HAPPY TUESDAY!
I pray all is well with everyone, and you’re enjoying this cold “terrific Tuesday”. I woke up to a dusting of snow, and 24°F temperatures (burr). I’m so grateful to have a home and a vehicle with heat. It’s amazing the things we take for granted, so I’d like us to pray for those who have not choice but brave the weather 24-hours day. There are so many people who are less fortunate than us, so it’s important to keep those people in our thoughts and prayers, and to do what we can to help. There are many that have extra, and many others who don’t have enough. If you have extra coats, sweaters, blankets, etc., take a few moments to call a shelter or thrift store and donate those items. As children of God, we’re commanded to love each other as we love ourselves. Always remember, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Christmas is a season of giving, I think the Apostle Paul said it best: "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!
Today’s scriptures are about praising the Lord. I don’t think we understand how important it is to praise God. He makes sure that we are able to take each breath. He’s responsible for our very existence, and every blessing that we ever will, or have, received. That is a reason to praise Him! You might be wondering what it means to praise God. Dictionary.com defines it as: the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship. To praise is to joyfully acknowledge God in the presence of the world, with thanksgiving and a bit of gratefulness in our heart. It’s when we are so filled with His Spirit that we can’t help but dance, sing, and shout praises to Him. We should praise Him everyday of our life, because it’s by His grace that we’re still here to see another day.
I pray all is well with everyone, and you’re enjoying this cold “terrific Tuesday”. I woke up to a dusting of snow, and 24°F temperatures (burr). I’m so grateful to have a home and a vehicle with heat. It’s amazing the things we take for granted, so I’d like us to pray for those who have not choice but brave the weather 24-hours day. There are so many people who are less fortunate than us, so it’s important to keep those people in our thoughts and prayers, and to do what we can to help. There are many that have extra, and many others who don’t have enough. If you have extra coats, sweaters, blankets, etc., take a few moments to call a shelter or thrift store and donate those items. As children of God, we’re commanded to love each other as we love ourselves. Always remember, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Christmas is a season of giving, I think the Apostle Paul said it best: "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!
Today’s scriptures are about praising the Lord. I don’t think we understand how important it is to praise God. He makes sure that we are able to take each breath. He’s responsible for our very existence, and every blessing that we ever will, or have, received. That is a reason to praise Him! You might be wondering what it means to praise God. Dictionary.com defines it as: the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship. To praise is to joyfully acknowledge God in the presence of the world, with thanksgiving and a bit of gratefulness in our heart. It’s when we are so filled with His Spirit that we can’t help but dance, sing, and shout praises to Him. We should praise Him everyday of our life, because it’s by His grace that we’re still here to see another day.
There’s nothing wrong with singing “Glory Hallelujah” to the Lord, because that’s another part of following the greatest commandment to “Love the Lord with all of your heart and soul”. Frankly, who doesn’t love to be praised for the good things that we do for others? If you work hard, or go out of your way to show that you love someone, you would want them to tell others how great and wonderful you are–after all that’s a part of why we do it. You probably want to act like you’re modest, because you do things out of the kindness of your heart not for praise (so you say), but there’s nothing wrong with appreciating a loved one for being there when you need them. We’re made in the likeness of God, so He too loves it when we praise Him. He loves we speak about His goodness and mercy to all who would listen. He loves that His love affects us to a point that we are filled with joy and want to sing, dance, and rejoice in His wonder. This allows Him, and everyone else around us, to see that we appreciated Him.
One of my favorite Gospel singers is J. Moss, and I still have one of His classic albums The J. Moss Project on my mp3 player. He has a song on entitled Psalms 150, and anytime I’m feeling down and need a “pick-me-up”, I play that song. Before the end of it, I find myself dancing, shouting, and praising God. God always moves when we least expect Him. When things seem like they just can’t get any worst, He comes with that rainbow after the storm. He sends the right people and opportunities, at the right time.
The Psalmist new the secret to a life filled with abundance, peace, joy, and happiness, it’s written:
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
J. Moss ended his chorus “Since I’m breathing I’m gonna praise Him again”. Hallelujah! Just thinking about it makes me want to get out of my seat and dance. God is a wonderful, mighty, awesome, kind, loving, gracious God [and I could go on and on about His goodness]! All He wants us to do is recognize Him for who He is, and what He’s done in our life.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
J. Moss ended his chorus “Since I’m breathing I’m gonna praise Him again”. Hallelujah! Just thinking about it makes me want to get out of my seat and dance. God is a wonderful, mighty, awesome, kind, loving, gracious God [and I could go on and on about His goodness]! All He wants us to do is recognize Him for who He is, and what He’s done in our life.
I promise you, praise brings joy. When you feel like hope is at a minimum, you’re getting tired and weary, and you can’t fight any longer praise God. I’ll leave you with some very sound advice by the Apostle Peter, it’s written: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)
Jesus is the root of all praise! He’s the reason we have a second (or fiftieth) chance at righteousness, and a new found freedom in the heart of God. When I think about what He’s done for me—He laid down His life so that I could truly have one—I just want to praise Him. Don’t forget that this life isn’t all of about you, but you won’t be able to see that until you establish a true relationship with Christ. It’s okay if you stumble and fall, or stray, He’s always waiting with open arms, which is another reason to praise Him. He loves you, even if you don’t quite love Him. If you don’t know Jesus, or is unsure of your relationship with Him, go to Him right now, and ask Him to be Lord of your life today. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verse today is: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455545&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional
I love you!
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