{"id":202,"date":"2010-05-04T08:22:07","date_gmt":"2010-05-04T12:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jdackerman.com\/miscellany\/?p=202"},"modified":"2010-05-04T10:15:42","modified_gmt":"2010-05-04T14:15:42","slug":"morning-coffee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jdackerman.com\/miscellany\/2010\/05\/04\/morning-coffee\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning Coffee"},"content":{"rendered":"

I sat outside on our deck this morning for the first time this year.\u00a0 I had my coffee mug (which got cool very quickly, by the way), my Smartphone with its camera and Our Own Hymn-Book<\/a>.\u00a0 I marveled at the beauty of God’s creation, and the peace that can best be seen early in the morning.\u00a0 I listened as the birds scolded me for invading their bird feeder space and then flew away to await my departure.\u00a0 Then I picked up my hymnal, opened it up and read the first hymn that caught my eye.\u00a0 It was hymn #214, written by Joseph Addison in 1712.\u00a0 This is what I read:<\/p>\n

WHEN all Thy mercies, O my God,
\nMy rising soul surveys,
\nTransported with the view, I’m lost
\nIn wonder, love, and praise.<\/p>\n

Oh how shall words, with equal warmth,
\nThe gratitude declare
\nThat glows within my ravish’d heart!
\nBut Thou canst read it there.<\/p>\n

To all my weak complaints and cries,
\nThy mercy lent an ear.
\nEre yet my feeble thoughts had learnt
\nTo form themselves in prayer.<\/p>\n

When in the slippery paths of youth
\nWith heedless steps I ran,
\nThine arm unseen convey’d me safe,
\nAnd led me up to man.<\/p>\n

Through hidden dangers, toils, and death,
\nIt gently clear’d my way;
\nAnd through the pleasing snares of vice,
\nMore to be fear’d than they.<\/p>\n

When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou
\nWith health renew’d my face;
\nAnd when in sins and sorrow sunk,
\nRevived my soul with grace.<\/p>\n

Through every period of my life
\nThy goodness I’ll pursue;
\nAnd after death, in distant worlds,
\nThy glorious theme renew.<\/p>\n

When nature fails, and day and night
\nDivide Thy works no more,
\nMy ever grateful heart, O Lord!
\nThy mercy shall adore.<\/p>\n

Through all eternity to Thee
\nA joyful song I’ll raise;
\nBut oh! eternity’s too short
\nTo utter all Thy praise.<\/p>\n

These poor pictures, taken with my Smartphone, don’t do the view justice.\u00a0 Even if taken with my real camera, or the best camera available, they wouldn’t do justice to capturing God’s creation.\u00a0 Even the creation we see doesn’t fully show us the beauty of what God originally created, before sin came into the picture and obscured our view.\u00a0 But then, as the words of this hymn tell us, creation is a small part of what we have to be thankful for.<\/p>\n

\"Sun<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I sat outside on our deck this morning for the first time this year.\u00a0 I had my coffee mug (which got cool very quickly, by the way), my Smartphone with its camera and Our Own Hymn-Book.\u00a0 I marveled at the beauty of God’s creation, and the peace that can best be seen early in the… <\/p>\n

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