Shining Glory

So I was reading in Isaiah this morning for my quiet time.  The house was so peaceful....Dave had just left for work, Claire was getting ready for work, and Courtney was sleeping.  I was in Chapter 61 but the last part of that chapter is what jumped out at me:

"for as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." ~Isaiah 61:11~ 

Those words first reminded me of the small rose bush Claire got me for Mother's Day this past spring.  It wasn't doing very well where I had transplanted it so I re-transplanted it in a small corner of our backyard.  The leaves are dying.  We have no idea why.  So here is this little plant with almost every leaf dead. Stuck in the dry, brown earth because we need rain.  And yet...there's the red blossom....this tiny rose opened up...showing the glory of God...the creator of all things.  This rose is blooming.....in a way, that is a picture of it "praising" the God who made it.  It's shining.....do we shine the way in the world?

And then I started reflecting on just what it means for "righteousness and praise to spring forth....."

We...the Believers, need to pursue righteousness and have a "song of praise" on our lips so a non-Believer will hear and see of His glory. That is one way we can shine.  The glory of God is all around us....from the tiniest bud on the branch to the majestic mountain top.

From the down and out poor homeless beggar to the lofty, wealthy king and queen on their thrones.

We see God in the things around us....in the people around us.....we are made in His Image.....

In nature we see His work.

it's time to praise Him with our lips and lives.

Let's spring forth like the summer flowers in bloom and praise His Name...and marvel at His wondrous work.