July 10, 2006

• A Hymn of Grateful Praise

  In about a month, I am walking down the aisle — not as a bridesmaid yet again — but as a bride.  I’m walking down the aisle in the church I grew up in.  Maybe it’s not the most breathtaking venue for a wedding — it’s not cathedral-like and seeminly lacks grandeur — but I have seen Him in this sanctuary and beheld His power and His glory (Psalm 63).  I made a public proclamation to folllow Jesus in this sanctuary – baptized under water.  And over the years, I have shared testimony after testimony of God’s glory in my life from the platform of this sanctuary.  And so it would be fitting for me to make a public proclamation of my covenant with God and with Sam in this same sanctuary.

  I’m walking down the aisle to a lovely hymn which is a perfect expression of my heart.  It goes like this:

  For the beauty of the earth
  For the glory of the skies,
  For the love which from our birth
  Over and around us lies.

  Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
  This our hymn of grateful praise.

  For the beauty of each hour,
  Of the day and of the night,
  Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
  Sun and moon, and stars of light.

  Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
  This our hymn of grateful praise.

  For the joy of human love,
  Brother, sister, parent, child,
  Friends on earth and friends above,
  For all gentle thoughts and mild.

  Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
  This our hymn of grateful praise.

  For Thyself, best gift divine,
  To our race so freely given;
  For that great, great love of Thine,
  Peace on earth and joy in heaven.

  The earth that God created is so beautiful to me.  The love that He has given us – is so beautiful to me.  Love toward us and love for each other.  And so I just want to lift to Him this hymn of grateful praise as I walk down the aisle.

  • 3:55 pm
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