Our Reason to Praise

Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. Psalm 104:1

 

Holy is the Lord God Almighty. He reigns over all the earth, and all of His creation

Our Lord looks out across the universe and sees that it is good. By His will it was created, along with all the things that exist within it

He formed all the nuances of light, motion, and matter. It was His thought to blend them to be just as they are, so that awesome formations like galaxies, black holes, and solar systems would exist; and so that life could spring forth to praise and worship His name

Holy is our God who made all this to be. He exists in every dimension He has created

Our Lord, and God, blesses everything that is, because He loves all that He has made. Glorious is our God; through the creation He has given us life. When we observe what He has done we cry out to Him, and praise Him for His wisdom, power, and love.

You are worthy, oh God, to receive all honor, and glory, and praise. For we amount to nearly nothing in relation to what You have made. We are but a breath, a small flash of light against the backdrop of the creation; inconsequential, but you have given us meaning for our life

For You, oh Lord, have considered us, and come to us. You have blessed us with Your Word, and sent to us Your very own Son as a minister and savior, so that we might live in harmony with You, forever

How great is Your love, it stretches out across all the universe. Yet, has become focused here upon this earth, our home; the place that You made for us, and for the life we share this planet with

Therefore, we give you our praise; we worship You alone, oh God. For there is nothing else as worthy as You

Great is our God, the One who has created all things. By Your will they were created and have their being. We bow before You and acknowledge that You are our God

We lay down our pride and possessions. The power that we thought we had over our life, we give to You.

The little strength have, we turn over to You, oh Lord; so that Your will can reside in us and allow us to consider You always, that we might receive Your love and live near Your throne, forever

Great is our God, and worthy of our praise. We were created by You, and in You we have our being. May You alone receive all our honor, our glory, and our praise

For You are our God and You love us and have blessed us with the gift of life. May we understand the depth, width, and height of all this, so that we might glorify You all the days of our life.   1/5/2021

Hope For This New Year

And we, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Arise, all you who trust and believe in the Lord God Almighty. Stir yourself and awaken to this new year. For there is hope for our future, and brighter days ahead

The wisdom and goodness of our God will lead us; He will show us a way, for He loves those who trust in Him and cares for every believer

He calls out to us so that we might follow His ways; and encourages us to pray and study His Word, so that we might be instruments of peace and goodness

His Spirit is with us, to lead us on pathways of healing that fosters renewal and mends divisions between us

Praise our God and seek Him, for He is just and will guide us in the best course

Arouse your heart and your mind to create a spirit of forgiveness. First, towards others, and then to mend a wrong spirit within you.

Confess these to our God, and seek His forgiveness. Repent of anything that does not side with His nature. Align yourself with the perfect power of His love, for it will be as healing you, and to those around you

Become a living blessing upon this earth, so that God’s will could be made real through your life, and so that its goodness might ripple out across our land

Arise, awaken His life within you. Lift up your spirit to meet His. Praise Him, and thank Him, for allowing you access to His heart

Cast off the Spirit of blame, and seek a way to mend divisions and distrust

Denounce any scourge of hatred of others that resides within you. Replace it with understanding, for we all share the same needs; we all require love and care to survive in this world

The Lord, our God, calls out to every one of His believers; He speaks to those who call upon His name

He whispers to us in gentle words that pack infinite power; they are strong enough to break down the walls between us, and convey truths that can melt away our fears and anger

God brings us to the realization that His Wisdom is greater than ours; that we are weak and easily misguided

Arise, all you believers, go before your God; seek peace and harmony, for our God is a God who values peace far above conflict

He is a God of love, not hatred. He wants to draw all people towards His truth, so that His love would be all in all throughout the world.  1/19/2021

There Is Proof All Around Us

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Each day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

 

When I see wonders throughout all of creation, it is proof enough to me that there is a God

Clouds streaming across the sky, even from beyond the curve of Earth’s horizon. Some form before my eyes, others shrink and disappear altogether

And in the distance, mountains rise up in their own quiet strength, beckoning me to explore their lofty reaches.They are not so much places where the Spirit of God resides, but temples, filled with the inspiration of beauty and solitude; places where God can speak to our hearts and reveal a measure of His glory

There are countless marvels within this creation. If we take the time to look and to explore, then we will become convinced of the priceless value of God’s creation

Who can gaze up across the expanse of stars that are spread out across the vastness of the heavens, and not be shaken deeply within their soul

Or, who can attempt to explain their place within the reaches of the universe, without being humbled by the scope of its magnificence, after looking at the small size our footprint

What man has learned about this place sheds light on the awesome power of God

But, there is so much more. God only knows the wonders He has formed, that we have not yet seen or explored; or barely determined, through the efforts of our curious minds

God is due our honor

He is worthy of our praise

The Most High is great beyond all measure. Give thanks to Him for what He has done

It is sufficient that I experience His presence; that I feel the touch of His Spirit upon my life. That I know without a doubt, His goodness and love towards me

And, it is proof enough for me to believe, as I contemplate His Word and His promises, because, I have experienced how His instruction has changed my life; To live in a way that is so much different than before.

I believe in His love for me. I have hope; and I know, each day, the blessing of peace and joy

I also trust in God, because all of life and creation validates Him, and proves to my heart, that there is nothing more important than to have faith in Him.   10/7/2007

Consider the Lilies

“Consider the Lilies, how they grow: they neither toil or spin, and yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these”. Luke 12:27

Have you ever taken the time to explore the intricate and beautiful detail of a flower. What a wonder they are. Sometimes I take the time to look over one flower in great detail. I gaze at every petal and look upon the details in the color of their markings. There are textures to feel and observe, and a symmetry of design that could only have been crafted by God. I look at the calyx, the stigma, styles, anthers, pollen, and a host of other anatomical details. Each part is incredible in its detail and workings, made for a specific purpose, each of which gives glory to our God who made both flower and us humans, too.

There is such intricacy in every flower they seem almost a universe unto themselves. It’s refreshing to observe plants during these times, because in their own naturally passive way, seem almost oblivious to everything that goes on around them. They simply concentrate on growing and producing flowers, so that more seed will be made… and so that their position in the web of life continues. That is their purpose, and they don’t seem all that concerned about the economy, or the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the political battles that are going on these days, or a million other things that weigh us down. They are just concerned with the business of living within the creation God has made for them and everything else. That is how they bring glory to God, they flower, and bring to the light of day a small, yet beautiful, miracle of God’s creative design and wisdom.

God considers every flower that grows, even those weeds that crowd into our gardens. Though they’re a nuisance, weeds serve a great purpose in the grand scheme of keeping our world healed and in balance. Try looking at the flower of a weed sometime. Take a magnifying glass, if you have to;  look closely at each detail. They are as interesting and beautiful as many of our garden hybrid flowers, though perhaps less flamboyant. Look at the flowers and be reminded of God’s care for them. For He has used great wisdom to design how they were made, and blessed them with a living formula of both success and attractiveness. They have given glory to Him long before our species ever walked upon this world.

If, He has considered the life of each flower, then how much more has He given His thoughts to us, God’s most precious and beloved creation. If He has bestowed upon the flowers such beauty and ability, then He has given us even more. We, who were made in His image and placed in position to have dominion over all of His creation, have been blessed more than we know. Can there be any doubt then that God has great care and love for us? He has blessed us with His living Word and gave us His only begotten Son, so that we might live; even in His presence, for all eternity. Therefore, we should not be so anxious for the things that are of this world, but focus our eyes on our God, and the wonder of the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ. They alone are the only ones that can  give us true riches, and all the other aspects of a complete life.

Don’t become a worry wart, even though these times demand that we feel anxious. Focus your eyes upon God, for He has blessed you considerably. Don’t lose sight of Him, though the entire earth shouts that we pay attention to what it says to be concerned about. Never forget your first love, the one who made you as beautiful and capable, and who meant you to enjoy all the benefits of the life He designed you to live.

Today, This Day!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

At the dawning of this day, I seek You, Lord. For only You have given it unto me. Who am I, that I should ever complain at such a gift?

For in the context of these twenty four hours, You have given me opportunity and a million reasons to praise You

Your light shines upon me, it awakens my soul. It stirs my cold heart to give thanks to You.

How great is our God, and endless, the multitudes of His blessings. I am filled with thanksgiving for all that He has done

For He has blessed me with a family, and given me work for my hands. His goodness has overflowed upon me, so that I am rich in many things

I rejoice in God. In Him, also, I place my trust, for He has been bountiful unto me and poured into my life, mercy and joy

How great is He who loves me; and though I am small upon this earth, He considers me, and has filled my life with sweet blessing

The Lord is as good as He is great, and He blesses those who love Him, each day. Because of His goodness, mercy, and love, I will praise Him, and seek to glorify His name in all that I do

The God of all there is, purifies us; and He corrects us when we stray by addressing that which is wrong within us. For He greatly values our lives, considering us as precious. He gives, even though we fall short

By His Word and through His Spirit, He makes our paths straight and leads us towards a maturity in Him. He loves the faithful in heart, and comes and dwells with those who love Him in faith

He takes each day and gives them as gifts, and walks beside us, so that we might be strengthened in every way

Greatness and honor and glory are the Lord’s, for He is more worthy than all of our praise. Oh, that He would be glorified in all the earth

He will lift us up. Yes, He will fill our lives to overflowing

Today, this day, is yours to do with it as you like. Yet, the Lord, our God, owns every minute. Consider what a gift this life is that He has given to you. Then bless His holy name with each breath that you take. 7/31/2006

Our Awesome Creator

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is filled with His glory.” Isaiah 6:3

The Lord, our God, makes glorious days. He crafts each one in splendor

Within each hour, He imparts endless opportunities to rejoice in the beauty He has formed all around us

May we praise Him in quiet thanksgiving for all that He has done

Our God, the maker of all things, crafts each night to reflect His wisdom. He moves the stars silently across the sky in shining testimony to His power

How great is He who made each day and each night. What He reveals to us through what He has done, increases our faith as we revel in the glory of His works

When we gaze out in wonder at the vastness of the night sky, and when we view the beauty of all He has created that lies before us, we speak out to Him… and He listens

How great then, must be the love of God for us, that He formed this incredible earth that rests within the endless reaches of His universe

And we, who have been made in His image, yet fallen, filled with sin, but continually uplifted through His Spirit, are blessed with all good things to overflowing

By His grace and through His mercy, we are filled with an abiding sense of peace and understanding

How great is the Lord, who crafts each day that we live and gives them as gifts, filled with both joy and eternal promise

What love He blesses us with, that we who come before Him in faith, stand forgiven, and obtain the sure promise of everlasting life

In light of this, no day should ever be filled with dread and no night so filled with darkness that we cry our in fear. For the maker of both the heavens and the earth has come to us

In Jesus Christ, we rejoice, because the God of all is trustworthy. Our hearts are filled with joy, because of the glorious magnitude of His promises

For the maker of each day and every night, from the beginning of time, until forever, has come to us

It is God’s invitation to each of us who call upon His name, to go forth and fulfill what we were created for, and to come live within His awesome presence

How great is the splendor of all creation. But, how much more awesome is He who made all there is. Could anything be more wonderful than knowing Him?   11/12/2006

Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Do you sense God at work in your life today? Does His still calm voice call out to you when you pray?

Love

Love, the single most important quality that God has imparted to the universe. Love, do you hear His whisper in your ears? Does the song of His love play on your internal soundtrack?

Love; it’s what makes us Christians. It is the difference between good and evil. Has it seeped into your pores and changed you from within? Will you give it a chance this day to work wonders within your heart?

Love is patient, it endures and is willing to wait for what it hopes for. It bears only good intentions in all that it inspires within us

Love is not envious of others, because it seeks the best for everyone. Love does not exist in those when they boast, or in those, when they let their pride rule their behavior; for those actions only manifest self-seeking for personal benefit

Love transcends all selfish action. It remains apart from evil, because love exists as God’s most basic principal

It overcomes all doubt and fear. It believes in the truth behind all things, because that is where God is at work in the most fundamental ways

Love gives us hope to overcome all things that come against it. It empowers us to endure and persevere, even when things are most difficult

Love overcomes all things, because of its perfect goodness. It upholds us, even though we may suffer. It convinces us to act out in kindness, though we may have been provoked

Love is a miracle

It is the essential nature of our God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is the common thread found throughout His Word, and the intent of every message He gives to us by His Holy Spirit

Love is a resounding note that sounds and echoes throughout all the creation. Because of love, we were made and have our being and through the outworking of its power in creation, this place was made to be our home

We were made to know and deeply understand what love is. It is our purpose to live a life that abounds in love, so that we might rightfully rejoice in our life and all the goodness that love brings

Our God is a God of love. He is the one true God, and He loves without measure. By His love, He forgives us. Through His love, He offers us a more perfect way

In His love, we can rejoice in living our lives no matter what may happen. For by God’s love, and through God’s love, we become connected to the greatest and most powerful force there is.   11/21/2020

God is Our Treasure

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

How Precious is our God, my life is sustained through Him. He is my treasure, the one of unsurpassed value

My life is fed by His Spirit, it takes nourishment from His Word and draws from the deep well of His goodness

For I am without any real strength, my life hangs by a thread; even when I was in the fullness of youth, I had very little power, the control I thought I had was mistaken

But our God has always sustained me. He has blessed my life in the multitude of His mercies and given to me richly, things of real value

Truly, He is the one my heart treasures. He fills me to overflowing, and gives to each of my days blessed purpose

What could be greater than our God? Is there anything in all of creation superior to Him?

Indeed, there is nothing that could ever compare, nor, anything that could even come close. The sum of all riches and pleasure combined, have no value in comparison to Him

Therefore, I will open my heart wide and deep, and clear a place for Him throughout my entire life, so that He may fill me and live through me, activating my life for the purposes of His perfect will

Apart from God, I can do nothing

If I seek my own glory, I will fail

When I strike off in my own direction, I stray into dry and desolate places, where my soul starves and withers, bringing me to desperation

But with God, I am only filled with good things

He quenches my thirst and dispels every hunger. My life is made strong in Him; His love and Spirit bring abundant peace and joy

God is my treasure, the One whom my soul longs for each day. His presence is greater than all earthly blessing and His Words of truth, more valued than diamonds or gold

For He has given my life blessings of eternal abundance and a richness that will last well beyond the end of time.  4/26/2006

A Flower For Each Season

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Last month I replaced the flowers growing in some large planters at the entrance of a commercial office. It was time to pull out the summer Zinnias that were still blooming in order to plant flowers that would do well in the coming winter. A receptionist came out and was upset with me for tearing out ‘those perfectly beautiful flowers’. What she did not understand was that it was getting into late in fall and I needed to have the winter flowers established before the cold weather set in. If I waited any longer, they would be limited in producing beautiful flowers during the next five months. As it turned out, we had a hard frost two days later and those Zinnias would have died anyway.

There are times and seasons that come and go throughout everything in life. It is God’s will for us that we be prepared to react appropriately to everything that lies ahead. We must respond by using every bit of knowledge we have gained through living, with the perfect wisdom of God’s Word, and through the careful leading of His Spirit.

When we stay rightly related to God, and found our choices upon His Word and principals, we will keep to the best path for our lives. Seasons will come and go, some good and others not, but He will always keep our souls safe and secure. Therefore, continue to be a person of prayer; spend time with Him daily, in solitude, where He can instruct you in the preparations for the upcoming season. Ask for His advice, and God will by no means keep it from you. Be a student of His Word. Don’t give up.

There are times when God will show you something difficult. A way that we should go, a person we need to talk to, a relationship we must cut off, or, to make a change in our life that is easier said than done. We may balk and say to ourselves, “how can we ever do that”? The Lord won’t demand that we do so, but He may bring it up time and time again until we either obey, or its season passes and the opportunity that it held is lost forever. “Oh ye of little faith”; It must grieve the Spirit of God every time we step back and make the safe and easy choice, at the expense of our growth and life in Him.

God knows what is best for our lives. He sees the frosts that are coming in a few days. He can sense when we are protecting a weakness in our lives or when we’re putting up a front that only serves to keep us longer in chains. He knows that other people may not always approve of the way He has laid out for us, but His Spirit continues, nonetheless, to remind us and coax us towards His perfect way. How great is the love and direction of God. He works so that we may grow in our faith and realize that His way is really the best and most joyous road we could have ever taken.

A Benediction For Prayer

Then Jesus told His disciples parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

May you pray each day to your Father in Heaven, and speak to your God, so that He may begin to be known to you; as you are completely known by Him

May you pray, not as one who wants to be seen, or someone who is interested only in what others think, but, as one who seeks after God alone

So that the life of Christ, and His will might overtake your own life, so that you would be changed and made complete in Him

May you find a quiet place where you might close off the noise, and disable every distraction of this earth; so that you might be alone with God and clearly hear His will

May Jesus Christ reward you with His presence, as He sees your faithfulness and genuine honesty

May He listen intently, as you speak to Him in truth with an open and honest heart

For our God will not turn anyone away, who genuinely seeks Him in faithful prayer

He will not ignore their cries, or turn away from their voice, as they go before Him. But, He will draw near and be present with them in the fullness of His life

His truth and wisdom, He will not withhold from this who seek it. His love and comfort, will be a His gift to all those who trust in Him

May you pray from a right motive of heart. Not with vain and repetitious words, or through some formula, for God easily sees through our motives. He knows the condition of our heart and the nature of our prayers, immediately, as we go before Him

Therefore, become completely transparent before Him, so that your prayers may not be hindered, and so that His life can flow freely into yours

Prayer is a quietly powerful means of communication with God. It is uplifting and strength giving and one of the the best ways to experience His presence in your life.   2/9/2007