Praise HIM In EVERY Breath

 It was really cold this morning and never made it out of the teens today.  Not much snow melt, thankful for all the shoveling done yesterday.  The horses enjoyed the snow.  

Ruth took the morning shift, Sarah Reinhard took the afternoon and I took the evening. As I was on for the evening the meal was mine to make. We started with Anna's special dip and chips. The dip is made with an entire avocado, queso cheese, salsa and sour cream. Our next course was oxtail soup. The left over baked potatoes were fried up with some bacon, the bacon was added to the salad and the left over steak was heated up then cut into bite size portions. We all had plenty to eat. Mom was tired today. She did some walking but more resting. She seemed a little more confused but is always agreeable and funny. We did a lot of laughing. The pork loin for tomorrow's meal was taken out of the freezer this morning. We will serve that will mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad and for dessert brownie bites and ice cream. Rhoda posted new pictures of Zeke. He is a month old now and so cute.

In closing I read something of worth, believe it or not on Facebook. We really DO praise HIM with each and every breath.

There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.

Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels.

But scholars and Rabi’s have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing.

YH (inhale): WH (exhale).

So a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God.

A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words.

Even an atheist would speak His name, unaware that their very breathe is giving constant acknowledgment to God.

Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.

So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?

Being alive means I speak His name constantly.

So, is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?

In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs.

In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst.

In fear we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down.

When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.

When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments!

This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive.

All of us, always, everywhere.

Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.

written by - Sandra Thurman Caporale from the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston.