Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God – Day 21 Star Twinkler

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Psalm 148:3

Like starry splendor bright and vast,
Your glory glitters to the last.

Growing up in the country I delighted in the splendor of the stars scattered across the night sky. I routinely sought out the Big and Little Dippers, Orion, and the Seven Sisters. And under a Texas night sky, in the light of these familiar companions, my love asked me to marry him.

Job describes our Heavenly Father as the One who marvelously spread out the heavens and made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. (Job 9:8-10). But our Father cautioned his people that when they see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—to not worship them because he created them for all the peoples of the earth (Deuteronomy 4:19). He promised that one day a star would rise; a king’s scepter coming from his people (Numbers 24:17). And so our Father, the Star Twinkler, gives us Jesus, our Morning Star, the one who shines in our hearts (2 Peter 1:18-19).

Pause and take time to survey the expanse of the night sky. Consider the constellations, the varied brightness of each star, and how each sparkles against their velvet backdrop. Notice the hazy band of light stretching across the heavens that makes up the Milky Way. What might our Father be speaking to you in this moment?

Praise our Heavenly Father for creating the stars that mark the seasons. Praise him for his Son, Jesus, the Morning Star, rising as our Father promised.

Pray.

Heavenly Father,
You are the Star Twinkler.
When I see your starry grandeur, let me break forth in praise.
Amen.

For the story behind Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God, visit the first blog in the Praise series.

If you’d like to see all the books currently available in my Be Still series, visit my Be Still page.

All the books in the Be Still series are available on Amazon. Visit my author page Jill English Johnston.

Grace and Peace

Posted in Be Still Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God – Day 20 Sun Eclipser

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
Psalm 148:1

Every heart turned asunder,
At a glimpse of your wonders.

I lived my whole life and never saw an eclipse. But now—in the past seven years—I’ve seen two. We drove a thousand miles to see two minutes of the first and less than a hundred miles to see four minutes of the second. To know about an eclipse is interesting, to experience one is altogether beyond words.

When our Heavenly Father made the two great lights—the greater to rule the day and the lesser to rule the night (Genesis 1:6)—he distanced them perfectly for the moon to perfectly eclipse the sun. He causes wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for the sun to become dark, and the moon to turn blood red in front of it (Joel 2:30-32). During a decisive battle, he even caused the sun and moon to stand still until his people defeated its enemies (Joshua 10:13). With strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars, our Father, the Sun Eclipser gives us Jesus, the Son of Man, bringing us our salvation (Luke 21:25-28).

Pause and take time to watch a full moon rise as the sun sets. Consider their movement in the sky. Notice, despite their different distances, how their sizes are similar. What might our Father be speaking to you in this moment?

Praise our Heavenly Father for the details of his creation. Praise him for his Son, Jesus, the Son of Man coming from the heavens with power and great glory .

Pray.

Heavenly Father,
You are the Sun Eclipser.
Thank you for the moments I am awed by your perfect design.
Amen.

For the story behind Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God, visit the first blog in the Praise series.

If you’d like to see all the books currently available in my Be Still series, visit my Be Still page.

All the books in the Be Still series are available on Amazon. Visit my author page Jill English Johnston.

Grace and Peace

Posted in Be Still Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God – Day 19 Sun Setter

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
Psalm 65:8

And with the peaceful setting sun,
Praising you ‘til the day is done.

The quiet stillness of the fading day, the color flooding the evening sky, the gentle surrender of day to night. Watching sunsets has always been a special part of our family. Wherever we lived, whether Texas, Japan, Guam, Mississippi, or California, we always found a place to watch the sunset together.

In the beginning, our Heavenly Father spoke light into existence. The light was good and he separated it from the darkness and called light “day” and darkness “night” (Genesis 1:3-5). The prophets connected the goodness of light with our Father. Isaiah declared, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,” (Isaiah 60:1). Micah announced that when we fall, we will rise, and when we sit in darkness, the Lord will be our light (Micah 7:8). Our Heavenly Father gives us Jesus, the Light of the World, bringing light that leads to life (John 8:12).

Pause and take time to watch a sunset. Consider the vibrant reds, oranges and golds filling the sky. Notice the shift in sounds, the feel of the air, even the changing smells. What might our Father be speaking to you in this moment?

Praise our Heavenly Father for creating light and color. Praise him for his Son, Jesus, the Light of the World illuminating our paths even in the darkness.

Pray.

Heavenly Father,
You are the Sun Setter.
As evening falls quiet my heart so I can praise you through the night.
Amen.

For the story behind Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God, visit the first blog in the Praise series.

If you’d like to see all the books currently available in my Be Still series, visit my Be Still page.

All the books in the Be Still series are available on Amazon. Visit my author page Jill English Johnston.

Grace and Peace

Posted in Be Still Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God – Day 18 Horizon Extender

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
Psalm 113:3

As the sky turns radiant red,
Your praises gladly will be said.

Growing up in the country, I watched the sun rise and set behind the trees that surrounded the fields where we lived. But Lake Erie wasn’t far and there, except for an occasional boat or some clouds, I had an unobstructed view of the horizon, the place where the sky met the water.

Job announces that our Heavenly Father created the horizon when he separated the sky from the waters (Job 26:10). Wisdom says that she was there when he drew the horizon on the oceans (Proverbs 8:27). Our Father declares the vastness of the horizons when he tells Jacob that his many descendants will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south—-and bless everyone on the earth (Genesis 28:14). Our Heavenly Father gives us Jesus, our Good Shepherd through whom he promises to rescue his people from the east and from the west (Zechariah 8:7).

Pause and take time to look at the distant horizon. Consider how now matter how far you travel, it ever stretches before you. Notice what lies between you and the place where the sky meets earth. What might our Father be speaking to you in this moment?

Praise our Heavenly Father who created the horizons. Praise him for his Son, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who extends our horizons as we trust in him.

Pray.

Heavenly Father,
You are the Horizon Extender.
Everywhere I go, may I praise your name.
Amen.

For the story behind Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God, visit the first blog in the Praise series.

If you’d like to see all the books currently available in my Be Still series, visit my Be Still page.

All the books in the Be Still series are available on Amazon. Visit my author page Jill English Johnston.

Grace and Peace

Posted in Be Still Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God – Day 17 Shelter Provider

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 63:7

Mounting high on wide spread wings,
Above the clouds glory rings.

I grew up in a trailer and thought a two story house was a mansion. Since then, I’ve lived in many houses and some apartments, barracks, and even ship’s berthing. Now my husband and I travel in our camper. Around the world, people live in all kinds of different shelters. Whether townhouse or farmhouse, condominium or cabin, chateau or shantey, they are places we call home.

God’s people remember how their ancestors lived in the desert after leaving Egypt, by constructing and living outside in similar shelters during one of their festivals (Leviticus 23:41-43). Our heavenly Father provided them new homes in a new land and instructed them to build their houses with wisdom and strengthen them with understanding (Proverbs 24:3). Paul tells the believers in his letter to the church in Ephesus that they are God’s house, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). Our Father gives us Jesus, the Cornerstone of his people (1 Peter 2:4).

Pause and take time to appreciate the place you where live. Consider how God provides for you and how you have made it a home. Notice the details, the comforts, and the small things you love about your home. What might our Father be speaking to you in this moment?

Praise our Heavenly Father for the daily shelter he provides and praise him for his Son, Jesus, the Cornerstone of our Faith.

Pray.

Heavenly Father,
You are the Shelter Provider.
When I praise you, my spirit soars with joy.
Amen.

For the story behind Praise: Proclaiming the Glory of God, visit the first blog in the Praise series.

If you’d like to see all the books currently available in my Be Still series, visit my Be Still page.

All the books in the Be Still series are available on Amazon. Visit my author page Jill English Johnston.

Grace and Peace

Posted in Be Still Series | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment