The Heavens Declare His Glory

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Don Merritt

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.”

Psalm 19:1–2

Step outside and look up.

Before a sermon is preached, before a song is sung, before a single word of Scripture is read aloud, creation is already proclaiming the greatness of God. The heavens are not silent. The skies are not empty. They are declaring, proclaiming, pouring forth speech about the majesty of their Creator.

From blazing sunrises to star-filled nights, creation testifies to God’s glory.

Creation Is a Constant Victory Song

Psalm 19 tells us that “day after day” and “night after night” creation reveals knowledge. This is not a one-time announcement. It is continuous. Relentless. Victorious.

Every sunrise is a declaration: God reigns.
Every sunset whispers: He is faithful.
Every star shining in the darkness proclaims: Light always overcomes.

The world around us is not random. It is crafted. Designed. Sustained by the powerful hand of God. The same God who set galaxies in motion is the One who walks with us through our daily battles.

Creation itself is evidence that God is not defeated, distant, or disengaged. He is glorious, active, and sovereign.

When We Feel Small

Sometimes life makes us feel overwhelmed or insignificant. Yet when we look at the vast heavens, we are reminded of two powerful truths:

  1. God is infinitely great.
  2. And this infinitely great God knows us by name.

The glory displayed in the skies is not meant to intimidate us — it is meant to assure us. The One who commands the stars also commands our circumstances. The One who paints the skies each morning is more than able to bring beauty out of our trials.

If He can sustain the universe, He can sustain you.

Living as Reflections of His Glory

The heavens declare His glory automatically. But we have a choice. We can join the chorus.

When we live in faith, we declare His glory.
When we stand firm in trials, we proclaim His greatness.
When we walk in obedience, we reflect the work of His hands.

Creation shouts. Let our lives echo that victory.

Today, lift your eyes. Let the sky remind you that God is powerful, present, and victorious. His glory is not hidden — it surrounds you. And the same glory that fills the heavens is at work in you.

The heavens declare it.
Let your heart believe it.
Let your life proclaim it.

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A Meditation of Wonder

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Don Merritt

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

There are verses that speak, and there are verses that sing. This one sings.

It rises like dawn over the soul, soft at first— a pale shimmer on the horizon— and then suddenly, gloriously, the whole sky is burning with newness.

In Christ, Paul says, something happens that is not merely moral, not merely emotional, not merely aspirational. It is creation— the same Voice that once called galaxies into being now speaks over a human heart and says, “Let there be light.”

And there is.

We stand in wonder before this miracle. How could the old truly pass away? How could the tangled histories, the worn-out patterns, the shadows that cling so stubbornly simply lose their claim?

Yet this is the marvel of grace: Christ does not patch the old fabric. He weaves something entirely new. He does not polish the ruins. He builds a new house where the ruins once stood. He does not resuscitate the old self. He resurrects a new one.

And so we walk through our days with a quiet astonishment— that beneath the ordinary rhythms, beneath the familiar struggles, beneath the slow and sometimes halting growth, there is a new creation pulsing with divine life.

The Spirit whispers, “Behold.” Not glance, not nod politely, but behold— gaze long enough to see the miracle that God has already begun in you.

Wonder is the right response. Not striving. Not self-suspicion. Not fear that the newness might fade. But wonder— the kind that opens the heart to the ongoing work of the One who makes all things new.

Today, let your soul pause. Let it breathe. Let it marvel.

You are in Christ. You are His workmanship. You are a new creation. And the new has come.

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Genesis of an Adventure

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Don Merritt

I mentioned the other day that I’m working on a fairly major blog upgrade, and that I’d keep you all in the loop. Much to my amazement, there actually seemed to be a little bit of interest in the subject. So, I’ll share the beginning of my adventure and see where we go from there.

I started blogging back in 2011, and essentially, I started it as a writing exercise just for me. The idea was that I wanted to get my little brain back to the point where I could write something immediately when prompted like I used to do when I had my first job out of college starting in 1981.

As far as blogging goes, I knew exactly… Nothing.

I got back into the writing part, not very good writing, but I could do it, and then, for no reason that I know of, people started following my blog. It was only a few at first, but over time, I got better at it and more followed. I was curious and learned a little about blogging by reading the WordPress help pages, more followed, and it occurred to me that this little exercise had some real ministry potential.

Time went on, my blog grew, but was never huge or anything like that, yet I knew that it was making an impact, primarily from contacts readers made privately from all over the world.

Wow – Amazing!

Time flew by, I was away from regular blogging for a while taking care of my 95-year-old mother, and then the pandemic and WP changed everything when I wasn’t looking, my wife and I moved from Iowa to Florida to “retirement” (whatever that really is) and I blogged a little and used this as a platform for ministry activities I was involved in. During this period, I had a growing discomfort about my blog, and how I was neglecting it. I finally got to the point where I made a commitment to make this blog my top priority. At about the same time, we realized that due to some unfortunate circumstances that I’ll skip for now, we would return to Iowa after 5 years away.

That was last summer.

Since then, I’ve tried some things and done a fair amount of research about blogs and blogging. It hasn’t gone as smoothly as I might like, but there isn’t much I can do about that except trust that God will show me a way to overcome the obstacles in my path. You see, I have no doubts concerning the reason for all of this; God still has some work for me to do. This is true even though I am not as bright as I used to be and am a functional illiterate at this point because of my delightfully bad vision. Yes, despite all this, God has a job for me, and even though I am weak, He is strong, and He will provide all the things I lack to get His job accomplished.

In this, I fully expect that I have embarked on the best and most exciting adventure of my life, and make no mistakes, I’ve had some pretty good ones already.

That’s probably quite enough for today, if you are still reading, I thank you. If you are interested in more posts like this, please drop me a comment. With that, thanks again for reading, and I’ll see you next time!

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May His Praise Rise in Us Today!

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Don Merritt
Life Project Blog

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV)

Praise is not merely an action—it is a posture. It is the soul standing tall even when the body feels weak. It is the heart lifting its eyes when circumstances press low. It is the quiet, stubborn insistence that God is worthy, not because life is easy, but because He is faithful.

To boast in the Lord is to breathe differently. It is to let your confidence rest not in your strength, not in your wisdom, not in your ability to hold everything together— but in the God who holds you. The humble hear this kind of praise and find courage rising in their own bones. Your worship becomes a shelter for others, a testimony that whispers, “He is enough. He is near. He is good.”

Praise is personal, but it is never meant to be private. It longs for company. It invites others into the wonder. It says, “Come see what I have seen. Come taste what I have tasted. Come stand in the light that has found me.”

When we magnify the Lord, we do not make Him bigger— we simply see Him more clearly. And when we exalt His name together, our voices braid into a single anthem that rises higher than any one of us could lift alone.

A Closing Thought

Let today be a day of continual praise— not because everything is perfect, but because God is present. Let your mouth carry His goodness, your heart rest in His strength, and your life invite others into the joy of exalting His name.

Praise is the song that steadies the soul. Let it rise in you again.

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Announcement

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Don Merritt

I am pleased to announce that my new series Born Agan A New Creation will begin Tuesday, June 16, at 6:00 am Central Time and run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am very excited about this series as it will discuss foundational topics that are often taken for granted, but that are crucial to our very Hope as Christians.

Please be on the lookout next week, I’m hoping to have you with us on this important Adventure!

See you there,

Don

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Victory in Christ: The Life That Conquers Death

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Don Merritt

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

John 11:25–26

In the shadow of Lazarus’s tomb, surrounded by grief and human limitation, Jesus made one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture: “I am the resurrection and the life.” He did not merely promise resurrection—He declared that resurrection is found in Him.

Martha was facing the heartbreak of loss. Her hope was fixed on a distant future—“I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” But Jesus shifted her focus from an event to a Person. Victory was not just coming someday; victory was standing right in front of her.

This is the heart of our faith: Christ Himself is our victory.

Because He is the resurrection, death does not have the final word. Because He is the life, despair does not get the last say. Even when circumstances seem sealed behind a stone, Jesus calls life out of what appears lifeless.

The world defines victory as success, comfort, or visible triumph; Christ defines victory as unshakable life—eternal life that begins the moment we believe. It is a life that survives hardship, outlasts suffering, and overcomes even the grave.

When Jesus asks, “Do you believe this?” He is not asking for theological agreement alone. He is asking for trust. Do we believe that He is enough in our grief? Enough in our waiting? Enough in our battles?

Our victory is not in avoiding death, pain, or struggle. Our victory is in belonging to the One who conquered them all.

The empty tomb proves it.
The risen Christ guarantees it.
Our faith receives it.

In Him, we do not fight for victory, we live from it.

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Betwixt and Between

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Don Merritt

Yesterday saw my last post on Proverbs; I set out to finish the book this time, unlike 11 years ago when I didn’t make it to the end. I’m sorry to say that even though It’s done, I am not happy with the outcome.

In trying to get through, I tried several different formats and styles to cover those long stretches of proverbs and sayings, each of which stands alone, without a continuing narrative. It has groupings of similar themes, but no clear and precise narrative which makes it difficult for an expository approach. So in short, I really didn’t get it figured out… until the last few chapters.

I think I turned the corner after the 30 sayings ended in Chapter 24. It’s my intention to redo the Proverbs study, but not to serialize it again; that would be a bit much. Instead, it will be a reflective study of the book available for download in an inclusive pdf file for anyone interested. It will take some time to do; I’ll let you know when it’s available.

Other Projects Planned

I am currently working on two studies that will be serialized on this blog, and then made available as complete studies for download, possibly with Bible study guides for those who host small groups or lead Bible Studies. The first one will be called “Born Again a New Creation”. This one will look at the entire concept of being Born Again in a deep dive format that goes to the very heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The second is an in-depth study of the Nephilim from Genesis 6. So far, my research is following threads and strings in directions I hadn’t anticipated; this one will be a most exciting adventure. I’ll be sure to keep you all in the loop as these move forward.

Finally, I’ve been doing a great deal of research into blogs and blogging lately. You’d think that after almost 15 years of doing this that I would know a little something about blogs, but I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve come to the conclusion that I haven’t a clue; everything has changed since I started this, and I haven’t kept up!

I’m looking to fix that in the weeks and months ahead, and of course, I’ll be keeping you all in that loop as well.

Finally, I want to thank each and every one of my dear readers for your support of this site. Every visit, every bit of feedback mean a great deal to me, and you should know that I greatly appreciate your visits, likes, comments and subscriptions; you mean more to me than you will ever know.

Thank you and may God continue to bless each of you.

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Perfect Love Casts out Fear

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Don Merritt

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

Fear is one of the oldest companions of the human heart. It shows up in the quiet hours of the night, in the questions we can’t quite silence, in the places where we feel exposed or uncertain. Scripture never denies that fear is real—but it does reveal something stronger.

John tells us that perfect love—God’s love—does something remarkable. It doesn’t negotiate with fear. It doesn’t politely ask fear to step aside. It casts it out. It pushes fear from the center of our lives because only one thing can occupy that center at a time.

When John speaks of “perfect love,” he isn’t talking about our love for God. He’s talking about God’s love for us—a love complete, steady, unchanging, and not dependent on our performance. It is love that existed before we took our first breath and will remain long after our last. It is love that knows every hidden place in us and does not flinch.

Fear thrives where love feels uncertain. But God’s love is not uncertain. It is not fragile. It is not conditional. It is not withdrawn when we stumble or hesitant when we doubt. His love is the one safe place where fear loses its voice.

As you reflect today, consider this: Where fear has been whispering, God’s love has already spoken a louder word. Where fear has been tightening its grip, God’s love has already made room for freedom. Where fear has been predicting the worst, God’s love has already secured your future.

You are held by a love that does not waver. You are carried by a love that does not fail. You are known by a love that does not fear.

Let that truth settle into the places where anxiety has been living. Let it breathe peace into the corners of your heart that feel tense or guarded. Let it remind you that you are safe—not because life is predictable, but because God’s love is perfect.

And perfect love casts out fear.

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Final Thoughts on Proverbs

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Don Merritt

Reflection: Proverbs and Christ as Divine Wisdom

The New Testament reveals that Christ Himself is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). When we read Proverbs through that lens, the chapter becomes more than moral instruction—it becomes a portrait of the life Christ rescues us from and the life He forms within us.

1. Christ Heals the Foolish Heart

Proverbs describes the fool as resistant to correction and trapped in repeating patterns. In the Gospels, Jesus meets people exactly like this—and transforms them. His love breaks the cycle of folly by giving a new heart, a renewed mind, and the humility to receive truth.

2. Christ Awakens the Sluggard

Where the sluggard makes excuses, Christ calls disciples to follow Him with purpose. His love energizes obedience; His Spirit empowers diligence. He doesn’t shame the weary; He strengthens them.

3. Christ Purifies the Tongue

The destructive speech described in Proverbs finds its antidote in Christ, who is the Word made flesh—truthful, gracious, and life-giving. Through union with Him, our words begin to reflect His character; He replaces deceit with sincerity, gossip with blessing, and quarrelsomeness with peace.

4. Christ Embodies the Wisdom Proverbs Describes

Every contrast in Proverbs—wisdom vs. folly, diligence vs. laziness, truth vs. deceit—finds its fulfillment in Jesus. He is the wise Son who never walks in folly, the faithful servant who never drifts into sloth, the truthful Lord whose words heal rather than harm.

To follow Christ is to step into the wisdom Proverbs calls us to. To love Christ is to love wisdom. To walk with Christ is to walk out of folly and into life.

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The Heavens Declare

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Don Merritt

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they display knowledge. 

 There is no speech or language
    where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

Step outside on a clear night and look up. The vast sweep of stars, the quiet glow of the moon, the endless stretch of sky—none of it is random. Creation itself is a constant testimony to the glory of God. Without speaking a word, the heavens preach a powerful sermon: God is ⁠great, intentional, and majestic.

Day after day and night after night, creation pours forth speech. The sunrise declares His faithfulness. The changing seasons reveal His order. The intricate beauty of nature reflects His creativity. There is no language barrier, no corner of the earth where this message is not heard. God’s glory is on display for all to see.

Yet how often do we rush past these daily reminders? We become distracted, focused on our schedules and struggles, and forget to look up. When we pause and truly notice creation, our hearts are drawn to worship. The One who set the stars in place also knows us personally. The same God whose glory fills the skies cares deeply about every detail of our lives.

Today, take a moment to look around. Let the beauty of creation turn your thoughts toward its Creator. As the heavens declare His glory, may your life declare it too—through gratitude, obedience, and praise.

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