Tuesday, December 13: Scripture – Psalm 96:10-13, NIV
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
As I am writing this devotion, it is late October, and the trees are changing. Trees that were a brilliant green in midsummer look dull and tired. Some trees are finding their new colors which were masked by the green of the chlorophyll. The sourwood is one of the first that I notice turning from green to peachy-yellow and then to red. Later, we see ash, maples, oaks, dogwoods, sweet gums, tulip poplars and others uncover those fall colors. My horse, Diesel, and I love to ride on the ASC Greenway during this time when the trees are in their glorious color. The breeze stirs the leaves. Some are letting go, swirling, and dancing in the crisp air, settling to the forest floor creating a carpet of color – Leaf Rain! Diesel and I are walking – crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch through the leaves on the trails. The Psalmist proclaims in Chapter 96,
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Let the trees of the forest sing for joy.” (v 11-12, NIV) Do you hear the trees singing when you are in the forest?
Prayer: Holy Father, Creator of all, help us to truly see all your creation and be thankful for the gifts given to us. Give us ears to hear the trees singing! Amen
Theresa Higgins
(artwork by Meredith Welfare)
