Earthdate 20160414:  These are the ramblings of one traveler’s journey on earth as he makes his way toward his heavenly home.

Sometimes the days begin to settle into a routine so that it becomes difficult to notice the uniqueness of what God is teaching and revealing.  It is on these days that it takes extra effort to pay attention and not just assume there is nothing new to be learned.  Today looked a lot like yesterday and the day before — the day began by getting the building ready for the day then heading outside to spend the beautiful sunny day cutting firewood and cleaning up brush to improve the property’s appearance and usefulness.

Whenever I would shut the chainsaw off to move brush or pick up firewood, the birds would be singing with such beauty and volume that I think they may have been trying to drown out the sound of the saw. 🙂  It didn’t seem to make any difference what I was doing, they were going to sing!  As I thought about it, I decided it had nothing to do with trying to overcome the noise I was making — it was all about simply doing what they were created to do.  

God has created each of us to be loved by Him and to give Him praise and worship.  Yet I wonder how we are doing at that?  Is the praise I express based upon God or upon me?  Do I praise simply for God or is my praise dependent on who is watching and listening?  When the noise of the world seems likely to drown out the sounds of my praise, do I still praise God simply because that is what I was created to do?  How about receiving God’s love?  Do I accept it in the spirit of grace and mercy with which it is offered?  Or do I act like it is only obtainable if I can somehow earn it?  When I begin to believe I have to earn God’s love, whatever praise I offer becomes shallow and self-serving.

I pray that you and I would understand the purpose for which God has created us.  I pray that we would know and accept the love God has for us.  I pray that we would give Him praise with our lives in all the circumstances of life.  I pray that our praise and worship would always be only for God.  I pray that we would never compromise, or change, our worship based on who is listening and watching.