All of Creation offers Praise and Glory

                                   While not one of our feeders we are visited by cardinals and juncos

Praise for God’s Universal Glory

 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!

 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
 Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the heavens!

 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
 He established them forever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 

 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
 fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
 Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!

 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
 Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!

 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.
 He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

                                  Psalm 148 NRSVue

On Christmas Day we celebrated with family, in stages, with a departure mid-morning, an overlapping arrival, then more joining us early afternoon. There were newlyweds, a family with children, and a handful of senior citizens. We sang together with four of our gang playing instruments, including our nine-year-old granddaughter accompanying us on piano. It was fun.

These were the humans, of course, but there were birds in abundance as well, probably ten species arriving and departing from the feeders just outside our family room windows as we opened gifts and ate too much.  

I do love how so often in scripture, everywhere from the psalms to the prophets to wisdom literature (Job), there is a strong theme that all of Creation mourns and celebrates, not just humans. The daily reading psalm for the latter part of this week in the Christmas season issues a repeated call for praise from rulers to youth, as well as creatures of the sea and sky. What a powerful invitation. The heading in the New Revised Standard Version is "Praise for God’s Universal Glory" and it is apt  I wrote not long ago about Isaac Watt's hymn Joy to the World based on Psalm 98. There are intimations --overtones?-- of Psalm 148 as well in the chorus. " and heaven and nature sing..."

Wherever you are today, whatever youi're up to, allow some space for praise and glory to the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.