Thursday Thoughts of Praise

Thank-you God for eyes to see

The beauty of the winter tree

Serenely sketched, blue on white snow

Or etched against the sunset’s glow

You thrill our humble, hungry gaze

With nature’s tried and tested ways

And as each season sweeps the sod

We see glimpses of You, oh God

Thank-you God, for ears to hear

Your powers drench the atmosphere

Wind in the willow, free and wild

Pure, carefree laughter of a child

Each season-surge original

The moody midnight madrigal

The canticle of nature’s laud

Are whispers of Your voice, oh God

Thank-you God, for arms to hold

Our children when life’s storms are cold

For in the warmth their hug imparts

We feel You touch our heart of hearts

And we can bear the searing ache

Of moments when our hearts would break

But for the hands that reach to heal

The hurts only a heart can feel

Oh, taste and see the wonder of

The One who fills us with His love

Oh, taste God’s mercy and His grace

Redemption’s sweet, sweet promises

Oh, see and hear and touch and taste

The beauty of each moment’s haste

Drawing us nearer to the Light

When faith at last will become sight

© Janet Martin

See: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Hear: Then he said, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." Mark 4:9

Touch; He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps. 147:3

Taste: Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Ps. 34:8

Victoria and I were driving home around supper-time today marveling at God's beautiful handiwork ; the stunning simplicity of a winter's dusk. After supper I pulled up a blank page and jotted down the four lines that bounced their way home with me. As Victoria and I worked on some preparations for her birthday on Saturday every so often I would wander out and peg down a few more thoughts. By Victoria's bedtime I had 'felt' my way through the first two stanzas, but I didn't start with the 'touch' verse because there are so many, many things one feels; then Victoria stole up behind me, wrapped her arms around my neck, hugged me long and hard and whispered, 'Mom, I hope this hug writes a really good poem for you'; the next stanza fell from my finger-tips/heart before her touch cooled.

Oh God, tune my heart to sing your praise

and never let it falter

Teach me to fully trust Your ways

and lay mine on Your altar