A favorite refrain from a hymn I learned in childhood...

     All things bright  and beautiful, 

        all creatures great and small, 

    All things wise and wonderful, 

         the Lord God made them all.

My mother was a church musician and in a day long before video games, the internet and social media - when we had three television channels to watch; some afternoons and evenings were spent by the piano or organ in our home often singing from the hymnal.  This was a standard.  

God blesses us with many things each day, in all times and in all places of creation, His "common grace" extends to all.  The last few years have been full of difficult moments. I shared in my sermon on Sunday...     

     In this world there is not a single human being who can fix        the economy, end suffering and poverty, end racism and 

     hatred, fix the world. President Obama can't do it;  

     Governor Romney can't do it. Those are kingdom initiatives      and God has made one means of remedy in this world; the      church and in this community He has called Incarnation to  

     manifest His presence to the lost and hurting.   

Our hope must be in the Lord! The church is Almighty God's plan for changing the world. Holy Spirit filled, Holy Spirit led, Holy Spirit powered people bringing the love and mercy, the kindness and compassion, the truth of the Gospel into this world.  Romans 8:19 reminds us  

        "For the creation waits with eager longing for the  

               revealing of the children of God;" 

May God be revealed in us day by day...