over, dotted with clouds that look like they are somehow infused with bright light.  

     And the sounds!  The loud hum of the hummingbird as he flies up to sip the nectar, the crows calling brashly, the chorus of birds, along with an occasional whippoorwill. But no traffic, no TV, no radio--no noise.  Just the symphony of birds serenading Moses and me as we sit on the porch with some hot tea and drink in the beauty.  Moses, as usual, seems throughly contented.  Sigh... O to learn the peaceful contentment of a dog when he happily rests beside you.  But right at this moment, as we sit in silence and wonder at God's "recreation of a new day," well, I think I've got it.  

     How I have always loved the hymn, "Morning has Broken!"  (By the way, a Scottish poet in 1931 composed this lovely song of praise as a hymn to give thanks for a new day--not Cat Stevens.)  A new day.  A fresh start.  A new opportunity to "praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day."  He truly does make all things new, and each fresh bright morning is His continual reminder to us of this great and wonderful truth.  

     Resurrection... new life... yesterday is past, over, forgotten--so start today, start now.  He is waiting and ready to enable us to begin anew with Him, our God of glorious new mornings, new starts, new life.  Forgiveness and grace beckon us to put the past to bed with yesterday's failures and falterings, and begin today--this new day given by the God of all goodness and grace and glory.  He is waiting for us to walk with Him through whatever challenges and choices and adventures this new day brings.  Choose Him today.  Trust Him today.  Walk with Him today.  Praise Him today.  For He is always worthy, always faithful, always good, always glorious... just look at God's faithful recreation of the new day this morning and rejoice anew.  To God be the glory.