Oct 1 - Matthew 5:13

Jesus said,

“You are the salt of the earth;

but if salt has lost its taste,

how can its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything,

but is thrown out and

trampled under foot.”

Matthew 5:13

What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?

We have a set of poodles. The white poodle is salt. The black one is pepper.

That's a funny way to ask: What do you think of when I -- or Jesus -- talk about salt?

Salt has had a long and vital role in world commerce. It's obviously a spice. It's also necessary for life. But according to saltworks.us, "Salt ... in many cultures, symboliz[ed] immutable, incorruptible purity."

Well, if that's the case in, then Jesus is saying, "if salt has lost its 'immutable, incorruptible purity' how can it be restored?"

In this passage -- along with the next passage calling us to be light -- we hear Jesus' call to witness to the world. Indeed, as salt, we are called to flavor the world with the gospel. A similar passage -- 2 Corinthians 2:15 -- calls us to be "the aroma of Christ ... among those who are perishing."

We are to flavor the world with the Gospel. Often it is our words that speak loudest. But mostly it's the aroma of our actions that flavor our testimony most fully. And that why Jesus is challenging to always watch our actions and check our character ... for if salt has lost its 'immutable, incorruptible purity' how can it be restored?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to be salt

(and is working on it with

more salt than pepper hair)

Sept 30 - Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus said,

"Blessed are you when people revile you

and persecute you and utter all kinds

of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward

is great in heaven, for in the same way

they persecuted the prophets

who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

I've often said that being a prophet is one of the worst jobs in the kingdom.

God calls you to walk up to a murderous and adulterous king, poke your finger in his eye, and say, "It's all your fault. You are the root of all problems in this world!" (Then sometimes, like Elijah, you run for your life! Indeed, you run so long and far that you collapse on a mountain and scream, "I wish I was dead.")

Yes, being a prophet is a crummy job.

And apparently Jesus failed Advertising 101. Instead of softening the call to discipleship and playing up all the benefits, he said essentially, "Wow ... being a disciple is just like being a prophet! People are going to revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely. Want to sign up?"

My temptation would have been to focus on the considerable "blessings" -- "blessed are those who ..." Yes, you will be honored by the Father. Yes, your names will be written in the history books ... and more importantly in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Yes, that would have been me. That's a human method.

But Jesus wasn't trying to sell anything.

We shouldn't follow for the benefits (even though they're considerable, eternal). We should follow simply because He is God. Duty. We should stand up boldly because this is the only truth. We should confront sin (instead of wink at it like we do) simply because it is abhorrent in God's eyes ... and we should hate what he hates. We should embrace being reviled by a repulsive culture because that's one of the few places light shines in a darkened world.

How's that for a job description? It won't be easy. But can you trust that this is the path to being truly able to "rejoice and be glad"? (And here's the human advertising benefit: Will you be prophetic in a lost world, trusting that "your reward is great in heaven"?)

Will you?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who needs

to be bolder

(How about you?)

Sept 29 - Matthew 5:10

Blessed are those who are

persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10

With this verse, the Beatitudes turn. They go from general to prophetic.

The general beatitudes -- though directed to Jesus' followers, of course -- could be followed generally and profitably by anyone, whether they follow Jesus or not.

This beatitude (and the next one) are aimed directly and prophetically, though, at Christ's followers. He's saying that if you follow the path of righteousness (and the truly right thing is testifying to the truth), then you may be -- will be -- persecuted.

Some generations are more favorable to testifying to the truth. And we American Christians have had a long and easy run of being able to generally express our faith. But that season has ended. We're about to join the majority of Christians -- historically and around the world even today -- in having to bold if we're going to stand up for righteousness and truth.

Are you ready to be bold?

Well, it depends on what "blessed are those who" means, doesn't it? Do you expect blessings for integrity and truth or are you more controlled by worry and fear over the potential consequences?

In fact, did you know that perhaps an even better translation for "blessed are those who" is "happy are those who"? Happy? Does happy really go along with persecution?! Indeed, do you really expect that a greater "happiness" comes from standing with integrity and for truth -- even if it brings persecution or gossip or eye-rolling or job loss or jail time -- than by "just going along" with culture?

This begins to be a measure of faith and trust. Is this world the most real thing to you? In that case, then we cave. Or is God's Kingdom the most real thing to you? Then we stand.

If this world is the most real thing to us, then we look for temporary happiness ... which eventually gets trampled upon by violence, abuse, persecution, wars, sickness, and finally death. But when the Kingdom of Heaven becomes our greater Reality, the God, truth, hope, and everlasting peace and joy become a source of eternal happiness and blessing.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to become

a ever-truer disciple,

so that along with

the eleven faithful disciples

and thousands of true saints

throughout history,

I find joy in proclaiming the truth

... even when it means persecution

October: How can we pray? ... and LEARN to pray!

Saturday is Prayer Time.

(Come anytime 8-noon).

How can we pray …

for you …

for your friends and family …

for our church and ministries …

for the world.

also

Intercessory Prayer Team Training:

Want to pray (or learn to pray)?

Mary Louise leading Sundays 5-6pm.

October 4, 11, 18

Sept 28 - Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

On the day I write this, the headlines (like the seemingly do everyday) scream of ISIS' brutality, Syrian deaths, border riots in Europe, and cop killings in America.

There is no peace.

And what's more, I'm one of just seven billion people on this beleaguered planet. I want the violence to stop. But how can little me be a peacemaker?

Discouragement is Satan's tactic and lie. "You're just one little person, Ed. You can't do anything." So, overwhelmed, I sit passively on my couch and numb myself with banal (and often crude) sit-coms, right?

Wrong.

You and I are peacemakers -- or not -- one relationship at a time.

When we are pure of heart, meek, and seeking mercy (other beatitudes, of course), we positively shape our heart, our disposition, and our impact on a peace-less world.

What is daily -- and powerful --peacemaking?

·       We love.

·       We forgive.

·       We help and serve.

·       We stand up boldly for truth ... while somehow simultaneously turning the other cheek.

·       We hunger and thirst for righteousness ... and refuse to compromise with crass expediency.

·       We stop winking at sin and evil.

·       We stop passing by the poor and oppressed.

·       We bless the children in our sphere.

·       We advocate for truth.

·       You don't complain "when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on [Jesus'] account" (another beatitude). And we change the world one relationship at a time.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is more than

1 in 7,000,000,000

-- because me and God

are always a majority

Sept 26-27 - Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8

Scientifically, "pure" means free of imperfections and contaminants.

Chemical compounds -- even commercial products like Ivory soap -- advertise that they are 99.44% pure.

"Pure" is a spiritual term too. Biblically, it means clean, unstaffed, blameless, and without guilt.

"Pure" also reflects the process of becoming honorable and blameless. Malachi 3:2 tells of a "refiner's fire" – a purify process. John 15 speaks of "pruning" – purity by sharp elimination. Both of these are reflect God's purposeful process of making his children holy, righteous, and pure.

And it's a purity of heart that God desires. The heart is, of course, the seat of emotions and the impulse of actions. The heart, in biblical, figurative language, is also the center of all that we are. And that's what God wants pure.

Are you pure to your very core? Well, that, as Jesus said, is how we begin to see God ... feel God ... touch God ... know God.

Sure, God can (and occasionally does) break through unexpectedly to make his presence known. And that's a few times in a life exception. Most commonly, though, the way to see, touch, and feel God is through ever-increasing purity.

All the time rebellious people say to me, "well, if I could just see God, then ..." Yes, God does occasionally speak to those hearts (though often they ignore it, because they aren't in a place to accept, change, and embrace). Yes, frequently God does speaking on our journey toward deeper faith and purity, rewarding us along the way. But mostly we know and see God when we seek God with a pure and obedient heart.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who uses Ivory soap

(my washed skin is 99.44% pure,

now I'm working on my heart)

Sept 25 - Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7

 

What is mercy?

 

I'm told that Shakespeare called it "nobility's true badge."

I'm told that it's also the only word that Chuck Norris doesn't know the meaning of!

 

The Urban Dictionary also reminded me that it's a game you played with your little brother -- whipping his arm behind his back, causing pain, as if you're threatening to break his arm, and demanding that he cry out, "Mercy!" (Which is the opposite of mercy, of course!)

 

Mercy, like most of these beatitudes is relational. Why? Because all of life is relational. 

We live because of God's mercy and grace. If our Lord wasn't loving and forgiving -- merciful -- our hope would be hellish. Yes, we live because of God's mercy and grace. 

But let me take this a step further ... We live when we're merciful to others. Meaning: We live more fully. We discover, indeed, what living is all about. 

Forgiveness is arguably the most important thing in the world. Why? Because that's the whole reason that Jesus can to this earth. 

 

Forgiveness and mercy are subsets of a greater love. And without love, life is not life. It's just a pale caricature of what living is meant to be. 

 

Who do you need to forgive -- to merciful too?

 

It's hard. I know. They hurt you. But if you want a greater life, the "blessing," as Jesus said, begins when you are merciful. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who occasionally

spells "mercy" with an "i"

-- “Father, merci (thank you)

for your mercy”

 

Sept 24 - Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6

Have you ever been desperately hungry and thirsty?

Probably not! Nevertheless, Jesus' obviously still works.

We know need. We can imagine desperation.

And the question is: Are you desperate for righteousness?

Righteousness has two components. The first is being at the right place at the right time with the right people doing the right thing. It is summarized by my wife's favorite phrase: "God's way is the best way." Simply put, righteousness is obedience.

The second sense of righteousness is "rightness" in relationships. That applies to the human level, of course. A few verses later in Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says, " when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." If God's ways is the best way, then part of righteousness is forgiveness, reconciliation, and human relationship. Which relationships in your life do you need to hunger and thirst for right reconciliation?

Further, if right relationship is the goal, a right relationship with God must be the primary goal of our relationship. Indeed, Jesus is telling us, in part, that if we're not right with God, nothing is right.

In Christ's Love,

a left-handed guy

who wants rightness

Sept 23 - Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

 

What does "meek" mean?

In my mind "meek" sounds to me like "weak." Is Jesus saying that the passive and weak will inherit the earth? 

 

Psalm 37:11 says, "The meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity." Almost quoting this, is Jesus saying that those with the intestinal fortitude of milk toast will insure peace and prosperity?

 

Does “meek” mean “weak”? It means “humble.”

 

Now, some people certainly associate humbleness with weakness … but something transformative happens when we are humble before God: We transcend our own fragile mortality.

 

Some see bravado (or money or military power or even self-sufficiency) as strength. But on our own, even “the strongest people” inevitably age, falter, stumble, and die. Empires and fortunes come and go. But when we are humbly dependent upon God, we attach ourselves to his strength.

 

And it is through his power that we “inherit the earth” – inherit, what? A hopeful life on earth.

 

How do we stare down sickness, persecution, political turmoil, wars, and death with hope and joy? How? With God’s love, joy, peace, and patience.

 

And he makes this power available to those who humbly approach him and submit to his ways.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to be submitted and meek –

knowing when to stand boldly and speak,

and when to simply turn the other cheek

 

 

 

 

Sept 22 - Psalm 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Mourning is not a blessing.

It hurts.

It's an almost literal hole in our soul. A piece of us -- a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend -- has been ripped away from us (at least in an immediate, physical, temporal sense). And it's hard to function with such a gaping wound.

Mourning is not what I'd call a blessing. So what does Jesus mean here in the Sermon on the Mount?

There are two common interpretations of this.

First, Jesus is prefiguring his death and the eternal fate of all things through him. If we love Jesus enough to cling to him in faith when he dies -- and therefore mourn -- we will be comforted by the resurrection. And by extension, those who cling to Jesus when a loved one dies -- even in the midst of obvious human mourning -- will be comforted by the resurrection too.

That's how I've traditionally viewed this passage. Essentially, "this world is hard, but heaven is coming!"

And that's true.

Nevertheless, probably a more contextually accurate way to read this verse is in light of the preceding verse -- "blessed are the poor in spirit." Jesus was talking about the present condition of our heart and soul. He wanted us to be humble and thankful, not proud and entitled.

What if we put "blessed are those who mourn" into the context of our heart and soul's condition?

What do our hearts have to mourn about?

Sin.

What Jesus is calling us to do in these first two beatitudes is to humble our hearts and grieve over the sins that separate us from God and one another.

Our world has developed the brazen habit of laughing at and excusing sin. No! It's cost is frayed relationships, broken marriages, fatherless children, violence, wars, etc. We must not laugh with the world. We must grieve.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is not "comforted"

by justifying my actions

or rationalizing my sin,

but only by Jesus' costly grace

which drove him to the cross

Sept 21 - Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

Matthew 5:3

Has that phrase ever seemed upside-down to you?

 

Should we want to be "rich in spirit"?

 

But perhaps we live in too "rich" of a culture to catch the meaning. Wealth tends to focus our hearts on the wrong things. It is often proud and entitled. Callous -- intentionally or unintentionally -- to the plight of others. Often the richer people are in things, the poorer they are in spirit! 

 

Poverty, on the other hand, can create a humbleness. A reverent dependence -- the joyful realization that our life (right down to our daily bread) is dependent upon a "higher power." Now for some, that higher power is luck. For others it's the government. For "the poor in spirit," it's an honest, thankful, trusting dependence on God.  

 

Rich -- even rich in spirit -- can be proud and entitled. While "poor in spirit" is humble. 

 

I can easily fool myself. Yes, God wants me and gifts me to work hard, but he's my provider ... not me. 

 

Martin Luther expresses this powerfully and beautifully in his Small Catechism. As we seek today a poorer, more humble, more joyfully and worshipfully dependent spirit, let us pray Luther's words ... 

 

I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that he has given me and still sustains my body and soul, all my limbs and senses, my reason and all the faculties of my mind, together with food and clothing, house and home, family and property; that he provides me daily and abundantly with all the necessities of life, protects me from all danger, and preserves me from all evil. All this he does out of his pure, fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness on my part. For all of this I am bound to thank, praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who desires to more fully

thank, praise, serve and obey him.

This is most certainly true.

 

Sept 20 - Matthew 5:1-2

When Jesus saw the crowds,

he went up the mountain;

and after he sat down,

his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak,

and taught them, saying ...

Matthew 5:1-2

Mahatma Ghandi, a Hindu, loved Jesus. 

At least ... he loved Jesus' teaching. 

This Indian leader based the whole peace-focused freeing of India on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. (He even said that he might've become a Christian if he'd seen any Christian living fully and wonderfully according to the Sermon on the Mount.)

 

That's our goal for these next few weeks ... to shape our lives more fully around Jesus' seminal teaching. 

 

And to do that starts with prayer ...

 

Jesus, I want to be a disciple, sitting at your feet. Humble my spirit. Break through the noise. If we want to impact this broken world, let me model my service after You and any Saint who's modeled himself on you. 

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who yearns for

a powerful way to change

a broken world

(and Jesus modeled

a different kind of power)

Sept 19 - Psalm 92:1,2,4,6

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

It is good to proclaim your

unfailing love in the morning ...

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!

I sing for joy because of what you have done.

Only a simpleton would not know,

and only a fool would not understand this

Psalm 92:1,2,4,6

Are you "thrilled" by the wonders of this world?

Yes, we've sinned, fallen short, and created too many messes, but God still created good. His wonders are marvelous and manifest if we but look. 

So ... are you "thrilled" by the wonders of God's creation?

Or are you a simpleton?

And culture it is always viewed the other way around. Rationalists and naturalists are seen as wise. Whereas people of faith are viewed as simpletons. Believers are painted as weak; people who need a crutch. But as it says in 1 Corinthians 3:19, "the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God."

Do you marvel and thrill?

That is the path, says God in scripture, to health. To joy. To lightness of being. To strength in our days.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who knows a thrill

better than what's on

Blueberry Hill

Sept 18 - Psalm 91:1,4

¹ Those who live in the

shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the

shadow of the Almighty.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are

your armor and protection.

Psalm 91:1,4

This is a beautiful image, much like Jesus' longing, protective image in Matthew 23: "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." God wants to be our "shelter" and "rest." 

He is, of course. He can do anything. Nevertheless, God grants us freedom and allows us to choose. Jesus says, "I desired to gather you ... as a hen gathers her brood ... and you were not willing." (A divine offer. A human rejection.)

A how about you? Do you want God's "shelter" and "rest"? (A divine offer.) Do you want God's "armor and protection"? (Part of the same divine offer.) If so, then are you willing (the human response) to access this gift. 

(Though God can and occasionally does intervene supernaturally to change hearts -- certainly much more than we'd ever expect -- God's normal way of working is giving us the freedom to respond. Will we choose God's armor and protection ... or not?)

In Ephesians 6, God tells us some definitive ways to outfit ourselves with the breastplates and shields (etc.) of righteousness, faith, truth, (etc.) and God's Word. 

Part of God's Word and Truth is highlighted here in this Psalm as armor -- God's promises. 

Sometimes when people come into office -- hurting, grieving, uncertain, and lost -- I will point them to a book of Bible promises. Thousands of biblical promises arranged into every category you can imagine. Words of hope arranged to address every sadness, worry, or fear that's threatening to drown you. 

Even the most faithful Christians sometimes get swallowed by the waves of life. This world is hard. Evil and death can be whelming -- sometimes overwhelming. But ... many of us aren't nearly as armed and protected as we could be because we aren't "willing" to spend adequate time in God's Word, to know more fully his character, to experience the wings of his mercy. 

There's no substitute for long-term biblical discipline. But if you have an immediate struggle, here are some biblical promises that may be wings of comfort over you ...

http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/bible-promises

http://biblepromisesapp.com/about

In Christ's Love,

a guy who owns a chicken

and marvels at how her feathers

are simultaneous soft and

like a hard plastic shell

(Chickens are weird, but

God's design is miraculous)

Sept 17 - Psalm 95:7-8

O that today

you would listen to his voice!

Do not harden your hearts,

as at Meribah

Psalm 95:7-8

 

Meribah was one of those many stops in Israel’s wandering in the desert. There wasn’t water (of course). They complained against God (of course).

 

Israel had a history of hardening it’s heart.

 

So do I.

 

I do what I want. When I want.

 

I am rebellious. I hear what I want. I believe what I want. I harden my heart. And then I blame God when I get the results that I was practically begging for. O that today [I] would listen to his voice!

 

How about you? O that today you would listen to his voice!

 

What ditch are you in in life? Is it time to soften your heart? Listen to His voice? Go His way?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to quit

buying one-way tickets

to Meribah

 

Pastor's Class Tonight - Practical: How to Grow in Faith

Have you ever wanted

more in your Spiritual Life?

Tonight, Pastor Ed is leading his

most personal and practical class yet.

 

6:15-7:30pm

t o n i g h t

Sept 16 - Psalm 95:6-7

O come, let us worship and bow down,

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 95-6-7

 

A few years ago, my son, Robbie, went to a Christian music camp.

 

While there, one of his new friends wrote a beautiful song. The songwriting professional suggested a change, however. He suggested wrapping the song around Scripture.

 

He said, “It’s good to sing what you think about God … if you’re theology is good. But what happens if it’s off by even a few degrees. You may beautifully sing people astray. Therefore, build your songs around scripture.”

 

With that in mind … have you sung with us, therefore, these verses from Scripture?

 

This verse (and therefore this song) is obviously a call to prayer and worship: “O Come, let us worship and bow down.” But it’s more than that …

 

It tells us why we should worship! In a few short words, Scripture (and thus, this song) tell us …

 

·         that God is our leader and protector (the shepherd image is clear)

·         that God is wants to provide (his goal is to give us a safe and fertile pasture)

·         that we are his sheep (therefore, we are to follow him).

 

Do you see the richness in Scripture. (Contrasted to the shallowness of so many human lyrics.)

 

Let us, as yesterday’s verse suggested, sing praise. But more than that, let us sing Scripture.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who bets you’ve memorized

more Scripture than you know!

See if you know …

 

·         Matthew 6:33..........."Seek ye first the kingdom of God"

·         Psalm 51:10……. “Create in Me, a Clean Heart, O God”

·         John 6…………..”I am the Bread of Life”

·         Luke 1…………..”My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, O God”

·         Psalm 42................"As a deer panteth for the water"

·         Revelation 4:11........"Thou art worthy"

·         Psalm 27................The Lord is my light and my salvation"

·         Psalm 34................"I will bless the Lord at all times"

·         Psalm 103.............."Bless the Lord O my soul"

·         Psalm 104:33.........."I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live"

·         Psalm 92:1............."It's a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord"

·         Gal 2:20................."It is no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me"

·         1Jn 4:4.................."Greater is He that is in me"

·         Psalm 100:4........."I will enter His gates with thanksgiving"

·         Isaiah 60:1............"Arise, shine for the Light has come"

·         Isaiah 55:12.........."Trees of the field"

·         Psalm 18:46........."O magnify the Lord"

·         Psalm 68:1.........."So rise and shine, and give God the glory"

·         Psalm 89:1 ……….”I will Sing of Mercies”

·         Isaiah 43:1-5 ……….”Isaiah 43” (When you pass through the waters …)

·         1 John 4:7-8……….”Beloved, Let us Love One Another.”

·         2 Corinthians 2:9…….”Your Grace is Enough”

·         Psalm 30:12 ……. “Forever [Give Thanks to the Lord.”

·         Revelation 12:13 …..”Crown Him with Many Crowns”

·         2 Chronicles 2:5 …. “How great is our God”

·         Psalm 111:1………”Praise Ye the Lord”

·         Lamentations 3:20-23…..”Great is Thy Faithfulness”

·         Isaiah 63:1…………”Mighty to Save”

·         Psalm 27:1……….”Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]”

·         Isaiah 6:3, Rev 4:8 ……..”Holy, Holy, Holy”

·         and on and on it goes!!!

·         Do you know more scripture than you realize?!!!  

Sept 15 - Psalm 95:1-5

O come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence

with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise

to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,

and the dry land,

which his hands have formed.

Psalm 95:1-5

 

Psalm 95 is one of the truly great Psalms. Therefore, we’ll use parts of the next few days to examine it in greater detail. But today we start with what?

 

Praise!

 

·         God is our “rock,” our strong foundation. Therefore, we should do what? Sing praise!

·         God is our “salvation.” He protects us today. He also gives us (eternally) a hope and a future. Sing praise!

·         We’re allowed – invited -- to “come into his presence.” Therefore, we should sing praise because our Lord invites us to “approach God's throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

·         As a parent whose kids have grown, we sometimes miss the “joyful noise.” God is your loving parent. He craves your praise. Therefore, “let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise”!

·         God is great. Let us praise!

·         God is King. He really does rule. He is active, passionate, personal, and just. Sing praise!

·         He holds the whole earth – including the depths of the earth – in “his hands.” Sing praise!

·         “The sea,” “the dry land,” “the mountains” and everything are in “his hands.” O Come, let us sing to the Lord!

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s excited

that our church choir

starts back this week!!!