July 22, 2026
There is so much to praise God for today, isn’t there? When I was having breakfast on the porch today the birds were so loud, it was distracting! The flowers in my garden are finally blooming exuberantly – a combination of warm sunshine and plenty of the “free water” that is a direct answer to prayer for God to send rain down on His people. On the way to work I saw corn growing high and green on both sides of 301, and the staff parking lot is bordered by a field of corn so tall it’s almost creepy!
Inside my office the temperature is comfortable (thank you, Chip!) and the view is gorgeous on all sides (thank You, God!) and my desk is covered with music and lyric sheets as I continue to plan the rest of the summer and look toward the Music Ministry restart in September. So many great songs of faith to choose from! Thank You, Lord, for gifted men and women who can write songs that help the rest of us enter into worship! And thank You, God, for Music itself! It is a vehicle created by You to help the words of Scripture travel from our heads to our hearts, where they can bloom and grow and produce fruit in our lives. Thank You also for those whom You have gifted to sing or play or mix the sounds produced by Your servants, who give their time and talent to lead in worship.
It’s quiet around the campus here at Salem this week, but I can remember last week’s shouts and squeals and singing as 100ish kids traveled from sanctuary to classroom, fellowship hall back to sanctuary, as they were led through the verses of Psalm 23. Bible, Missions, Games, Snack, Music, Drama, Science. Each segment different, but each one leading kids 3-12ish closer to understanding how good it can be to belong to the Good Shepherd. What an awesome and terrifying assignment! But praise God for each child who came, and for the families they represent – siblings, parents, grandparents. They too were impacted by VBS – they came to Salem to drop off or to pick up kids and were able to see and hear the Word of God we poured into their kids all week. And praise God most of all that His Word never returns void. It always accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it (see Isaiah 55:11). We can know without a doubt that our VBS accomplished the will of God as we labored daily to make disciples.
What are you praising God for today? I’ll see you Sunday for worship!
Careen
Worship Songs for July 26:
He Lives – Daniel Baptist Congregation – https://youtu.be/0RJgrRHMDAY?si=Ippdev7jGZKdltMS
Revive Us Again – Bill & Gloria Gaither – https://youtu.be/RuMrQt4l6qE?si=otb0Qeub6kuNQij-
Here I Am to Worship – Jeremy Camp – https://youtu.be/TbviTN7MKY8?si=0NusAzQ0qHuN4SS5
Living Hope – Phil Wickham – https://youtu.be/9f2FXxDVO6w?si=tLRIoqwFN-9YsiaY