How Great Thou Art

Today I was feeling kind of down. We had Saturday classes today, the weather has been overcast the last few days, we only have two weeks left, I've missed a family funeral and wedding now, next weekend is my birthday and Easter, I need a summer job/internship and I'm really feeling the stress of the money issue. I am supposed to go to Prague for a few days after my program, but the flight alone costs $402! Plus I was trying to call my travel agent, but there was such a bad delay with Skype that the agent would hang up before I could say anything, so I wasn't accomplishing anything!

I was just getting really down and frustrated. So I decided to get out of my room for a while. I took a walk around an area of Paderno that I hadn't seen yet. The conclusion of that walk....God is amazing and so great. I got a great view of the mountain and was reminded of Psalm 121:1 and a song based off that verse. I stood for ten minutes just praising God with that song. "I lift my eyes up, up to the Mountain, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven, Creator of the Earth."

The birds were singing. Their song worshiped the God that knows every one of them. The God that created each and cares for all. As I continued my walk, colors started popping out everywhere. There were beautiful pinks in flowers, the vibrant green grass, a field full of full dandilions, clay colored stone houses, white and yellow buds on bushes. One thing about small town Italy is that you can have a brand new house next to a 100 yr old building. One will have chickens out in the yard and the other will be perfectly manicured.

Men were out working in the yards. I saw one guy that reminded me of my dad. He was stopping to wipe the sweat from his brow and his movements was just like Dad's. Women were washing windows on their houses, or playing with their children at the park. Kids were playing everywhere and laundry fluttered in the light breeze.

God sees everyone of these people. He sees all the colors and the flowers. He created them and cares for them. I know he will care for me too. God has provided so much already for this trip and I know he will continue to do so. I don't know if more money will come in somehow or if tickets will be cheaper, or maybe I won't be able to go to Prague, but I know that whatever happens God is in controll and I don't have to worry.

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Verse of the day: Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"