Sunday, December 30, 2007

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.      
He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.      
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!      
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!      
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 148: 1, 5, 6, 11 - 14

Some time ago I got in the habit of turning to praise when at a loss for how to begin with God, or reconnect with God.  Praise is good stuff.  Praise gets me started in the right directions with this Incarnate love of my life.  Psalm 148 is especially helpful in this regard.

Different worlds around me keep bumping into each other.  They all claim authority.

Clashing of the Worlds

God came to be with us
in the flesh
Emmanuel!
Again, we know a new beginning with God
this time very personal,
by way of a new kingdom Incarnate.
How shall I tell you the story? 

I live it in the flesh with you.
Will you live it with me,
about the infant birth,
Weaving patterns from an old story and a new.
An old world, and now a new world.

Weaving them together with this Incarnate life,
a gift of Spirit Life comes to us.
a birth in our midst,
a personal gift,
a gift to community,
a gift of praise.
Two worlds, an old one, and a new one
are clashing about.