In the springtime, I love to sit outside alone in the early morning chill to sip a mug of hot coffee, read and meditate on The Upper Room message for the day, and bask in the sounds of nature.  Each creature praises God in its own way.

I especially enjoy the symphony of praise performed by all the different birds that live nearby.  The orchestra often includes the loud trumpet sounds of Canada geese flying overhead, the high-pitched whistles of black-capped chickadees jostling for a place at our bird feeder, and a lone woodpecker holding down the percussion section in a tall oak tree.

Each bird has its own unique call, but together they generate a beautiful morning chorus of praise.  Just like the birds, we each have our own distinctive, God-given voices with which we can praise God.  Some people have the ability to praise God out loud for all to hear; some have the gift of quietly praising God during conversations with others; some are skilled at soundlessly praising God through prayer.

Like the birds, we can merge our unique voices and together share a magnificent melody of God’s praise for all the world to hear!

Prayer: Dear God, help us become more aware of the many reasons for praising you.  Amen.