Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11

I’m always amazed each spring how the trees and grass quickly go from brown and drab to colorful and lush. Over this past week, I’ve watched a bud bloom into a beautiful rose. The irises are flourishing everywhere and the peonies are just beginning to blossom. We planted our vegetable garden last week, too, and are watching and waiting for tiny shoots to pop through the ground.

We know these things will occur. It happens each and every spring. This verse in Isaiah gives us the understanding that just as we see these things spring forth in the natural world, no matter what happens in the world of people, He will be praised. His people will declare His glory and His righteousness. Wickedness abounds, we see it in the news each day, but God reigns. And even in difficult times, reporters stand a bit dumbfounded as they interview people who have lost homes through devastating tornados or floods giving glory to God and showing thankfulness to Him for their spared lives.
May God use us to continually bring forth praise to all nations.

Romans 7:19-25

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  
I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:19-25

These words from Scripture, as well as from the song, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us" 
"...that He should give His only Son and make a wretch His treasure..." bring me to my knees.
A prayer on my heart daily: Thank you God for Your mercy and grace. I am so undeserving.  Thankfully it's not my merits, but Your love. I pray that I can put away my old man and put on the new and live my life daily, hourly, minute by minute for You.