by Richelle Hecker
Praising the Giver.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
“I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:10-13 New Living Translation
This summer in Colorado, it has been wonderfully green. Everywhere I go the foliage is bursting and blooming with life. Wildflowers abound in various colors, and even the flowers of roadside weeds are adding to the beauty around us. It’s difficult to look at all of this and remember the drought years we recently endured. Back then we were surrounded by a brown landscape, devoid of flowers and eventually covered with a smoky brown and gray sky caused by local forest fires. During that time of death and destruction, it was hard to imagine a future that would be vibrant and teeming with life again. 
King Solomon understood the way things cycle in life. Just as we see years of drought contrasted with years of abundance in nature, we experience the same phenomenon in our lives. We will have years of wonderful abundance where happiness is easy to access and joy will abound. We will also experience years of drought, where it feels like we are isolated from people and God, or we struggle to provide for our own needs as well as the needs of our families. During these times it may be difficult to realize the joy God has for us. This is not because the joy is gone, but because it is difficult to remember and see through the darkness happening in our lives.
We cannot foresee the future, so it is best to focus on the giver of all things. We are to thank Him for what we have when we have it, and trust Him for our future when we don’t. Our purpose is to praise God no matter which part of the cycle we are experiencing.
Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO
The 3 Amigos: what great teaching from the 3 of you. Yes- why don’t I attend Sunday am Bible study? I study the Bible and attend a Monday night women’s study closer to home .. I learn so much from Gods’s word from Bible study !!! I love the pictures on the wall for worship focus and your props. I’m a visual learner !! Thanks you for the incredible messages you give us Sundays and on Praying With The Eyes. I pray about ” where else can I serve in the church other than teaching Sunday School?”