“Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars.” – Psalm 148:7-9
Snow on the Mountain
“Everybody’s talking about the weather, but nobody’s doing anything about it,” observed Mark Twain.
That was very true in Twain’s day and it is still mostly true. With very few and very limited exceptions, we cannot control the weather. We cannot make lightning. We cannot create hail upon the earth, nor snow, nor vapours, nor stormy winds. We just sit back and watch it snow.
We watch and we respond.
Sometimes we complain.
No matter how beautiful we deem a snow capped mountain from a distance, if we are on that mountain with our car stuck, we mutter, sputter, and flutter about in frustration. If we didn’t think we’d appear silly, we’d openly shake our fists at God about the matter.
We look at weather conditions from the point of view of our own plans. We discern the weather from the perspective of our personal convenience.
The Psalmist proposes an alternative approach. He suggests that we use the occasion to praise the Lord from the earth.
He says that all creation joins in the chorus of nature’s praise for God’s manifestation of His power and beauty in nature.
Each season embodies its own charm and promptings for worship.
Snow topped mountains are especially praise evoking for me.
We always have a choice as we do in every display of God’s authority in nature and life. We can smile or frown at God. When we smile, we find that even the fiercest forces and life forms in nature are smiling with us.
Praise the Lord!
These words were written as church bulletin devotional for churches who offer Master Sunday Bulletins to their congregations. May it serve as a source of encouragement to you today. You are welcome to copy this devotion for one-time non-commercial, local church, or educational use. Please include the copyright line printed below with any reproduction. © Master Sunday Bulletins 2012. All rights reserved. Published by Master Sunday Bulletins · Merri V. Dennis, Publisher · Thomas B. Sims, Author