The Glory of the Spring How Sweet!

For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Spring has (finally) sprung in my neighborhood, and it is a sweet reminder of God’s faithfulness through the seasons, and His beauty in creation. I love watching the trees bud and then flower, the tulips and daffodils pop up out of the earth. The sun shines, the grass is green, and the birds sing.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:5

Our God delights in delighting us with the beauty of changing seasons. His wonders are too numerous to count. As I walk around my neighborhood, I am amazed by His creativity in nature. And I am thankful that He chose to bless us with an incredible variety of plants, flowers, animals and weather!

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

My prayer is the same as this writer’s. After observing the wonders of God, of nature, of His grace, I ask that God would work wonders in me, and renew my heart. Just as we see evidence of new life in nature, I want the new life, strength and joy I have through Jesus to spring up within me for all the world to see.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. Job 5:8-9

The Glory of the Spring How Sweet!
Words by Thomas H. Gill

The glory of the spring how sweet!
The new-born life how glad!
What joy the happy earth to greet
In new, bright raiment clad!

Divine Redeemer, Thee I bless;
I greet Thy going forth;
I love Thee in the loveliness
Of Thy renewed earth.

But O these wonders of Thy grace,
These nobler works of Thine,
These marvels sweeter far to trace,
These new births more divine:

This new-born glow of faith so strong,
This bloom of love so fair,
This new-born ecstasy of song,
And fragrancy of prayer!

Creator Spirit, work in me
These wonders sweet of Thine;
Divine Redeemer, graciously
Renew this heart of mine.

Still let new life and strength upspring,
Still let new joy be given;
And grant the glad new song to ring
Through the new earth and Heaven.

All People that on Earth do Dwell (Old 100th)

I thought it was appropriate for my 100th post to be a meditation on the Old 100th. Old 100th is actually the name of the tune for All People that on Earth do Dwell, as the words for that hymn are based on Psalm 100. This same tune is also used for the Doxology. Interestingly, what we call the Doxology:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all people here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

is actually the last verse from another hymn, Awake My Soul, and With the Sun.

Psalm 100 exhorts us to praise the Lord because He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Take a few minutes today to reflect on the Lord's goodness in your life. Meditate on the examples of His lovingkindness. Reflect and thank Him for the many ways He has shown Himself faithful to you, and faithful through the generations. To Him be praise and glory evermore!

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise,
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

All People that on Earth do Dwell
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.