May 2, 2021 (Sunday)
Here we are on May 2, 2021. Remember the song, “April Showers?” It goes like this: “Though April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May.” This year in our part of Texas April brought little rain, but we are seeing flowers.
There is another side to the weather in May. Did you know that Texas leads the nation in the number of tornadoes in May? Well, Texas leads the nation in the annual number of tornadoes, period.
We would rather have flowers than tornadoes, thank you very much, but, as far as I know, we do not control that situation. We take what we get and live with it.
May with its flowers and storms is like life itself with its health and disease, smiles and frowns, strength and weakness, ups and downs, mountains and valleys, day and night, and on we could go, demonstrating that life presents all kinds of situations.
Bing Crosby made a very popular movie years ago, entitled “Going My Way.” Is life going your way? Your answer is probably, “Sometimes.” At other times not so much.
What is your attitude toward life in general, toward the storms and toward the sunny days? Do you “roll with the punches” and “keep your cool?” Or do you complain from the “getgo,” no matter what?
If you were stranded on a desert island with only one other person, would you rather it be an optimist or a pessimist? Would you rather it be a person who has faith in God or a person with no faith in God? Would you rather it be a builder or a destroyer?
Let’s hear it for the folks who lift our spirits, who “look on the sunny side of life,” who seem to know that the storms of life will pass, and even if they don’t we will be able to live with the situation.
We happily welcome those days described by the poet,”God’s in His Heaven and all’s right with the world,” and we also would like to think are ready for the day the prophet Habakkuk described:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Let’s not bring people down; let’s raise them up.
And let us remember that God raises us up if we let Him.
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Best when viewed at full screen:
YOU RAISE ME UP
Words: Brendam Graham
Music: Rolf Lovland
2002
When I am down and oh my soul so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
There is no life no life without it’s hunger
Each restless heart beat so imperfectly
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.
You raise me up to more than I can be.