Psalm 66:1-7
¹Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!
² Praise his glorious name!
Honor him with songs of praise!
³ Tell God, “Your works are wonderful!
Your great power makes your enemies bow down in fear before you.
⁴ Let the whole world worship you.
Let everyone sing praises to your name.”

⁵ Look at what God has done!
These things amaze us.
⁶ He changed the sea to dry land,
and his people went across the water on foot.
So let’s celebrate because of what he has done!
⁷ He rules the world with his great power.
He watches people everywhere.
No one can rebel against him.

Today is the day we (my community) say farewell to our coach, friend, minister, and family-man Mike Storter.  Funerals are often a time filled with tears. Tears of sadness for our loss, tears of rejoicing for our friend is not suffering anymore, tears of envy because he is with Christ and we are here on earth, tears for others, tears for the funny memories that will not be made anymore, and tears just because.  I know for me, it is tears for his wife and little girls who won’t get to have their daddy open the door for their first date, hold them when they cry, earthly applaud for them when they graduate, or walk them down the aisle on their wedding day.
But, on a day like today when there could be much sadness, I can totally see Mike shouting Psalm 66:1-7 to us.  He would want this to be a joyous occasion of a life well lived.
Mike would want us all to “Praise God’s glorious name!”, “Honor God with songs of praise!”, “Tell God how awesome and wonderful He is!”, and “Sing praises to Him!”  I can imagine Mike jumping up and pointing all around and saying, “Look at what God has done!” with the biggest smile on his face.  He would remind us of all the miracles God has done in and through us and of God’s great power.  God is watching over us.
Glory be to God in the highest!
Live! Love! Praise Him!
Have a beautiful day, no matter of the difficult times.
 

May 25 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15 John 6:41-59 Psalm 66:1-7 Proverbs 14:15-16