Month: May 2024

The Power Of Praise

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“I will praise the Lord with my whole heart…” Psalm 111:1

I recently read an article by the Gallup organization, the famed polling group that tracks a wide array of public sentiment. The article stated that in 2022, when American’s were asked a simple question, “Do you believe in God”, 81% said yes. I was actually not surprised by this, even though church attendance has declined for decades. God created us with an innate desire to want to know our Creator. That means, however small it may seem to be at times, there is a divine nature somewhere dwelling in each of us. Our part is to acknowledge that God is God and invite Him into our lives, for that’s when faith moves from a concept that you may think is real, to a tangible and powerful force in your life.

Once You Experience the Power of Faith, Praise Will Become Second Nature To you.

Praise is the antidote for complacency and distraction. Today, why not pause and think for a moment of how different your life would be if you followed the prescription for a blessed life found in Psalm 111. Praising God will truly bring your faith alive. Imagine the wonder of having a relationship so close with the Creator of the universe that every waking minute you are in communion with Him! Your life will become a wonder of wonders, and the cares of this world will soon begin to pale in the glow of His wonderful Grace!  

Peace

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“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever” Isaiah 32:17

Righteousness is a word we do not come across often. It means, ‘seeking to please God’. So, try this on for size. “The result of ‘seeking to please God’ shall be peace, and the effect of ‘seeking to please God’, shall be quietness and assurance.” So you mean to tell me that the byproduct of seeking to please God is

Peace, And Assurance?

Yes indeed, that’s exactly what Isaiah is saying, and exactly what I have experienced in my own life. There is no other way to explain the winding yet peaceful road that I have traveled. Oh there may be chaos around me, but inside I feel a quiet peace and assurance that can only come from God. Putting God first in life bring clarity and calmness to your spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you”, not the least of which will be a life filled with peace.

The Mustard Seed

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Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree” Matthew 13:31

It’s amazing to look at a mustard seed and think of the magnificent tree locked inside. Jesus uses this tiniest of seeds to illustrate a powerful point. In Matthew 13:31 He says that if you plant even the smallest amount of faith in your heart, that faith will grow beyond what you could ever imagine. To further illustrate this Jesus says in Matthew 17 that “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you”.

Seemingly Little Faith Can Yield Incredible Results

We spend our lives looking at life through our very limited vision and comprehension. Why not sprinkle a little faith into your life.

Winnie The Pooh

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“Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31

Winnie the Pooh said, “sometimes when I do nothing, it leads to the very best somethings”. This very wise quote bring us to the heart of Isaiah 40:31. So many times we worry ourselves weary over our circumstances when all we really need to do is

Hand The Issue To God.

Then, wait upon Him. When God is ready the answer will come. Who would have ever thought that Winnie, a silly old bear, could be so wise!

Light

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“Jesus said, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

When difficulties come they can either make us bitter or we can become better people. Jesus said in scripture that we would face difficulties, but also that we can rejoice in the face of those difficulties because He is with us. Think for a moment about what light does. Turn on the lights in a dark room and instantly you go from seeing nothing to seeing everything. With Jesus, dark corners brighten, our fear retreats, our footsteps become sure, our attitude change, our love for others grows, sorrow is replaced with joy!

Jesus Dispels Darkness.

Jesus is the light of the world. Follow Him and you will never walk in darkness again!  

Restart

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7:10

If our modern computer and smart phone age has taught us anything it’s that if you unplug then restart your device, all is right with the world. Author Anne Lamott even said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” I’ve chosen to unplug with prayer every day, and place my life in the hands of the Father.

Restart Your Faith.

When we give God permission to take control of our lives everything will work out as it should.

Upheld

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“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Many years ago I heard a rather famous national television news personality talking about the business of news. One comment stood out, “if it bleeds, it leads,” meaning stories that seem horrific, troubling or fear inducing dominate the headlines for a reason. Feel good stories simply do not drive audience numbers. The “news” and “talk shows” are for profit businesses. Remember that the next time the television newscasters or pundits breathless report while you feel your anxiety meter rising inside of you. There is a great anonymous quote that says, “Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.” God says in Isaiah 41,

“Do Not Fear For I Am With You.”

God goes on to say, “I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you!” Now you have a choice to make. You can give in to the fear the world loves to pump into your eyes and ears, or, you can believe God’s promises. Faith is a decision that comes with an amazing level of peace. Hand your fears over to God, and let Him hand you a life worth living.

Mona Lisa

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“In the Image of God, He (God) created (us).” Genesis 1:27

When I first saw the Mona Lisa up close and personal in the Louve in Paris, I was a senior in college studying abroad. It was interesting to me how my first impression of the painting was that it was rather ordinary. Yes beautifully done, but nothing that struck me as to why it was one of the most famous paintings in the world. Yet, as I drew closer I noticed the countenance about the woman in the portrait. There was a radiance about her that I could not describe, and still can’t. Leonardo DiVinci had captured something in this woman. Who was she? Of royal blood? A woman of stature? Hardly. Historians widely agree that the woman in the portrait is Lisa del Giocondo, an Italian woman who married a silk merchant at the age of sixteen, and lived her life as a middle class housewife caring for her six children. Yet in her middle class life there was a presence about her, something that Leonardo captured for all time in that painting.

We All Know People Who Exhibit A Captivating ‘Presence’,

I recently asked the question to a group of people, do you feel like you bear the image of God? The answer that came back was a very uncomfortable and reluctant, “not really”. Some said it was not possible to bear the image of God. Others said that it’s really a matter of God wanting us to bear His image, or to reflect His love. Yet what I love so much about Genesis 1:27 is that its so definitive. God created man and woman in His own image. It does not say He ‘wanted to’, or that He ‘desired to’. It says, He did it! You bear the image of God whether you are ready to admit it or not. The real question is, what does that look like? Without exception I find it in people who express what Jesus Christ talks about in Matthew 5:14, where He said, “you are the light of the world”. When you let Christ live in you, and shine through you to all you meet, you are truly bearing the image of God, and radiating His beautiful presence to a hurting world. 

Magnificent

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“O Lord, Our Lord, How excellent is your name in all the earth!…When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have ordained, What is man that you are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:1-4

Just last night I went out to retrieve the mail from our mailbox. The night was so crystal clear that I could not help but glance upward. The heavens were filled with stars. All thoughts of my day seemed to vanish away. I was in awe of the splendor and majesty of our Creator. Yet in all the vastness of this universe I suddenly felt the warmth of God’s love for me. In that intimate moment I was reminded of the words in our Psalm today. 

“What Is Man That You (GOD) Are Mindful Of Him?” 

I can just imagine David, the author of the Psalms, lying beneath a vast canopy of stars as he wrote these words. His thoughts so nearly mirror our thoughts Today. In the vastness of all of this creation who am I that you Lord God are mindful of me?’ And yet He is mindful of you! Better still, God’s love for you is beyond measure. He has singled you out! He knows your name! He cares for you! Through His Son Jesus He’s offered eternal life to you! With such assurance, such support from God Almighty, there can surely be no limit to what you can achieve in life! So the next time you look up into a star filled sky just remember, the same God who created all your eyes behold also created you in His image.

Embrace

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“For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me (Jesus), and have believed that I came forth from God.” John 16:27

I went for a walk and spent the time in prayer. Yet instead of simply praying I found myself singing a song I often sang in my youth. The words were very simple, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.” As after a few minutes of repeating the lines over and over again I suddenly felt an overpowering, overwhelming sense of love. There’s only way I’m capable of describing such a feeling; it was the Fathers love. In that moment I was being held as tightly by very real invisible hands as I would hold my own child. In the warmth of God’s embrace the world around me melted away. Nothing else mattered. There was no stress that could penetrate that moment. There were no distractions of life that could loosen me from that hug. It was the definition of

Pure Love. 

Jesus said, “For the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me.” When you bring praise to God, and give thanks to God for His son Jesus, a whole new world of love awaits you. If tension fills your life, if stress has you down, if the world roils in turmoil around you, stop for just a moment and give praise to Jesus. Call His name. Sing His name. God’s arms of pure love will wrap around you and melt your cares away.