Over the last few weeks, I have been reveling in the joy of watching a hummingbird darting in and out of our flowers—how I wish I had the know-how and the camera to capture the beauty of that remarkable tiny bird who has the good sense to choose our violets and gladiolus over the Wal-Mart brand nectar filling a feeder hanging near our front porch. He knows what’s real and what’s fake. He’s one mighty fine example of choosing our Maker’s Way to enjoy the best, just as He intended. Through the beauty of nature, through the blessing of being surrounded by so many among His amazing people, and through His powerful Word, and by our living Savior, and led by His Holy Spirit—I thank God that my life can be just as wondrous as our visiting humming bird. Truly I can say, my Lord has been faithful everyone of these seventy years.

MY LORD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL

For seventy years my LORD has been faithful
in guiding even my very first step
and my learning to climb
and my running;

my LORD has been faithful through the loving
embrace of my mother and father and
in the love of their mothers
and their fathers;

my LORD has been faithful in the lives of His
disciples, men and women taking
their time to teach me His Word
and to guide me;

my LORD has been faithful giving me friends
who played, laughed and learned with me
in His Good path as I
discovered

His calling for me and and in the answering,
my wife and my children and those who
shared in my calling the joys
of my journey;

my LORD has been faithful in growing
His Kingdom so great all around me
as people embraced Him and
His good Life;

my LORD has been faithful in the sun and
the rain, through the day and the night,
His Spirit guiding me always
taking me Home.

M.S.
July 10, 2022

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111