A BLESSED NEW YEAR
Here we are a few days into the year 2004. WOW! We wonder where the last 365 days went so quickly. But they are gone. Some of those days were sad as the inevitable end of life came for loved one and friends. Some of those days were hurtful as relationships were strained by wrong attitudes and actions. But, Praise the Lord that most of those days were times of rejoicing in the Lord. Great things He has done!
Today the greeting, “Have a happy new year” is the expression we all like to hear and we like to say to others. Happy is a good word. Jesus used it in the Beatitudes of Matthew chapter five. Blessed means happy. It is my prayer that you have a “Blessed New Year.”
What can move us in the right direction? Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”(Acts 20:35) Peter wrote, “Not paying back evil for evil…but…giving a blessing…(1 Pet. 2:9). I want to develop a life style of giving for I believe giving is at the center of a “blessed life.” God gave His Son. He freely gives His grace, forgiveness and love. I believe He expects us to do the same.
Today---------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He puts into the hearts of His followers the love of giving forgiveness and giving blessings. Have a Blessed 2004!!!
RESOLVED
I am resolved, I have made up my mind. People often seek to change their way of doing things so their lives will be improved. It is good to have “a check-up from the neck-up.” These lines were lodged in my mind many years ago and have clung on ever since.
I hereby resolve to do more and more
Of the very same things I’ve been doing before.
To do them all better and to do none worse
Until they haul me away in a great big hearse.
This always makes me think about the things I am doing. Some things I do are good. Unfortunately, bad things also happen. My resolve is to overcome the bad with the good. I realize that I cannot do this without the power of the Holy Spirit. I praise the Lord the Holy Spirit is always close by because He lives within me.
It is my desire to do good and not evil, to love and not hate, to praise the Lord for everything knowing that He can take what the devil meant for harm and make it come out good (Gen. 50:19). I resolve to love at all times because life is too short to allow bitterness, unforgiveness or hate to be in my spirit. Love is of God.
Today---------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit living in us to keep us on the path of loving others as God has loved us. Have a BLESSED DAY!!!
DAN
LIMITATIONS
One of the things I’ve discovered that is a part of the aging process is that there are limits to what one can do. I have to be very careful where I set my feet. I learned this the hard way when I caught my foot in the bedspread as I came around the end of the bed. I fell face down – all six feet and 240 pounds of me hit the floor. The house shook! I remember that as I was falling I said to myself, “You’re gonna hit the floor.” My forehead had carpet burns for a couple of days. I praised the Lord that I fell full length, stretched out and nothing was broken. I learned to be careful where I set my feet.
I’ve learned that in my daily walk with God I have to be careful about where I set my mind or my thoughts. There are limitations. God has set some spiritual and moral boundaries. I must stay within these boundaries. Satan is always seeking to entice me to cross the boundaries. I’ve learned that I can’t go it alone. If I take Satan on by myself I always get tripped and fall down. I must have the help of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 4:25-27(NLT) “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Today---------------------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit who lives in us and guides our feet into paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Very few people realize the power of their words. I remember from childhood the words of the rhyme:
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
But words can never harm me.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Prov. 18:4 “A person’s words can be life giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.” And vs 22 reads, “Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.” The HCSB translates: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
Where do our words come from? They come from our heart. We speak of the things we think about. “ What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart”… (Mt.15:18)
You have heard the expression, “What you say is what you get.” That is more truth than fiction. I read of a woman in a prayer meeting who said, “Please pray for me. This is the flu season and I’m always the first to get it.” I heard a man say, “I’m trying to catch a cold.” I asked him, “Why?”
Words are creative. What you say is what you very often get. It all starts with what we put into our hearts and minds. We only speak what we are thinking.
Today----------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the prayer of David that we can also pray. Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD
This is an oft repeated expression used to indicate those experiences in life when we have to face the situation we find ourselves in. I have noted and experienced that it is easy to put on a good front, to present ourselves in a way that emphasizes our relationship with God is in good order. We can come off looking pretty good.
But what are we really like when the rubber hits the road? Dr. Charles Stanley says if you want to know what is in a man just squeeze him a little and see what comes out. When it is ‘crunch’ time do we really show a Christ- like Spirit?
Almost two years ago there was an accident on an Interstate in Nashville. A young man was killed. He was a husband, father of two girls, a son and a very active Christian. The driver who caused the accident was a young woman who was drunk.
This case is coming up in court in a few weeks . The wife of the man who was killed will have the opportunity to make a statement to the court and to the woman. In her statement she will say, “What I desire most is to express to Ms. Kelsey the girls and my forgiveness and the forgiveness of Jesus. As Emily said, ‘Doesn’t she deserve a chance to know Jesus and get to meet daddy in heaven?’ I totally agree. Please pray I simply be a vessel to share the words of the Father and that through this message He be glorified.”
Today---------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for His grace that when the rubber hits the road God can receive glory! BE BLESSED TODAY!!
FOLLOW
Jesus said to his disciples, “Follow me.” He still speaks the same instruction to current believers. Consider with me where following Jesus might take us.
Have you ever considered that following Jesus is a sure path to trouble? The Bible tells us we will have trials and tribulations. Jesus told the disciples that if they hated me they will hate you. The unbelieving world hates the name of Jesus. God’s promise is, “I will be with you always.”
Following Jesus is an exercise in faith and trusting. Jesus said we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – then all these things will be added to our lives. Do we trust Jesus enough to trust and put Him first in our life?
Following Jesus also has the assurance of Jesus that, “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” The Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts and is with us always.
Following Jesus is an experience which embraces love and forgiveness. Love as in 1 Cor. 13 for love is at the heart of our relationship with God. Forgiveness as in the instruction Jesus gave in the model prayer, ‘forgive us as we forgive others.’ Or as Stephen said as the rocks were flying, ‘Lay not this sin to their charge.’
Following Jesus is like being on a see-saw. Sometimes I’m up and sometimes I’m down. However, I discover that where I am there He is also and through it all I can trust in Jesus.
In the chorus of the song, Follow On, W.O Cushing gives us these words:
Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!
Today----------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that as we follow Him we can know He is with us always. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
WHAT AM I HERE FOR?
I think most of us have this question float through our mind every now and then. Do you ever stop and really think about what I am here for? Several answers will come to mind. I’m here to take care of my family, to do my job, to be a part of my community. I’m here to serve the Lord, go to church, tithe, be a teacher, do visiting and witnessing about the Lord. All very commendable answers. Do we ever think about what God would say concerning this?
In 1 Peter we read that “we are set apart by the Spirit for obedience. We are to get our minds ready for action. As obedient children we are to be holy in all our conduct. It is written, “Be holy because I am holy.”
Along about now come thoughts about how others are behaving themselves and I am tempted to begin judging the actions of others. Oops! I can’t do that because I have to deal with the 2 x 4 in my own eye! I want my life to please God and you want the same thing.
Today-------------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the Spirit implanted desire to trust and obey. For there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
BLESSED ASSURANCE
I appreciate those things in life that I can count on. Aren’t you glad that day follows day? It is the way God set it up when He created the universe. We can depend on it. We are reminded in the Word that God does not change. “I am the Lord thy God, I change not.” And about Jesus, our Saviour, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Praise the Lord for those things that do not change.
In Isaiah 46:3-4 (NLT) God gives assurance to His people. These assurances are true for His followers today. God reminds them that I created you, I have cared for you since you were born. I will be your God throughout your life-time. I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
As I read these assurances I can say, “Thank you, God, for bearing me up from the womb to the tomb.”
Today-------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that no matter what your age or condition God will bear you up. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
THY WILL BE DONE
There are two great wills in our lives, God’s will and my will. People who not believe God will pay no attention to His will. Believers will seek to know God’s will for their lives. God does have a plan for every life. However, I have found in my own experience that knowing what God wants does not necessarily mean I’m going to do it. We have to deal with this thing called selfishness, pride, stubbornness. So often there is a conflict with what God wants and what I want. Eventually, if we have any sense at all, we conclude that God’s way is best.
The Bible teaches that we are to put God first. Trust Him, obey Him by following the instructions given. The promise is that we will have in our lives those things that are necessary to enable us to live.
Each person makes this decision for himself. No one can make it for you. Choosing to put God first means accepting all of God’s instructions. We don’t choose to follow some and ignore others. When we make a mistake and ask Him to forgive us, we are forgiven. There is nothing you can do that will stop God from loving you. There is no sin you can commit that God will not forgive.
I recall the words of a song, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him. In His presence daily live.”
Today-------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He never changes. We can depend on Him to do what He says He will do. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
PRAY CONSTANTLY
This is Paul’s admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We are accustomed to the KJV reading “Pray without ceasing.” I think we get the idea that prayer is an important part of our relationship with God.
What do we include in our prayer time? We receive requests from others that we pray for their health, or that they be comforted, or that the presence of God will be in their life as they face a difficult time. We also find there are many requests listed in daily devotional material or in church bulletins. One universal request often seen and heard is that we pray for the safety of our armed forces and pray for peace.
Sometime you might like to use the following as a guide for twelve minutes of praying. I have no idea who wrote this.
1 minute in adoration - praise God and tell Him you love Him.
1 minute confession - admit your sins and ask forgiveness.
1 minute in thanksgiving - thank Him for blessing you.
1 minute for salvation - pray for the lost; family, friends (by name).
1 minute for your community - pray for the mayor and officials.
1 minute for your state - The governor, the House, the Senate.
1 minute for your nation - The President and government leaders.
1 minute for the world - pray for leaders and current crisis.
1 minute for your church - your pastor, staff, and members.
1 minute for the Kingdom - for God’s Kingdom to come on earth.
1 minute for your family - those under your roof and away.
1 minute for yourself - pray that God can and will use you
Today------------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He is always ready to hear us when we pray. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
DEATH
There seems to be something about the dark, cold, dreary days of winter that reminds us of the fact of death. Have you really accepted the fact that your days on this earth are numbered? We often try to keep this fact of death in the back of our minds and avoid thinking about it as much as possible.
The winter months are harder on the elderly. I’ve heard in the last few days of e-mail friends in the hospital and at home with the flu and related illnesses. Some friends have departed to be with the Lord, which the Apostle Paul sees as a good thing. Through the years – is it my imagination – there seems to be more deaths in the winter than at any other time of the year. I recall one year when in the first three months of the year I was involved in thirteen funerals of church members or their relatives. One lady said to me, “Preacher, you’re just burying everybody!” My reply was, “Only the ones who died.”
There is a good side to thinking about death. When I get it settled in my mind that death is surely coming to me, I begin think about how I will live in the days I have left. Have you told all the people who need to hear it that you love them? Have you rid yourself of all feelings of resentment toward another person? Have you forgiven all whom you need to forgive – even if they don’t ask to be forgiven? Have you visited that friend in the nursing home or the loved one who is confined to the house? Have you written that letter, sent that card, made that phone call? You can be the sunshine that brightens someone’s day.
Lord, I pray you will help me get it all done to your glory. Then I can be ready to hear what the Psalmist said, “Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
Today----------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for His Word, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil, Thou art with me, Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” BE BLESSED THIS DAY!!!
DAN
ARE YOU READY?
In football season this is the question in the opening of the Monday night football game on television. Are you ready?
For the student this question often comes to mind in relation to a report that is due or to a test coming up. Are you ready?
This is a question faced by all of us as we think about the possibility of a disaster, a terrorist attack, or some catastrophe. During the time we were in what leaders called “The Cold War” our leaders urged that people build bomb shelters and stock them with food and other necessities in the unlikely event of an enemy bombing attack.
Do you remember all the flack about “Y - 2 – K” The prediction was that it would be possible for computers to crash, for the weather to go wild, for other dire happenings when the calendar changed from 19999 to 2000. A lot of people got all shook up by the unforeseen possibilities.
People are asked, “Are you ready to die? Have you made sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?” In regards to this you might want to remember that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12).
But what about asking, “Are you ready to live?” I know that death is certain. I also know that I will live until I die. What am I doing with my life? Am I ready to live? God has a plan for my life – and for your life. Am I living according to God’s plan?
“Living for Jesus a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do,
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.”
------T.O. Chisholm
Today-------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that in Him we are ready! BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
EVERY DAY
There is something everyone has to do every day. It is inevitable and there is no way to avoid it. What is this every day experience? It is the experience of choosing, making choices, deciding, taking sides. It simply cannot be avoided. It is a part of living.
Are decisions important? Yes! The choices we make determine the course our life follows. What are some of the choices everyone has to make?
I get up every morning. The day lies before me. I can be grumpy, complaining and out of sorts. Or, I can determine that this is a day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Sing praises to the Lord and be of good cheer.
Everyday brings relationship choices. In the natural there are some people who make me feel good while there are others who rub me the wrong way. Some have blessed me while others have offended me. As a follower of Jesus Christ what is my response? It is very easy to bless those who bless. It is not always so easy to forgive those who have offended me. However, as a Christian, I can have the joy of the Lord by forgiving offenses and asking God to bless the offender.
Always before us is the choice of following God or following the devil. There is no neutral ground. You can’t straddle the fence. The Biblical instruction is that we choose each day to follow the Lord.
Decisions – we have to make them. Choices – we have to choose.
Today---------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that God is always present to guide us as we make decisions. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
IT IS FINISHED
Jesus, on the cross, spoke these words recorded in John 19:30. “It is finished.” The work He came to earth to do was finished. The final parable had been taught. The last miracle had been done. He died as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. His body was taken from the cross and placed in a tomb. The door was shut. It’s over. It is the darkest of nights.
But, LOOK! Is that the sun rising on Easter morning? Yes! Yes! A door is opening to a new day. The seed has been planted, now comes the harvest! For ever 2000 years the harvest has been coming in. It is still harvest time. More people are experiencing God than ever before.
True, “It is finished.” Just as true, “It is New.” Every day brings new opportunities, new hopes, new dreams, new blessings. Praise the Lord!
A pastor friend retired from pastoring the church he has served for many years. In a sense, “It is finished.” However, the closing of the door on this part of his life means the opening of the door to new freedoms, new experiences and the opportunity to be a blessing to many others. It could be, Brother Larry, the best is yet to come.
“It is finished.” The court hearing is over. Testimony has been completed, a plea is entered, a sentence is agreed to. Final statements are made. Kim writes that “It is finished.” Closure has come after many months. But in this court setting was an opportunity to give expression to the love of God in Christ Jesus. Forgiveness was extended to the one responsible for so much pain. Yes, Kim, “It is finished.” But a door was opened. The love of Christ was shown to one who needs to know this love. Your standing steadfast on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ and His love is an example that will encourage others for years to come. Yes, “It is finished.” But as new day has dawned! Praise be to the God who is good all the time!
Today---------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the God of love who changes not. BE BLESSED TODAY!!!
DAN
I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
Much of life operates on the basis of appointments. Students have an appointment to be at school for a certain number of hours. Workers have an appointment with their employer to be on the job during working hours. Ladies make appointments at the beauty shop. Men have an appointed tee off time at the golf course. We make an appointment with a lawyer to draw up a will. We make appointments with friends for dinner. Life is full of appointments.
The Bible speaks of an appointment we all have. This appointment is at a time not chosen by ourselves, but by God Himself. In the book of Hebrews chapter nine we are told that just as it was appointed unto Jesus to die once for our sins it is appointed for men to die once. This is an appointment that each of us will keep. The one certainty of life is that it will come to an end. We will all die.
Death is not a bad thing. Jesus Christ has defeated this last enemy. He has made a way for believers to have everlasting life, eternal life in heaven with Him. We speak of death in different ways. It is a passing over. We say we lost a loved one. We speak of going through the valley of death. However we speak of it, it is the exit from this life on planet earth. It is the entrance into the eternal presence of God we call heaven.
Andrae’ Crouch reminds us in a song he wrote that, “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” For some it will be today. For others it may be many years down the road. But, “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” We will keep our appointment with death. Let it be a time of celebration because we depart this life for the home in heaven prepared for us by Jesus.
Today--------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
DAN
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
In 1 Cor. 10:31 Paul reminds us that “whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.” These are the days of political correctness. We are cautioned not to speak something that might offend someone. I’ve noticed that this applies primarily to Christians. Others demand that they be able to express themselves in whatever way they want to because of “freedom of speech.” So the pornographer can present his pictures, or loose his foul speaking tongue on society. I’ve read that in some schools teachers are not allowed to tell children it is wrong to take something that belongs to someone else.
If I want everything I do to be for God’s glory I will need to speak up when right or wrong is the subject. I have been taught from early childhood that it is wrong to steal. I still cringe in my spirit when I flash back to that day in Kress’s Store when I put a “Little Big Book” under my jacket and walked out without paying for it. I knew what I was doing was wrong. I thought I got away with it. No clerk stopped me. A policeman did not show up. My mother did not find me out. But I knew and I knew that God knew. This action was not to His glory.
Others are watching everything I do or say. I must be true for there are those who trust me. My daily prayer is that God will prevent me from doing or saying anything harmful to others. I desire that my words and actions bring glory to God.
Today----------------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that guides us into paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
DAN
WHAT DELIGHTS GOD?
Someone has written, “What God really delights in, above all else, is obedience to His Word.” God desires to bless His creation. All He asks is that we obey His Word. The only condition to remaining in the blessing of God is to remain in obedience to God.
Have faith in God. The kind of faith that leads us to obey God’s instructions. You have noticed as you read the Word of God that every promise of God to bless His children is accompanied by the condition of obedience. A good example of this is seen in Malachi chapter 3. Read the entire chapter. See the God who does not change (vs. 6).
God speaks of people robbing Him and being under a curse. Then He says in vs 10 ff, “Bring your tithes…Try me in this … See if I will not open the windows of heaven and bless you.” The blessing rests on obedience.
This song I’ve heard from early child-hood. Written by John H. Sammis, it expresses the principal of obedience.
TRUST AND OBEY
When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way! Let us do His good will;
He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows
And the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way; What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.
Today----------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that obedience delights our God and brings to us His blessings. HAVE A TERRIC DAY!!!
DAN
FAVORITES
In the O.T. Joseph was the favorite son of his father. Jacob was not very smart as he showed his favoritism. We have all heard the expression. “Teacher’s Pet.” Other students usually did not like the teacher’s pet. Often this person had exhibited his obedience, his desire to keep the rules and to obey the teacher’s instruction. The teacher noticed and reward such activity-hence, ‘teacher’s pet.’
The first Psalm speaks of a man who is happy. Why is he happy? His delight is in the Lord’s instruction. He meditates on it day and night. The old country preacher talked about meditation being like the cow chewing her cud. It is bringing the instruction to mind over and over again. He sees it from every angle. As he does this the instruction spreads its roots into the man’s life and thinking - just like a tree planted by the water sends its roots deep into the ground.
In Romans 2:11 Paul writes that there is no favoritism with God. In the context we read that God repays each one according to his works. There is eternal life for those who seek immortality. There is the wrath of God for those who live unrighteously. The individual, by his actions chooses his destiny.
I’ve heard the expression that a good God would not send a person to hell. I agree. Life is laid before us as two roads. Follow the right road to eternal life with God. Follow the wrong road to eternity without God. God doesn’t make the choice. The individual makes it.
Today-------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that with Joshua of old we can say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!!
DAN
NOTHING
An old song from earlier days had these words, “I’ve got plenty of nothing and nothing’s plenty for me.” I don’t know why but the word “Nothing” came out of no where and popped into my mind. Allow me to share a little of nothing with you.
In 1 Cor. 13 the Apostle Paul lists many things one can be and do but he summarizes it by saying, “If I don’t have love I am nothing.” In Romans 8:38-39 he talks about things that some might think could separate us from the love of Jesus. His conclusion is that there is nothing than can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
A song asks a question, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
C. A. Tindley wrote the words to another song long sung in our churches.
NOTHING BETWEEN
Nothing between my soul and the Saviour, Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure, Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between like worldly pleasure; Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever, He is my all, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between like pride or station; self or friends shall not intervene;
Tho’ it may cost me much tribulation, I am resolved, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between e’en many hard trials, Tho’ the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial, I’ll triumph at last with nothing between.
Chorus;
Nothing between my soul and the Saviour, so that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor, Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
Today-----------------------------out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that by His grace we can keep the way clear with nothing between. Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
DAN
PRAISE THE LORD
Psalm 147 reminds us to praise the Lord! It is good to sing praises to our God! Our relationship with God is sustained by praise – real heartfelt praise and worship that bubbles up from our spirit and are promoted and led by the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to be in God’s presence without praise for He dwells in the praises of His people. His throne is surrounded by praise. The NLT translation of Psalm 22:3 reads, “But You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”
How do you start your day? What is the first thing you think of when you wake up and roll out of bed? I am blessed to be able to say that it is almost as natural for me to say, ‘Praise the Lord for this day,’ as it is for me to stand up. Like many older people I do not hit the floor running. I stand up slowly and wait a minute before starting to move. I usually have my hand on something solid to steady me. It is in these moments I praise the Lord.
God requires praise. He is worthy of all praise. Rejoice as you praise Him for Who He Is. Be thrilled in your spirit as you praise Him for His love, grace and mercy.
I am always singing around the house. My daughter calls it weird noises. I sound good to me unless I try to sing along with a tape or CD. Then I realize that I do indeed make weird noises! However, they are joyful noises to the Lord.
Today---------------------------out loud and on purpose thank and Praise the Lord for the sheer joy of Praising the Lord!! Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
DAN