God keeps bringing Psalm 145 to my attention lately — a timely reminder to pass on to my children all that I know about the one true God. 

First, as part of our homeschool curriculum this year, I purchased a fabulous new family Bible story book by Starr Meade called The Mighty Acts of God. The author’s note for parents explains that the book gets its name from Psalm 145:4. “One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”  

Meade goes on to explain that the purpose of telling stories of God’s mighty acts isn’t for entertainment value or good moral examples. The purpose is to make known the wonder of God’s great character. What a great verse Psalm 145:4 is for parents and grandparents! 

One way of declaring God’s mighty acts is by talking about them, and another is by writing about them. Psalm 102:18 says – “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.” 

Over Labor Day weekend, our family had the privilege of seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at our local science museum. How amazing to see those ancient words of God that He miraculously preserved in jars inside of caves for two thousand years. What a mighty act of God! And how thankful I am for those men of long ago who obediently and diligently wrote those precious words down on scrolls so that my generation could see them and praise God! 

My daughters also were quite inspired by seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they were eager to create their own scrolls at home. (We just glued parchment paper to wooden dowels to create them.) 

Another way to pass along truths about God is through song. And that’s actually another way God brought Psalm 145 to my attention. While my husband was leading worship music at church a few weeks ago, he found this fantastic song for a Sunday morning offertory. Our very talented friend Mia sang “The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate” beautifully. It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but sing along to, and the words are right from Scripture. Many are right from Psalm 145. Listen to this version from Vineyard Church and you’ll see what I mean: 

Putting Scripture to music usually helps greatly in attempts to memorize it. So when the fall Sunday School classes kicked off at church this week, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to discover that my oldest daughter’s weekly memory verse comes from Psalm 145. It’s verse 9: “The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” She came home from class with it already memorized, thanks to that song she’d heard over and over!

What’s more, my youngest daughter and I have been studying the seven days of creation in Genesis this past week, so “all He has made” has been at the forefront of my mind. Her memory verse isn’t from Psalm 145, but it dovetails nicely into this message of God’s mighty acts. Luke 18:27 says, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Preserving words on paper for two thousand years would be impossible for man, but it was possible with God! 

So, as we dive deep into a busy new school year — teaching the next generation about God — I am thankful for the fresh encouragement in these ancient words of Psalm 145. When I am tempted to be angered by my children’s attitudes or behaviors, I cling to those words “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in love.” Lord, help me respond to my children the way You respond to Yours! 

I am so thankful that God is good to all and compassionate on all He has made. I am thankful that He provides for my needs and watches over me. He is worthy of praise for ever and ever! 

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

 ^{1 [a]} I will exalt you, my God the King;
       I will praise your name for ever and ever. 

 ² Every day I will praise you
       and extol your name for ever and ever. 

 ³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
       his greatness no one can fathom. 

 ⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
       they will tell of your mighty acts. 

 ⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
       and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ^[b] 

 ⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
       and I will proclaim your great deeds. 

 ⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
       and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 

 ⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
       slow to anger and rich in love. 

 ⁹ The LORD is good to all;
       he has compassion on all he has made. 

 ¹⁰ All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
       your saints will extol you. 

 ¹¹ They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
       and speak of your might, 

 ¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts
       and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 

 ¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
       and your dominion endures through all generations.
       The LORD is faithful to all his promises
       and loving toward all he has made. ^[c] 

 ¹⁴ The LORD upholds all those who fall
       and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

 ¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
       and you give them their food at the proper time. 

 ¹⁶ You open your hand
       and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 

 ¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
       and loving toward all he has made. 

 ¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
       to all who call on him in truth. 

 ¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
       he hears their cry and saves them. 

 ²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
       but all the wicked he will destroy. 

 ²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
       Let every creature praise his holy name
       for ever and ever. 

By the way, the girls and I have been reading The Mighty Acts of God aloud, and it’s really well done. I highly recommend it.