On first pass, each of today's readings tells us of the power and the goodness of God toward the people of God and encourages us to offer our God praise and gratitude.

As I read and re-read Genesis, I kept thinking of the current state of the world economy. Analogous to Noah and his ark, we are currently adrift on a sea of economic uncertainty, and like Noah's ark, all manner of human- and animal-kind occupy the ark.  We hope for an end to the uncertain waters that cover the earth, but for us, the end is not an easy forty days away.  And, while we hope that there will be clear signs of an end to the uncertainty, those signs may be a long time in coming.

I am wondering how we will feel when the uncertainty ends and our economy is strong, again.  I also wonder to what we will attribute the turn-around.  Will we assume that human-kind is responsible for the end to uncertainty?  Or, will we believe that the Lord has renewed the commitment made in Genesis?  Will we be build "an altar to the Lord" and offer a sacrifice in gratitude?  Or, will we "offer a sacrifice of praise?"

Perhaps our feeling at the end of the uncertainty will be governed by our level of faith at that moment.  During these tough economic times, our faith is likely to be challenged when we and our loved ones suffer job-related, and other, uncertainty.  The readings for today remind us that our God is committed to us and our well-being, and that "as long as the earth last, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

May God bless you and yours with faith and well-being.

Supplementary Reading

Soul Food

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" Psalm 8:3-4


Beauty is not a luxury. Beauty is essential; it is food to our souls. Without beauty we become spiritually malnourished. As with food, we can get by on empty calories for a while, but eventually it will catch up to us and we will find ourselves becoming weak and unable to stay focused or be as healthy and productive as we want to be. So it is with beauty. We can work or live in a harsh, cluttered environment for only so long before our souls become weary and our passion wanes.

Nourish your soul daily. Take a walk through the park, spend time in the garden, sit on the beach, read the beautiful language of Gods word, or watch the majesty of a sunrise or sunset. When you do, you will plug into the power of the God who created this majestic world.