Good Morning from Arizona!
This morning is going to be brief but profound.
Yesterday Dave and I headed out for a weekend of relaxing in nature. Day one was marvelous and now we are getting ready for day two.
We saw a variety of animals in the forest and none of them were stressed out or overwhelmed with daily life.
So, this morning take a lesson from them.
“Everything that breathes, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 ERV
Go out and praise the Lord!
It’s Monday morning and that’s reason enough to start the day with praise. Praise brings us peace and praise also accentuates God’s power.
There is a Psalm that I often use in my blogs but mostly I only use the last half of it, verses 13-21. This morning as I was reading it was the first verses that really spoke to me.
“Â I will tell of your greatness, my God and King.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
2Â I will praise you every day.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and deserves all our praise!
    No one can fully understand his greatness!
4Â Each generation will praise you
    and tell the next generation about the great things you do.
5Â Your majesty and glory are wonderful.
    I will tell about your miracles.
6Â People will tell about the amazing things you do,
    and I will tell everyone how great you are.
7Â They will talk about your goodness
    and sing about your justice.
8 The Lord is kind and merciful,
    patient and full of love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
    He shows his mercy to everything he made.
10Â Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you.
    Your loyal followers will praise you.
11Â They will tell how great your kingdom is.
    They will tell how great you are.
12Â So others will learn about the mighty things you do,
    about the glory of your kingdom—how marvelous it is!
13Â Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.” Psalm 145:1-13 ERV
Things around us seem to change constantly but not God! He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is always kind, always good. He is love and His love endures forever. He shows mercy and gives grace. He is just and mighty, He is patient. He forgives sin and makes all things new.
“17 Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus. ” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 NLV
Never stop praying and never stop praising. Our God never abandons us, and He has a definite plan for our peace and our good.
“ Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLV
The Word of God is our solid foundation. It keeps us stable in the storm. The purpose of praise is to focus on God’s power and that brings peace always, even in the midst of the storm!
It’s so special to get to talk about Jesus with neighbors and friends. I just love it!
Last night one of my new friends and neighbors told me a bit of her story and how she came to have a more personal, deeper knowledge in her relationship with Christ. She had grown up in a traditional church setting. Two songs, a short message and a prayer and the service was over. Nothing that encouraged her or directed her to a day to day walk with the Lord.
She emitted such joy as she talked about the relationship she has with the Lord now. Daily seeking Him, following His leadership in her life’s daily walk. It makes me smile.
This morning I’m listening to the birds singing and my heart is also filled with song.
“Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There is something about that name. Master. Savior. Jesus. Like the Fragrance after the rain.” (There’s Just Something About That Name by Gloria Gaither)
“Jesus is the sweetest name I know, And He’s just the same as His lovely Name, And that’s the reason why I love Him so; Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.” (Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know)
“No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There’s no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O how much He cared for me. (No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus)
“What a beautiful Name it is What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a beautiful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus” (What a Beautiful Name It is by Hillsong Music)
I’ll leave you with one last song, one that has such a powerful impact on my life. I hope you will take the time to click on this link and I pray that it ministers to you today. https://youtu.be/ihrUIPfvTh8
I hope these little snippets of song have started a reaction of praise in your heart. They certainly have in mine. We are called to be a people of praise.
“Let every living creature praise the Lord. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 CEV
If we are living, and we are; if we are a created being and we are, we should shout praises to the Lord!
What time is it where you are?
One thing I know is we are all in the “present”. Since we are connected through the internet it may be early morning – midday or perhaps you are reading this in the evening but whatever time it is where you are, you are in the present.
You could be in a time of trouble, a time of fear, good time, dinner time, party time, time of loneliness, time of sickness or time of concern. No matter, it is time to praise the Lord!
Why? Because He is Lord of all and Lord over all. All who trust in Him will never be ashamed!
Just so you know, all those times listed above – I’ve been there and the thing that ALWAYS brings me through is praise time! Remembering that my heavenly Father is bigger than anything here and that He has a plan for me to prosper and have good success gives me reason to praise.
“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. 2 I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. 3 Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.4 For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. 5 Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! 6 This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. 7 For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him.8 Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. 9 If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.11 Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord.” Psalm 34:1-11 TLB
Look at the clock, see the time. Mark it down. Now is the time to look up and be glad!