"I'll hold you accountable for this decision." How do you feel when you know that your actions are going to be evaluated? When the day for your annual review approaches, do you feel anxious about a failure to follow through or confident that you've done your best?
On the final episode of The Apprentice the final two applicants for a place in the Trump organization were subjected to an accountability session on national live television last night. The words and actions of one of the applicants in her final task during the show were criticized and dissected! Trump was honest and even attempted to be congratulatory, yet it was still painful to have to see Tana squirm as her failings were put on display for all to see. Conversely, it was great to see Kendra beam as her exemplary performance was recognized and rewarded.
The Bible reveals a fact that should make us think about the way we speak, act, and invest our resources. Here it is. Read it carefully. “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12, NKJV) Do not misunderstand this. No one who trusts in Christ Jesus as Savior will find himself unable to enter into Heaven because of a lack of 'good works.' We have been judged with regard to sin already in Him and have been given the gift of righteousness before God. Right standing with God comes by faith alone! However, how we live will be evaluated by the Lord! We will be held accountable by the One who eyes see the hidden things, who knows our truest motives.
Paul describes this accountability session as a 'trial by fire.' Read it thoughtfully today-
"I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, NLT)
For some, that will be an awful moment of terrible loss; but for others it will be a wonderful day when the service they have offered to the Lord and others will finally be given the recognition and reward that faithfulness deserves!
Christians who served God in obscurity, unthanked and uncelebrated, will be lauded by the Lord of Heaven and Earth. There is no greater reward than to receive His commendation! This day of accounting will not just celebrate those of 'great' accomplishments, those who left institutions, big buildings, and/or masses of people with improved lives. It is not the quantity of the work that receives the reward. It is the quality! Those with few gifts and little opportunity will receive the same word of praise as those who were multi-talented and access to wide influence. What will matter before the Judgment Seat of Jesus will be faithfulness and motive, more than anything. All the rights things done for all the wrong reasons will disappear under his fiery gaze.
An old chorus we sang was a prayer that had the day of accounting in sight. In its simplicity it reveals how we can have confidence as we think of our eternal review. It goes like this:
With eternity's values in view, Lord,
with eternity's values in view.
May I do each day's work for Jesus,
with eternity's values in view.
Are you living for the moment or for eternity, choosing short term happiness or eternal joy?
When you make those big choices, keep in mind that before the Bema (the judgment seat of Christ Jesus) He will ask for an accounting. Then, live so that you will stand before Him joyfully and confident that you've done your best as you were guided by the Spirit of God- faithful day by day to the end.
__________________________________
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.
Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own - soul, heart, and strength and mind!
I see the Cross, there teach my heart to cling,
O let me seek Thee and O let me find.
Teach me to love Thee, as Thine angels love;
one holy passion filling all my frame.
The baptism of the Heaven descended Dove,
my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
God's Open Letter
Every morning as I look through the Easton Express-Times, one stop I make is on the editorial page. In addition to the syndicated columnists, I read the letters to the editor sent by local people. There I find some fascinating glimpses into the minds of other people- open letters that reveal both brilliance and stupidity, insight and ignorance! Some are angry diatribes, others laud some person or program. Some rail on religion. Some are written just to make a point that somebody feels isn't being made in the press. Perhaps I read them with such interest because, for years, I was a regular 'letter to the editor' writer!
The Bible says that our lives, Believer, are an open letter to the world! The Living God writes His message on our hearts and sends us out before an unbelieving world where His message can be read. Isn't that just amazing? God, the Omnipotent Creator, chooses to make Himself known through the lives of common folk, ordinary flawed people.
Here's the way it reads: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life." [2 Cor. 3:3-6 NLT] Paul weaves several thoughts into that paragraph but the one on which I am focused today is the one about the Spirit's writing the Message on our hearts!
What does this really mean? It means that as the Holy Spirit of God works a transformational process in us, the results are visible.
By way of example, we see the Spirit changes a selfish man into a loving one, a greedy person into a generous one, a fearful woman into a faith-filled one. In my work as a Pastor, there is nothing that gives me more joy than seeing a person begin to respond to God's work in their mind and heart. Last week, a woman who has just been through a divorce wrote to me about her fear as the breakup developed. At the time she was just beginning to open her life to God's work in new ways. (I have her permission to share this!) She said, "So, I did all I could do - I prayed. I told God that I didn't understand why this was happening but to please give me the strength to do all the right things. I told Him that I am just lying in His arms. Soon thereafter I had the overwhelming feeling that I should just forgive F. (her former husband) and let it go. I understood that he was a lost soul with nothing that really mattered. My anger and resentment just went away. With that came a peace and comfort that I never experienced before." Later in that note, she relates the way that he saw God's work in her. "He told me that he really sees how Jesus has effected my life, how peaceful I seem."
There it is! An open letter read clearly and proclaiming to all who read her life that God is a Living God, active in this world. I know some would argue that if God were really present, there would be no divorce, no suffering. Ah, that ignores the very real fact that He allows us to choose our own way! Even those of us in whom the Spirit is living and active have a responsibility to cooperate with His work. Sometimes God's letter gets garbled by our willful disobedience! That is why we read this entreaty - {Eph 4:1 NLT} "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God."
Our high calling is to live as an open letter, written by Christ by the transformational power of the Spirit. We cannot live this way by sheer will, by high aspiration, by training, or self-discipline. Those things certainly play a part, but the 'writing' is done by the finger of God in our heart! Let Him write large, bold letters on you today, won't you? Let the Message be read by everyone who looks at you, so that they say - God lives!
The Bible says that our lives, Believer, are an open letter to the world! The Living God writes His message on our hearts and sends us out before an unbelieving world where His message can be read. Isn't that just amazing? God, the Omnipotent Creator, chooses to make Himself known through the lives of common folk, ordinary flawed people.
Here's the way it reads: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life." [2 Cor. 3:3-6 NLT] Paul weaves several thoughts into that paragraph but the one on which I am focused today is the one about the Spirit's writing the Message on our hearts!
What does this really mean? It means that as the Holy Spirit of God works a transformational process in us, the results are visible.
By way of example, we see the Spirit changes a selfish man into a loving one, a greedy person into a generous one, a fearful woman into a faith-filled one. In my work as a Pastor, there is nothing that gives me more joy than seeing a person begin to respond to God's work in their mind and heart. Last week, a woman who has just been through a divorce wrote to me about her fear as the breakup developed. At the time she was just beginning to open her life to God's work in new ways. (I have her permission to share this!) She said, "So, I did all I could do - I prayed. I told God that I didn't understand why this was happening but to please give me the strength to do all the right things. I told Him that I am just lying in His arms. Soon thereafter I had the overwhelming feeling that I should just forgive F. (her former husband) and let it go. I understood that he was a lost soul with nothing that really mattered. My anger and resentment just went away. With that came a peace and comfort that I never experienced before." Later in that note, she relates the way that he saw God's work in her. "He told me that he really sees how Jesus has effected my life, how peaceful I seem."
There it is! An open letter read clearly and proclaiming to all who read her life that God is a Living God, active in this world. I know some would argue that if God were really present, there would be no divorce, no suffering. Ah, that ignores the very real fact that He allows us to choose our own way! Even those of us in whom the Spirit is living and active have a responsibility to cooperate with His work. Sometimes God's letter gets garbled by our willful disobedience! That is why we read this entreaty - {Eph 4:1 NLT} "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God."
Our high calling is to live as an open letter, written by Christ by the transformational power of the Spirit. We cannot live this way by sheer will, by high aspiration, by training, or self-discipline. Those things certainly play a part, but the 'writing' is done by the finger of God in our heart! Let Him write large, bold letters on you today, won't you? Let the Message be read by everyone who looks at you, so that they say - God lives!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Keep hope.
Ever been disappointed by another person's actions? Who hasn't?
A man visited with me a few days ago and talked bitterly about his pending divorce. "It's that d___ computer," he spat out the words. "We got it 3 years ago and she started spending time on it well into the night. Then, she claimed she fell in love with a guy; after 20 years of marriage." He was clearly angry, puzzled, and sad in equal measures.
I remember when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke over the Clinton presidency years ago. My mind knew that the President was human, but I was still shocked and disappointed that the man would abuse the trust of a young intern, his wife, and the nation. It was hard to watch him speak and not think about his lack of self-control.
A man that I loved as a brother, who served along side of me as an Elder of a church where I pastored, confessed that he was an adulterer, shattering my trust and destroying his marriage. After all these years I still can't think of that day without feeling a deep sense of sadness and wondering what I might have done to help him resist the temptations that he allowed to ruin his life.
There are chapters in my life when I disappointed myself! Selfishness, rage, lack of empathy, laziness ... they are part of my biography, too! I try to live in a better way and too often, I fail.
So, how do we deal with disappointment, with failures - our own, and those of others?
Bitterness is the choice of many people. Disappointment with people, circumstances, even God causes some to grow sour in spirit. The Bible says that this becomes a root from which all kinds of evil grows in a person's life. [Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)] speaks of a "...root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled." We all know people who can't find a nice thing to say about anyone, who are cynical, withdrawn, and poisonous!
Forgiveness is the first part of God's answer to disappointment. Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NKJV) Since the law only required 3 instances of forgiveness thought he was being big-hearted to offer to forgive seven times! But you remember the Lord's response, don't you? Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."
Forgiveness - does that mean we sweep away the other person's offense as though what was done is without importance? Does that betrayed husband of whom I wrote in the opening paragraph just try to forget the deep wound to his spirit that his wife's infidelity caused? Do I just look at my own sins that disappoint me and shrug, "I'm human"? No! That is not forgiveness as taught by the Scripture. Forgiveness is a choice to hand over the disappointment to God for His justice, to release the debt we feel is owed to us to Him. "Impossible," you say. No, friend, it isn't. Hard, yes - impossible, no.
Acceptance of reality is the second part of the answer to disappointment. We must give up our childish fantasy that life will always work out as planned, that people will always be good, do what we expect, or act in ways that are consistent. None of us is perfect! A measure of our maturity is the ability to deal with people as they are, discerning the good and the bad in others and in ourselves, and acting appropriately. I accept that there is a part of me that is quite capable of sin. I don't deny it. That acceptance does not mean that I indulge my tendency to sin. Instead, I seek the Life of the Holy Spirit to help me to put that part of myself to death - daily! Likewise, accepting the reality that others are not perfect and may well fail- allows me to let the Love of the Spirit love them anyway!
Keep hope! The day of the defeat of evil is coming. Oh, how I look forward to that day, when sin's power over us is completely destroyed, when disappointment is wiped away. Won't it be a great day?
"May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven!" Amen
A man visited with me a few days ago and talked bitterly about his pending divorce. "It's that d___ computer," he spat out the words. "We got it 3 years ago and she started spending time on it well into the night. Then, she claimed she fell in love with a guy; after 20 years of marriage." He was clearly angry, puzzled, and sad in equal measures.
I remember when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke over the Clinton presidency years ago. My mind knew that the President was human, but I was still shocked and disappointed that the man would abuse the trust of a young intern, his wife, and the nation. It was hard to watch him speak and not think about his lack of self-control.
A man that I loved as a brother, who served along side of me as an Elder of a church where I pastored, confessed that he was an adulterer, shattering my trust and destroying his marriage. After all these years I still can't think of that day without feeling a deep sense of sadness and wondering what I might have done to help him resist the temptations that he allowed to ruin his life.
There are chapters in my life when I disappointed myself! Selfishness, rage, lack of empathy, laziness ... they are part of my biography, too! I try to live in a better way and too often, I fail.
So, how do we deal with disappointment, with failures - our own, and those of others?
Bitterness is the choice of many people. Disappointment with people, circumstances, even God causes some to grow sour in spirit. The Bible says that this becomes a root from which all kinds of evil grows in a person's life. [Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)] speaks of a "...root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled." We all know people who can't find a nice thing to say about anyone, who are cynical, withdrawn, and poisonous!
Forgiveness is the first part of God's answer to disappointment. Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NKJV) Since the law only required 3 instances of forgiveness thought he was being big-hearted to offer to forgive seven times! But you remember the Lord's response, don't you? Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."
Forgiveness - does that mean we sweep away the other person's offense as though what was done is without importance? Does that betrayed husband of whom I wrote in the opening paragraph just try to forget the deep wound to his spirit that his wife's infidelity caused? Do I just look at my own sins that disappoint me and shrug, "I'm human"? No! That is not forgiveness as taught by the Scripture. Forgiveness is a choice to hand over the disappointment to God for His justice, to release the debt we feel is owed to us to Him. "Impossible," you say. No, friend, it isn't. Hard, yes - impossible, no.
Acceptance of reality is the second part of the answer to disappointment. We must give up our childish fantasy that life will always work out as planned, that people will always be good, do what we expect, or act in ways that are consistent. None of us is perfect! A measure of our maturity is the ability to deal with people as they are, discerning the good and the bad in others and in ourselves, and acting appropriately. I accept that there is a part of me that is quite capable of sin. I don't deny it. That acceptance does not mean that I indulge my tendency to sin. Instead, I seek the Life of the Holy Spirit to help me to put that part of myself to death - daily! Likewise, accepting the reality that others are not perfect and may well fail- allows me to let the Love of the Spirit love them anyway!
Keep hope! The day of the defeat of evil is coming. Oh, how I look forward to that day, when sin's power over us is completely destroyed, when disappointment is wiped away. Won't it be a great day?
"May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven!" Amen
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Wonder
Saturday evening we had a concert at the Assembly that featured the artistry of Phil Keaggy. When the idea of having Keaggy for a concert was presented to me, I wasn't really all that excited. I was puzzled why anyone would want to hear a guy play a guitar for two hours. Obviously, I'm not a guitarist! But my friend Jake, who is a Keaggy fan, was enthused about the possibilities. I allowed his enthusiasm to become mine. Saturday, when I experienced what Jake had tried to describe, the artist was all he was promised to be, and more. His passion, talent, and skills came together in a program that made me feel something I cannot describe adequately. He was wonder-full. During the concert, I was lifted above the ordinary for a while, carried along by the art of a little man who was passionate about creating beauty with his guitar.
I am learning to experience 'wonder' more often than I formerly did. I have lived my life as a practical man, valuing getting the job done. I feel best about myself and life when a task is completed. It's not a bad trait and helps me to plow through a lot of work, but I am realizing that being so focused on 'work' can keep me from experiencing another dimension of life. I have spent many days of my 50 years on this globe so focused on planning the next meeting, solving the current problem, writing Sunday's sermon, making sure my family was fed, clothed, and housed -- that I missed much of the beauty of being 'in the moment.' Is that a common trait of younger men? Perhaps. Now I am realizing that art exists for the purpose of delighting us and that art is found in many places - a guitar concert, a baby's smile, a painting, a photograph, a tiny bugleweed flower (my brother showed me this exquisite little 'weed' in my lawn last week), a poem, and a million other places. Last night I read Shakespeare's 29th Sonnet and found tears in my eyes! The artistry of his language captured a mood with such amazing skill, I read and re-read the passage, even calling my wife to listen to it. I don't think she felt the wonder! (smile)
Worship and wonder are closely related. We will sense God's Presence more readily if and when we learn to 'wonder.' The dryness of much in the practice of Christianity is the result of reducing worship to theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths that the Bible tells us in the stories of the works of God into neat packages of doctrine. Christians do not have much time for mystery these days. We want explanations! We want proofs! We want to know how it works and what the benefits are! "Preacher," we demand, "get me saved. Make me good. Give me three steps to being better at ...." But life isn't that simple. There is an awesome mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate if we will allow ourselves to wonder.
Recover the wonder! It will cause you to serve God with more passion, to love Him more deeply.
Ponder this passage as you move through this day.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
_________________________
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky,
Heavens are your tabernacle,
Glory to the Lord on high!
Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the Light.
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy.
The universe declares your majesty.
You are holy, holy!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth!
© New Spring Publishing© 2000 CCLI License No. 810055
I am learning to experience 'wonder' more often than I formerly did. I have lived my life as a practical man, valuing getting the job done. I feel best about myself and life when a task is completed. It's not a bad trait and helps me to plow through a lot of work, but I am realizing that being so focused on 'work' can keep me from experiencing another dimension of life. I have spent many days of my 50 years on this globe so focused on planning the next meeting, solving the current problem, writing Sunday's sermon, making sure my family was fed, clothed, and housed -- that I missed much of the beauty of being 'in the moment.' Is that a common trait of younger men? Perhaps. Now I am realizing that art exists for the purpose of delighting us and that art is found in many places - a guitar concert, a baby's smile, a painting, a photograph, a tiny bugleweed flower (my brother showed me this exquisite little 'weed' in my lawn last week), a poem, and a million other places. Last night I read Shakespeare's 29th Sonnet and found tears in my eyes! The artistry of his language captured a mood with such amazing skill, I read and re-read the passage, even calling my wife to listen to it. I don't think she felt the wonder! (smile)
Worship and wonder are closely related. We will sense God's Presence more readily if and when we learn to 'wonder.' The dryness of much in the practice of Christianity is the result of reducing worship to theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths that the Bible tells us in the stories of the works of God into neat packages of doctrine. Christians do not have much time for mystery these days. We want explanations! We want proofs! We want to know how it works and what the benefits are! "Preacher," we demand, "get me saved. Make me good. Give me three steps to being better at ...." But life isn't that simple. There is an awesome mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate if we will allow ourselves to wonder.
Recover the wonder! It will cause you to serve God with more passion, to love Him more deeply.
Ponder this passage as you move through this day.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
_________________________
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky,
Heavens are your tabernacle,
Glory to the Lord on high!
Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the Light.
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy.
The universe declares your majesty.
You are holy, holy!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth!
© New Spring Publishing© 2000 CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, May 16, 2005
Just say, "thanks!"
A word of appreciation can be as refreshing as a rain shower. Sunday evening, after a busy weekend of church related activities I was tired, really tired! As I was walking to my car about 8, Bob came over and, with just a few sincere words, told me that he was appreciative of a ministry effort that Bev and I spearheaded. I could not believe how much those couple of sentences meant to me. His gratitude affirmed the work I do letting me know that there is a positive benefit which isn't always easily discerned in the calling of a Pastor. I appreciated his appreciation!
It caused me to review what God was doing in my life and I spent a few moments pouring out my praise to Him. I thanked Him for a beautiful day on Saturday that I spent in the company of my wife, working in our yard together. I thanked Him for the skill and artistry of Phil Keaggy which I was privileged to enjoy that evening. I thanked Him for the joy of worshipping with other Believers and for the people He is bringing together at the Assembly to build His kingdom in our corner of the world. I thanked Him for the awesome privilege of preaching the Word. I thanked Him for friendships renewed yesterday with people from a congregation I served years ago. And, as I offered up my thanks, I felt the release of the Spirit's renewing Presence in my own heart. Such is the power of praise.
Once I started to praise, the gratitude in my heart became like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing and picking up speed. Even now, as I write about those moments, I want to break out in song -
"...and when I think of His love for me,
my heart fills with praise and I feel like dancing;
for in His heart there is room for me;
so I run with my arms open wide!
God is good, we sing and shout it;
God is good, we celebrate!"
Praise is pleasing to God, not the forced kind, not the insincere kind - the real recognition of Who He is and what He's doing. At the start of this new week, let me encourage you toward thankfulness. Express your appreciation to someone today - a simple 'thank you' may be just what they need. Thank God for ... well, make it your praise! You will find that the sun seems to shine a bit brighter as the Spirit of God flows into your life and lifts you up.
___________________________________
Psalm 100 (The Message)
1 On your feet now—applaud God!
2 Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
It caused me to review what God was doing in my life and I spent a few moments pouring out my praise to Him. I thanked Him for a beautiful day on Saturday that I spent in the company of my wife, working in our yard together. I thanked Him for the skill and artistry of Phil Keaggy which I was privileged to enjoy that evening. I thanked Him for the joy of worshipping with other Believers and for the people He is bringing together at the Assembly to build His kingdom in our corner of the world. I thanked Him for the awesome privilege of preaching the Word. I thanked Him for friendships renewed yesterday with people from a congregation I served years ago. And, as I offered up my thanks, I felt the release of the Spirit's renewing Presence in my own heart. Such is the power of praise.
Once I started to praise, the gratitude in my heart became like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing and picking up speed. Even now, as I write about those moments, I want to break out in song -
"...and when I think of His love for me,
my heart fills with praise and I feel like dancing;
for in His heart there is room for me;
so I run with my arms open wide!
God is good, we sing and shout it;
God is good, we celebrate!"
Praise is pleasing to God, not the forced kind, not the insincere kind - the real recognition of Who He is and what He's doing. At the start of this new week, let me encourage you toward thankfulness. Express your appreciation to someone today - a simple 'thank you' may be just what they need. Thank God for ... well, make it your praise! You will find that the sun seems to shine a bit brighter as the Spirit of God flows into your life and lifts you up.
___________________________________
Psalm 100 (The Message)
1 On your feet now—applaud God!
2 Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
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