a simple hymn of praise

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.


This old hymn puts to words what I've been unable to articulate after returning from a memorable vacation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Savoring the week just past, I can still hear the rhythm of the waves on the Lake Superior shoreline, envisage the double rainbow on the beach, review the most spectacular sunset ever witnessed, breathe in the pine scented air while hiking the forested dunes - each of these reminders of the freedom, gentleness and unfettered lightness that infused each day. Upon my return, I ponder - How might I capture and continue to live out of a grateful heart for the simple abundance of those grace filled days where I delighted at every turn in God’s presence and glorious creation?

Is there a song that speaks of where you are today? I’d love to have you sing it back to me.

a simple channel

Earlier this summer I was witness to a 700 foot freighter getting stuck in the channel at Ottawa Beach. The channel had recently been dredged out, but significant rainfall allowed for beach sand to wash back into it. Obviously the canal has to be deepened repeatedly to allow for the safe, unobstructed passage of the occasional freighter.

Currently the street I live on is closed to through traffic while the road commission is working to replace the culvert that allows a stream to flow under the road. It’s quite an interesting project which gives me another visual of the importance of keeping the channel open.

Any consideration of these watercourses suggests that regular maintenance is required to keep the water flowing freely. Unless debris is removed from the approach, it could well become clogged or dammed up resulting in all kinds of problems. When the medium is maintained, there is a simple downstream gravitational flow that runs freely.

With that in mind, this old hymn invites me to look at my interior life as a channel – a culvert – a conduit.

I love old hymns and words.

Channels Only
1. How I praise Thee, precious Savior,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.

2. Just a channel full of blessing,
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation
All Thy loving message sound.

3. Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no power but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command.

4. Witnessing Thy power to save me,
Setting free from self and sin;
Thou who boughtest to possess me,
In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

5. Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner self may flow.

Chorus:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.

Doris Donnelly reminds me that as a conduit of Living Water, "I am pulled not by guilt but by gravity and grace to do what I have come to understand with a high degree of certainty is God's will for me."

The morning office from The Divine Hours concludes with this Prayer of the Church:

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen

Words, hymns and prayers; simple reminders of God’s abundant provision to help me fulfill his purpose on this pathway that is the river of life.

I invite you to apply this prayer and the above hymn to your purpose as a conduit of God’s love and grace. Where then, might you need some dredging or opening so as to more freely flow with the Master’s power?