Psalm 150 is a hymn of praise, often used as a closing prayer for a group meeting or a church celebration. Today we can say it together as I will copy it whole. The author is unknown.
"Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him in His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of trumpets, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!"
The study of Psalm 150 in my bible tells us, "Music and song were an integral part of Old Testament worship. David introduced music into the tabernacle and temple services according to 1 Chron. 16:4-7. The music must have been loud and joyous as evidenced by the list of instruments and the presence of choirs and song leaders. Music was also important in New Testament worship. (Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16.) The writer was telling the individual listeners to praise God, a direct encouragement for each of us to praise God, too."
Remember to praise God every day for there are two roads to choose from: The way to Life and the way to Death. If we choose God's way to life, we will still face both blessings and obstacles, joy and grief, success and failure. Throughout it all God will be at our side, guiding, encouraging, comforting and caring. As my life at my age may any day be drawing to a close, I realize clearly that God's road is the right road. If you, too, know this, we will both be caused to daily praise God for leading us in the right direction and assuring our place in the perfect world God has in store for those who have faithfully followed Him.
This will be my last blog. Why don't you write one?
"God, be with my friends who have followed me in this endeavor over the years. Keep them in your care as you have cared for me. May the whole world know You and love You..... soon. Amen."
Love, Jo inMN
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
YOU ARE GOD'S HOUSE!
In 1 Cor. 3;9, 12 it tells us, "You are God's house.....Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually, there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials you'll be found out!"
Paul seems to be very frustrated with the Corinthians, just as he might be today with the world at large. Many people around the world may profess to be Christian, but their walk has one foot in the unbelieving world and one in the world which God asks us to live, a world committed to Him, both loving and faithful.
What does that look like to have one foot in each world? How does the traveler manage double thinking within his heart of hearts?
In fact, we each have our own answer for that, for somewhere along our faith paths we must have discovered where our routes veer off. Maybe the veering off is subtle or maybe very obvious, but either way, we have been there, each of us! And it's a place of darkness and, perhaps, danger. We're not anxious to return but go on our way sacrificing that one foot. Our walk doesn't quite get to the gathering of materials to build a house. God's house won't come until we're convinced to follow God absolutely!
Lord, Help us! Amen.
Jo INMN
Paul seems to be very frustrated with the Corinthians, just as he might be today with the world at large. Many people around the world may profess to be Christian, but their walk has one foot in the unbelieving world and one in the world which God asks us to live, a world committed to Him, both loving and faithful.
What does that look like to have one foot in each world? How does the traveler manage double thinking within his heart of hearts?
In fact, we each have our own answer for that, for somewhere along our faith paths we must have discovered where our routes veer off. Maybe the veering off is subtle or maybe very obvious, but either way, we have been there, each of us! And it's a place of darkness and, perhaps, danger. We're not anxious to return but go on our way sacrificing that one foot. Our walk doesn't quite get to the gathering of materials to build a house. God's house won't come until we're convinced to follow God absolutely!
Lord, Help us! Amen.
Jo INMN
Saturday, October 1, 2016
WE WANT TO KNOW YOU, GOD!
Lets look at 1 Cor. 2:14,15 and 16b. "The un-spiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gift of God's spirit! There 's no capacity within the unspiritual for God's gifts. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by Spirit."
Paul's message to the Christians of Corinth is understood and treasured by Christians today just as it was hundreds of years ago. I wonder if the Corinthians too, felt like they were hearing it for the first time.
This is a reminder to each of us to keep the path between ourselves and Jesus completely clear and also keep Jesus within hand's (and heart's) reach. Yes, we are His. Yes, we have His Spirit within us. Yes, we hear Paul's words and yes, we recognize their truth. But, how many times do we forget our Lord and our God and the gifts he is so willing for us to use?? Do we remember that our spirit is now Christ's Spirit and can hear the Holy Spirit completely and truly? And also, do we remember that through Christ's Spirit we can understand all that the Spirit is revealing?
We must keep the connection with Christ always, not only to understand what the Holy Spirit is revealing but to remember that without Christ we would understand NOTHING of God!
Lord, we need you. We are desperate to know and understand you. We need your Spirit within us. We are grateful for what we know about you. Now, we want to know YOU! Help us to know you! Amen.
Jo INMN
Paul's message to the Christians of Corinth is understood and treasured by Christians today just as it was hundreds of years ago. I wonder if the Corinthians too, felt like they were hearing it for the first time.
This is a reminder to each of us to keep the path between ourselves and Jesus completely clear and also keep Jesus within hand's (and heart's) reach. Yes, we are His. Yes, we have His Spirit within us. Yes, we hear Paul's words and yes, we recognize their truth. But, how many times do we forget our Lord and our God and the gifts he is so willing for us to use?? Do we remember that our spirit is now Christ's Spirit and can hear the Holy Spirit completely and truly? And also, do we remember that through Christ's Spirit we can understand all that the Spirit is revealing?
We must keep the connection with Christ always, not only to understand what the Holy Spirit is revealing but to remember that without Christ we would understand NOTHING of God!
Lord, we need you. We are desperate to know and understand you. We need your Spirit within us. We are grateful for what we know about you. Now, we want to know YOU! Help us to know you! Amen.
Jo INMN
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