"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, July 30, 2016 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (ELW 884)

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, July 30, 2016 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (ELW 884) 

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (ELW 884)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heav'nly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
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I had the immense blessing to meet Edith some years ago. She and her late husband, Peter, had been missionaries, going to the mission field before World War II. We talked about their experiences in Africa and then their moving back to the United States only to feel the call to return. Edith shared her stories and asked about hunger work around the world. She was well read and aware of just about every struggle to provide food security and well-rounded nutrition. She and her husband began giving to hunger work early in their ministry and had made monthly gifts for many years. After a cup of coffee and homemade cookies she stated, "I only wish we could have given more to help hunger causes." I was able to detail that their monthly giving and the memorials that were made after Peter died had amounted to thousands of dollars. Without hesitation she sang the doxology.
Giving God, help us to lift praises to you for all things. Let our voices join with all of creation in thanks for your compassion and care. Give your Spirit charge to remind us that we are called to care and tend, not abuse or destroy. Amen.
Rodger Prois
Bishop Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Master of Divinity , 1993
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