Tag: praise

Have you personally envisioned or ever asked or has someone heard of someone asking about “entering His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise?” Psalm 100:4

Psalm 100 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Have you ever heard someone ask about the Bible verse, “enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise?”

Have you personally made any effort to envision the Bible verse, “enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise?”

What are the gates?

How can we enter with thanksgiving if life is full of trouble and despair?

Is there a process?

As Christians, we place our hope in God.

Yes, tough times will come.

When life is filled with turmoil and when life is filled with joy, enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise.

Where Does the Bible Say “Enter His Gate with Thanksgiving”?

The book of Psalms is where Scripture shares this important statement: 

Psalm 100 Complete Jewish Bible

100 (0) A psalm of thanksgiving:

(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.

3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.

Psalm 100 is credited to King David, although some biblical scholars believe various people wrote the book of Psalms.

The words are directed to everyone in very generation in every community.

This psalm is sometimes called a guide or hymnal for worship and prayer.

Although only five verses, this powerful message reminds us to give thanks to God. Trials and troubled times will always come into our life, but we have the opportunity to continue praising God and giving thanksgiving to God always.

What Are God’s Gates?

Biblical scholars refer to God’s gates as when we come into the presence of God.

In other words, whenever we come and seek to enter His Tabernacle to worship God, we enter His presence.

When we pray to God, we enter into a personal relationship with the Father.

Whether we enter to offer sacrifices, give thanksgiving or cry out with sadness, the gates of His presence are open to His children.

Christians acknowledge there is one God, and we are His creations.

“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3 NIV).

How Do We “Enter His Gates”?

Set aside all notions you are in charge of anything in your life. (Psalm 100:3)

Be still … practice muchly the disciplines of “exalting stillness and silence.”

Psalm 46:10-11 Authorized (King James) Version

10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Open yourself to the presence of God and pray.

Prayer opens the door to conversation and relationship with God.

Prayer is personal time shared with God.

When we pray, we know God hears.

Beginning prayer by focusing on God and not the self is the way to enter His gates. Enter with praise and thanksgiving.

Begin the prayer by thanking God for His steadfast love and forgiveness. 

Acknowledge the need for forgiveness.

Repent of all sins.

Praise God for His forgiveness.

Give thanks to God.

Scripture tells of the narrow gate and the wide gate.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV).

His gates are open, and yet some people refuse to enter.

Entering through the narrow gate will take dedication and the desire to have a personal relationship with God.

Live for God.

Share His love with others.

Share His message and help others know Him. 

In the book of John chapter 14 verses 5-6, when Thomas told Jesus that the disciples didn’t know where Jesus was going and wondered how they could know the way. Jesus responded with an important statement verses 6-7.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:6-7 NIV).

How Do We Offer God Thanksgiving Today?

Thanksgiving is not something we give only on a Thursday in November or other certain days of the year.

Thanksgiving to God is an act of worship we can do every moment.

Waking in the morning, giving thanks for a glorious day can allow the day to begin with the light of God’s presence.

Sharing conversations, saying prayers throughout the day can bring comfort and peace.

Preparing for rest in the evening and giving thanks in our nightly prayers can deepen our faith. Every single moment is an opportunity to give thanks to God.

We can offer God thanksgiving through our words, actions today and every day.

Show others His love by sharing His Word.

Perhaps there is an GOD opportunity to volunteer in church or community.

Exalt God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Show patience, humility, compassion, and kindness in every situation.

Whatever is happening in life, give thanks to God.

Know that in good times and bad times, God is always King, God never leaves nor forsakes. God sent His Son, He will lead, guide us through every moment. 

What to Do When Giving Thanks is Difficult

Life is hard at times.

Perhaps you are journeying through a stressful and desperate time, and giving thanks tends to be difficult.

What if you are having a hard time giving thanks to God?

First, remember God knows the heart of His children.

God loves you and understands every emotion.

If giving thanks is hard, go to God in prayer.

Share concerns, worries, and fears.

Ask God to bring the peace and comfort only He can give. 

In prayer, share with God any difficulties you may have with giving thanks.

Seek His leadership, His Direction His guidance for the situation. (Psalm 16:11)

Go to God with a servant’s heart.

Ask for His forgiveness. Rest in His promises. Release your difficulties to Him.

Just Come to the Gates and Worship, Worship, Repeat

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.”

That’s the way I memorized Psalm 100:1 as a child (King James Version).

My young imagination pictured grand, far-off kingdoms set in golden, rolling landscapes, lifting their attention to the heavens, join in one huge happy shout.

I picture it a bit differently now—maybe because I know more about the world than I did then. I’m more aware that not all in our world is grand and golden. In fact, we all live in a world filled with wars, divisions, and inequities of all sorts.

Sometimes we’re severely tempted to believe that nothing could ever unite us.

But the psalmist believes unity is possible.

God loves every person in every land, and God’s desire for each one is to come to him with thanksgiving and praise.

The invitation, the welcome, the call to know God’s goodness goes out into all the world.

The psalmist calls every person in every time and place to offer thanksgiving, singing, grateful devotion to the God who made us and is faithful to all creation.

These few verses of Psalm 100 pushes us beyond all boundaries to embrace all peoples, and beyond every self-centered preoccupation to worship only God.

So give thanks to God today.

“For the Lord is good.”

His love forever extends to the ends of the universe and endures forever. 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 19

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven,
and his circuit unto the ends of it:
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright,
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
my strength, and my redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A Thanksgiving with a real Flourish; Enter His gates with thanksgiving, enter His courtyards with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His Holy name. Psalm 100

Psalm 100 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Just a few small, exceedingly simple, uncomplicated commands …

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Serve the Lord with Gladness.

Come before His Presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God.

Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving.

Enter into His Courts with Praise.

Be thankful unto Him.

Bless His Name.

WHY?

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

Do we need anymore a better reason to ….

Not just today because it is Thanksgiving and we get to get together with our families and friends, with our church communities; go into the streets, into the homeless shelters serve those who have little to nothing in God’s Kingdom with an abundance of food, clothing, shelter, donated from our own abundance, to sit with them, eat with them, drink with them, talk with them, share a feast of plenty GOD fit for egregious sinners like us, perhaps even watch some football or some other favorite sport, or plan for a calm wild black Friday shopping blitz.

To just read and share the Word of God …

To have some time of personal and group reflection … why do I say “Thanks be to God” anyway? followed by a blessed opportunity to pray with high gratitude!

To sing with whatever great cacophony of noise our thankful hearts can muster;

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…

Author

Henry Smith *© Copyright 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

A Call to Thanksgiving

Psalm 100 Easy-to-Read Version

A song of thanks.

100 Earth, sing to the Lord!
2 Be happy as you serve the Lord!
    Come before him with happy songs!
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    He made us, and we belong to him.
    We are his people, the sheep he takes care of.
4 Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him.
    Enter his courtyards with songs of praise.
    Honor him and bless his name.
5 The Lord is good!
    There is no end to his faithful love.
    We can trust him forever and ever!

Find it from some place deep in your soul to Sing … Thanks Be to God …

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! … Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!

Leave ‘somber’ behind…place God at the center, the forefront of your thoughts.

What do we have to lose but … sadness, tears, grief, anger, misery, loneliness?

What do we have to gain?

1 Corinthians 13 Easy-to-Read Version

Let Love Be Your Guide

13 I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

8 Love will never end. But all those gifts will come to an end—even the gift of prophecy, the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, and the gift of knowledge. 9 These will all end because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete. 10 But when perfection comes, the things that are not complete will end.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. 12 It is the same with us. Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me. 13 So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Loving one another isn’t a simple one to five minute matter of warm, fuzzy feelings and weak knees and pounding hearts. It’s a matter of doing the right thing because that’s what Jesus would do and did. Sometimes it can even bring unpleasant results for us. Hardcore loving often calls for doing the unexpected.

As followers of Jesus, we know that love is not something we can just opt to do or not do. It’s a command from our Master, whose life showed us how to love.

If we’re ever asked why we are show­ing love, we can answer, “Because we’re disciples of someone who loves us. We do it for Jesus’ sake.”

What’s more, we can show love only by the ­power of Holy Spirit working in us.

Then we’re able, like the twelve apostles, to witness, testify to, we’re serving Christ by loving the people we interact with and serve (Matthew 14:13-21).

Loving “one another” is often challenging.

It may call us to love the strong-willed child or an aging parent or spouse angry with dementia.

At home or church it may involve loving someone who is always negative and critical.

At work it may be the coworker claiming to be indispensable while barely doing their job.

It may mean foregoing a new coat so that someone else can have one.

The “other” in our lives could be some­one we don’t even know but who comes to love Jesus because of something we did.

To whom will you show gratitude and thankfulness of Jesus’ love today?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 16 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 16

Michtam of David.

1 Preserve me, O God:
for in thee do I put my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord,
Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3 but to the saints that are in the earth,
and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god:
their drink offerings of blood will I not offer,
nor take up their names into my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel:
my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me:
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:
my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Worship that is Worthy; Worship of the Only One Who Is Worthy and it is not Me, Myself nor I nor any Angels! Revelation 5:12

Revelation 5:11-14 Complete Jewish Bible

11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels — thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders; 12 and they shouted out,

“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive
power, riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory and praise!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea — yes, everything in them — saying,

“To the One sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb
belong praise, honor, glory and power
forever and ever!”

14 The four living beings said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Bible scholars teach us that whenever a Roman emperor entered a city, the citizens shouted, “Worthy!” The apostle John, who had been exiled because he confessed Jesus as Lord, knew that only Jesus was worthy—not the emperor.

Today we are inspired, empowered, invited, welcomed, to see with spiritual eyes what John saw happening in heaven. We are summoned to join with the multitude of angels and other creatures in singing that the Lord is worthy.

God alone is worthy of all our praise and honor because he is the Creator and Savior. We owe every single breath to the One who has made us, and we have new life, purchased by the blood of Christ, because he was slain for our sake.

From the beginning, Our Lord Jesus, Our living Savior Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, He alone is worthy to open the scroll of history (explained in Rev. 6-9).

The One who died on the cross and who alone rose from the dead, giving us new life in order to serve and rule with him, is the One who now reigns. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to him, and his kingdom will never come to end.

Shall we lift up our voices and sing with all the creatures of our God and King?

“To him alone. . . to God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be maximum praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! . . . Amen.”

Asking Ourselves; Why Our Worship Is Worth It

Psalm 78:1-8 Complete Jewish Bible

78 (0) A maskil of Asaf:

(1) Listen, my people, to my teaching;
turn your ears to the words from my mouth.
2 I will speak to you in parables
and explain mysteries from days of old.

3 The things which we have heard and known,
and which our fathers told us
4 we will not hide from their descendants;
we will tell the generation to come
the praises of Adonai and his strength,
the wonders that he has performed.

5 He raised up a testimony in Ya‘akov
and established a Torah in Isra’el.
He commanded our ancestors
to make this known to their children,
6 so that the next generation would know it,
the children not yet born,
who would themselves arise
and tell their own children,
7 who could then put their confidence in God,
not forgetting God’s deeds,
but obeying his mitzvot.
8 Then they would not be like their ancestors,
a stubborn, rebellious generation,
a generation with unprepared hearts,
with spirits unfaithful to God.

The psalmist and music leader Asaph wrote Psalm 78 to give praise unto the Lord and offer a testimony of remembrance to future generations of God’s faithfulness. His testimony in word and song is as relevant today to remind our generation and those to come after us why “worship is worth it” regardless of whether we feel like it or the state of the times makes us doubt His presence.

1. We Must Keep the Chain Going

In Psalm 78:2-4, Asaph stated his purpose: “I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

By current generations keeping the testimony of God’s faithfulness alive, future generations are admonished, reminded and, are too, given blessed assurance that our living Lord is capable and willing to handle the circumstances of today.

We voluntarily stress ourselves by contemplating the impact of inflation, the ethical and moral state of our country, the war in Ukraine, In Israel, effects of the pandemic, tepid enthusiasm, lukewarm spiritual condition of our churches.

However, our grandparents can give a very different testimony of fighting, living through world wars, pandemics, depressions, and segregation.

They did not have the technology and means of communication of today, yet, our God was actively present, did mighty things in spite of the circumstances.

Rest assured our Savior is still seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father.

Paul, in his second letter to his fellow servant Timothy, gave special attention to the testimony passed down to him. He wrote, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

2 Timothy 1:1-10 Complete Jewish Bible

1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua

2 To: Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and shalom from God the Father and the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

3 I give thanks to God, whom, like my forbears, I worship with a clean conscience, as I regularly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 I am reminded of your tears, and I long to see you, so that I might be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere trust, the same trust that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice had first; and I am convinced that you too now have this trust.

6 For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. 7 For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 8 So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary, accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the Good News. God will give you the strength for it, 9 since he delivered us and called us to a life of holiness as his people. It was not because of our deeds, but because of his own purpose and the grace which he gave to us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He did this before the beginning of time, 10 but made it public only now through the appearing of our Deliverer, the Messiah Yeshua, who abolished death and, through the Good News, revealed life and immortality.

Similarly, David wrote in Psalm 145:4, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”

Our personal testimony of redemption is our greatest praise unto our Savior and serves as a witness to the world.  

2. We have Been Fed

God “opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them corn of heaven” to feed His people.

We in the church age have been fed bountifully as well.

In John 6:51, Jesus described himself as the “living bread that came down from heaven.”

We have 66 books from which to feed upon.

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus indicated such when he spoke, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

This fact is complemented by Jesus’s words in John 6:63: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life..”

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “we will even now feed on Thee as our spiritual meat, and will pray Thee to chase away all wicked unbelief from us.”  

3. We have Been Clothed in His Provision

Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, clothed His chosen people with a cloud in the daytime and “all the night with a light of fire.”

He used Moses and protected them with the “clave of rocks in the wilderness.”

Our inheritance and clothing today are solely given through the power and provision of Jesus Christ.

In Isaiah 61:10, the prophet wrote that the Lord, “has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.”

Job had this understanding as well when he wrote in 29:14, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me.”

The proven failings of our self-righteousness are described to be as “filthy rags,” cogitating not only uselessness but also their repugnant nature in the eyes of an all-holy, all-righteous God. 

Ephesians 5:25-27 explains that He gave himself for the church “that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

4. We have Been Cleansed

The long soul shaking, spirit quaking rollercoaster ride of disobedience to repentance to obedience and return to disobedience expounded in the journeys of the Israelites reveal God’s deliverance in terms of His mercy and grace.

Following a manifestation of judgment, “they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.”

The foundation of our covenant is the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:28 specified, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many of the forgiveness of sins.” 

Hebrews 9:14 asks us, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Christ was our propitiation, or deflection, from the wrath suffered as punishment for our sins.

Unlike the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ was the perfect offering once and for all.

When we are connected through His cleansing and purifying blood shed on the cross, we are protected, granted the inheritance of Jesus Christ as a joint heir.

The Heavenly Father sees the imputed righteousness of His son upon the believer. This cleansing is an eternal sealing from sin’s dominion over our lives.

Thus, we are judgment proof for all of eternity.     

5. He is Always Present

God “made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”

Indeed, He is the good shepherd as extensively identified in Psalms 23.

David’s early life gave him a critical understanding of the importance of the shepherd being close to his flock. In Psalms 46:1, the psalmist declared the Lord to be “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

The safety and provision of His flock are of the utmost importance to the shepherd.

Similarly, our pastors are the shepherds of our churches by feeding them only the pure doctrine and theology from the Word of God for their guidance and growth.

He is given the charge in Acts 20:28 to, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”   

6. He Fights Our Battles

In Psalm 78 verses 43-52, Asaph recalls how our mighty Lord ravaged Egypt precipitating the deliverance of His people.

He contaminated the rivers with blood, sent devouring flies and frogs, inundated the land with caterpillars and locusts, crops were decimated by hail and frost, and their cattle were slaughtered by hail and flocks by thunderbolts.

Further, the anger of the Lord sent the angel of death upon them. Despite the wrath and indignation, Asaph emphasized in verse 52 that our Lord, “made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”

The children of God in the Old Testament fought many of their battles against physical forces in claiming their land inheritances through the blessing of God.

Our inheritance is in Jesus Christ, an ever-present Lord and Savior.

His blood fought and won our battle over the judgment and dominion of sin.

However, like the Israelites had to drive out occupiers from their inheritance, we must use the power of the Holy Spirit to drive out the contemplations of the flesh and besetting sins by claiming the blessings of our covenant in our very own personal wildernesses in a world beset, over run, overwhelmed, with sin.

Paul in Ephesians 6:12, tells us that our battles are not against “flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

These forces cannot be overcome with bullets or bombs, mines, hand grenades.

Our most effective arsenal needs only to consist of the power, the provision, protection, and guidance of the Holy Spirit as promised in the Word of God.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 145 Complete Jewish Bible

145 (0) Praise. By David:

(1) I will praise you to the heights, my God, the king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is Adonai and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 Each generation will praise your works to the next
and proclaim your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor
of your majesty and on the story of your wonders.
6 People will speak of your awesome power,
and I will tell of your great deeds.
7 They will gush forth the fame of your abounding goodness,
and they will sing of your righteousness.
8 Adonai is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in grace.
9 Adonai is good to all;
his compassion rests on all his creatures.
10 All your creatures will thank you, Adonai,
and your faithful servants will bless you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingship,
and they will tell about your might;
12 to let everyone know of your mighty acts
and the glorious majesty of your kingship.
13 Your kingship is an everlasting kingship,
your reign continues through all generations.
14 Adonai supports all who fall
and lifts up all who are bent over.
15 The eyes of all are looking to you;
you give them their food at the right time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 Adonai is righteous in all his ways,
full of grace in all he does.
18 Adonai is close to all who call on him,
to all who sincerely call on him.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 Adonai protects all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
21 My mouth will proclaim the praise of Adonai;
all people will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Our Glorifying and Our Praising for the Creator of the Heavens and Earth. Psalm 33

Psalm 33 New American Standard Bible 1995

Praise to the Creator and Preserver.

33 Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together [a]as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it [b]stood fast.
10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions [c]the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who [d]hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have [e]hoped in You.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Though I wasn’t a carpenter by trade, in my youth I loved to work with wood.

I enjoyed the effort of taking pieces of scrap wood of any size or shape and condition and just transforming them into something useful and pleasing.

As creatures made in the image of God, (Genesis 1:26-28) we all have an inborn desire to make things useful and lovely.

In this stewardship we imitate God, who created the heavens and the earth.

For the reader Psalm 33 recalls God’s almighty power in creating everything around us: the sky, the sun, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the oceans.

God not only created all that we see; he also created good things we can’t see—like air, gravity, and sound, as well as forgiveness, love, goodness, and justice.

God did this, as the psalm says in verse 6, through the power of his spoken word.

When we say, with the Apostle’s Creed, that God is the “creator of heaven and earth,” we are acknowledging, declaring and recalling that the same God who made the mountains, forests, the rivers and oceans made each one of us too.

Psalm 139:13-18 New American Standard Bible 1995

13 For You formed my [a]inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for [b]I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My [c]frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

What’s more, we are declaring and praising that this God hasn’t stepped back from what he has made; no, he still delights in preserving and in sustaining it.

We can each take great comfort in knowing that the all-powerful Creator and sustainer, God Almighty, is the one that we also call our heavenly Father.

There is never a time or a single moment that God does not care for us and too about us; he knows what we need; he will never let us slip from his tender care.

How Can We Use Our Creative Talents to Glorify God?

Genesis 1:1-5 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was [a] formless and void, and darkness was over the [b]surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was [c]moving over the [d]surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

It is written in the very first line of the Bible: “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1, emphasis added).

Creativity begins with God.

He had a very definite plan and design for the cosmos and spoke it into being.

We have a written account of how creation came to be, and how the very first people were made by God. God spoke, made, and revealed it all through the written word. He was behind the entire creative order that we see around us.

When we do look at the intricacy of a human being, the intricacy of a snowflake, the symmetry of a butterfly, or the perfect location of the earth’s position in the rest of the solar system, we see the deep intricate handiwork of our Creator God.

He also planned that we would be made in His image (Genesis 1:26), so it is no surprise that we get to experience the wonder and joy of creativity ourselves.

With all of this God given uniquely individualized creative potential, do we ever wonder exactly how we can all use our uniquely creative talents to glorify God?

Give All the Glory and Praise to God Alone

Whatever we do, we are to do it to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

That includes our creative endeavors.

As the apostle Paul shared,

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

In Colossians 1:16 it says: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

It is through Jesus that everything has been made and it is all for Him (John 1:3).

God made the universe through His Son (Hebrews 1:2) and it is by faith that “we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). It is right and good and joyful to give all glory to the One who made it all and for whom it is all for.

It also fulfills the command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Luke 10:27).

What we create should not be worshiped, nor should we glorify ourselves or others in our creative pursuits.

That does not mean that we do not enjoy or appreciate what we create, but we acknowledge, remember to keep our love and affections in their rightful place.

Not Only Praise but Participate in God’s Masterpiece

Genesis 2:19-23 New American Standard Bible 1995

19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the [a]sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the [b]sky, and to every beast of the field, but for [c]Adam there was not found a helper [d]suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God [e] fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
[f]She shall be called [g]Woman,
Because [h]she was taken out of [i]Man.”

We all have the immense privilege of joining with God in His creative purposes for the world. It was God’s wonderful idea to create people and to get the first man to name the livestock, the birds and the wild animals (Genesis 2:20).

God “brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19).

From the very beginning every moment of this was God’s idea to involve us in the creative stewardship of His creation, it was not an idea of our own making.

God made the first woman as a helper, creating her from the rib of the man, and he named her too (Genesis 2:21-23). They would work together in the world.

God invites every single one of us to uniquely participate in His grand design on earth, and His kingdom purposes.

We are made in His image and formed by Him, and God has a plan and a purpose, establishing our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

We can each use our creative talents for good or for ill, but as we look to Jesus, our desires will become more and more like His. Using our creativity enables us to uniquely express a part of who God has designed us to be (Psalm 139:13-16).

That will look different for each person, as we are all individuals with unique gifts and abilities, yet we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made” by Him (Psalm 139:14).

Glorify God by Our Love for Others with Our Creativity

Mark 12:28-34 New American Standard Bible 1995

28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the [a]foremost of all?”  29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

It is important to remember the first two commandments as we create: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.

Loving the Lord comes first. We need to spend time with Him regularly; it is vital to build and nurture a relationship with our Heavenly Father. As we do this, it will truly transform our longings and desires to love and serve others. 

God loves the people whom He created, and He designed us to be in community together. As we create to the glory and honor of God and out of love for Him, it will spill over into how we use our talents, our time, our resources for others.

This might look like caring for those in need, volunteering our skills, designing something to the best of our ability with utmost integrity, photographing or painting beautiful landscapes to show God’s work on display, so much more.

There are endless opportunities to be creative.

The people in our homes, communities and our churches and the wider world can be mightily blessed, uplifted and too inspired by our God-given creativity.

Manage Our Creative Talents Well

James 1:12-17 New American Standard Bible 1995

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [a]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  13  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted [b]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [c]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin [d]is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be [e]deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or [f]shifting shadow.

We are to steward what God has given us and remember that all good gifts come from Him (James 1:17).

Even as we are diligent with our time, resources and creative talents, we can continue to learn and develop in our creativity.

As we look to Him who is the giver and provider of all we need, we worship Him alone, rather than anything that we create.

Throughout the Bible, there are examples of humans using their gifts and abilities to create things to worship other than God.

We see it when the Israelites created a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32) and in the construction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-4).

In both cases, they made a god or a name for themselves, demonstrating the skill, but also the deep-rooted pride of mankind.

Even idolizing people made in the image of God lends itself to the worship of the creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

There is risk and temptation to pursue and follow created things and step into idolatry, rather than to worship God.

Therefore, we must bring our creativity before the Lord, knowing it is Him that we are serving, and we should use our talents wisely.

Embrace the Skills Given to Us

Exodus 35:10-19 New American Standard Bible 1995

Tabernacle Workmen

10 ‘Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11 the [a]tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its [b]sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, the [c] mercy seat, and the curtain of the screen; 13 the table and its poles, and all its [d]utensils, and the bread of the [e]Presence; 14 the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense and its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the doorway at the [f] entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its [g]bronze grating, its poles, and all its [h]utensils, the [i]basin and its stand; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars and its [j]sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords; 19 the [k]woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’”

God gives skills to different people. We are all given certain abilities, even if it might take us a little while to discover or develop what they are.

In the building of the Tabernacle, there were many who had different skills given to them by God which would be used to complete it: “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded” (Exodus 35:10).

It is a beautiful picture of some of God’s people who were “willing and whose heart moved them” and brought materials and offerings to God for this work (Exodus 35:21-22).

Men and women all participated together, and there was willingness and skill involved to make what God had commanded come to be. Are we also willing to offer our unique skills in whatever way is needed for God’s glory and purpose?

God Equips Whose He Calls

Exodus 35:30-35 New American Standard Bible 1995

30 Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all [a] craftsmanship; 32 [b]to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in [c] bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. 34 He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with [d]skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in [e]blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.

God also equips those whom He calls to a specific task.

In the building of the Tabernacle, the Lord chose Bezalel of the tribe of Judah, and filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills, to make artistic designs (Exodus:35:30-35).

He also equipped him and Oholiab of the tribe of Dan to be able to teach others. God is the one who fills us with the skills for the tasks that He has called us to.

The creative process means walking through trials and frustrations at times, but can also develop our perseverance and character.

God can use our creativity to shape and transform us into the likeness of Jesus as we seek to use our creative talents for His glory.

He is interested in our hearts.

As we create, we can ask Jesus to help us honor Him in our pursuits.

We can use our creativity to build up believers, spread the good news to those who do not know Jesus, support those in need, and use it as a way to provide an income for our families.

As we surrender, yield to God, continually thinking “not my will but yours be done,” He can take our creative offering, transform it for His glory, purposes.

God saw the two loaves and five fish, and He was the One who filled the crowd.

Give Him your creative talents, no matter how big or small, and let Him deeply satisfy your every need.

As pastor and theologian Reverend Dr. John Piper said:

“God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.”

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any [a]hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 148 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.

148 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, [c]highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also established them forever and ever;
He has made a decree which will not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
Sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
Praise for all His godly ones;
Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
[d]Praise [e]the Lord!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Tilling the Soils of Our Hearts With Our Worship of the Lord. Psalm 29:2

Psalm 29:1-2 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.

29 Ascribe to the Lord, O [a]sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory [b]due to His name;
Worship the Lord in [c]holy array.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

One of the most powerful ways to till the soil of the heart is through worship.

Authentic worship is a powerful exchange of God pouring his love out on us and us giving him our hearts in return.

In worshiping through music, our hearts naturally become soft and receptive to God’s presence and love as we encounter his goodness and engage in a reverent adoration of the only One who is completely, utterly, worthy of our affections.

God created music with an innate ability to affect us at our core.

Psalms, Music, have the power to fill us with peace, joy, and anger; it can cause tears to well up in our eyes and even make the most mundane events beautiful.

Martin Luther said, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”

By consistently engaging in worship through beautiful music, we each provide a framework for the Holy Spirit both to till the soil of our hearts and to fill us with the seeds of God’s presence and perfect character.

The Bible is brimming with admonishment to worship through song.

Paul tells us in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” 

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence  and awe.”

Scripture is so clear about the importance of worship because God longs for us to be a people marked by consistent reminders of his unconditional love.

He longs for us to live in response to his presence and his greater plans, rather than mightily struggling through life by placing our trust in the world over him.

God longs to reveal his heart to you in worship.

He longs to show up, meet us in our rooms, our prayer closets, cars, workplace, in the outdoors as we walk and bike and hike in creation, and houses of worship.

We were created to encounter all the fullness of God and engage in the cyclical act of giving and receiving love throughout our days.

When we worship here on earth, we posture our whole heart towards eternity.

Making the willful choice listen for the voice of God, to give your affections to the One you will spend eternity with, you also discover your purpose for which you were made: to live in unhindered communion with your heavenly Father.

If you feel like the soil of your heart is more rock hard than tillable, your life isn’t marked by the fruit of the Spirit or you can’t escape from a temptation—simply take some time and pick up the Word of God, encounter God in worship.

God’s presence is wholly available to you today.

His love and grace are steadfast towards you.

May your time in guided prayer be marked by the awareness of, nearness of, and power of the Holy Spirit as you encounter the unconditional love of God.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on what Scripture says about worship through music and reflect on how beautiful music moves your heart.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

“And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.” 1 Samuel 16:23

2.Engage in worship in whatever way moves your heart. 

Receive the presence and love of your heavenly Father and give him your heart in response. Remember the importance of giving and receiving love in worship.

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!” Psalm 57:7

“I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:6

3. Journal about the effects worship has on your heart. 

Reflecting on and writing down the things God is doing in our lives helps us to actualize that which is often left internal and forgotten.

Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” 

Until your life is devoted to worshipping God, you will never find total rest.

When we give ourselves to the things of this world it repays us with stress, burden, and cares rather than unconditional love.

It’s only in devoting yourself to God alone that you will find satisfaction and reciprocation for your love.

Live today in full devotion to God.

Do everything as an act of worship.

And find that God repays your adoration ten fold by pouring out his wealth of affection over you.

May today be filled with the presence, power of God as you give, receive, love.

Psalm 29 The Message

29 1-2 Bravo, God, bravo!
    Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”
In awe before the glory,
    in awe before God’s visible power.
Stand at attention!
    Dress your best to honor him!

3 God thunders across the waters,
Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—
God, across the flood waters.

4 God’s thunder tympanic,
God’s thunder symphonic.

5 God’s thunder smashes cedars,
God topples the northern cedars.

6 The mountain ranges skip like spring colts,
The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.

7-8 God’s thunder spits fire.
God thunders, the wilderness quakes;
He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.

9 God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”

10 Above the floodwaters is God’s throne
    from which his power flows,
    from which he rules the world.

11 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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First, Foremost, Utmost, Uppermost: The King of All Creation. Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1-2 New King James Version

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In the Beginning When Everything Was New …

Today marks the beginning of a new year – 2024.

The turn of the year is a time for new things: hopes, dreams, and resolutions about how we’ll live differently now that we’ve turned the page on the calendar.

Once upon a time, the whole world was new.

Out of nothing, God created the heavens and the earth.

In the first two verses of Genesis the Bible describes the process of creation: God spoke, the world came into being.

And what God made was good.

It shone with delightful diversity, reflecting the richness of God’s character.

We do not always see the goodness and brilliance of God’s creation because sin, brokenness obscures our vision and brings decay to what was once brand-new.

Our awareness, our treasured delights in the newness of God’s work wears off.

Resolved: we each need our attention called back to the character of the Creator.

These opening words of Genesis tells us that God can bring goodness out of chaos, and in this way God assures us that the world is firmly in His control.

In the coming new year, these opening words of Scripture will fade to the back of our minds, we will face times when the newness of our January goals wears off, when the brokenness of our lives keeps us from receiving each day as a gift.

When that happens, let’s be resolved to remember that God made all things good, let’s trust that He has the power to make all things new and good again.

First, Foremost, Utmost, Uppermost: King of Creation

Genesis 1:1-2 Amplified Bible

The Creation

1 In the beginning God ([a]Elohim) [b]created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was [c]formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

There was never a time when God did not exist.

Before there was time, before there was anything, there was God.

And since His nature is unchanging, so He has also always existed in the Trinity—God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

When reading the Bible, we discover that each member of the Holy Trinity was indelibly involved in creation: God the Father took the initiative, God the Spirit is described as “hovering over” the proceedings, and God the Son was the agent of creation in all that was made (Genesis 1:2-3; John 1:3).

The eloquent hymn “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small”[1] should leave us in awe; they were all fashioned by God’s command.

1 Cecil F. Alexander, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” (1848).

And He is not only the Creator of all; He is also the Lord of all He has created.

All of nature is in His hands, under His control.

As we see waves crashing against the shoreline, it’s wonderfully encouraging to know each and every one of them is there as a result of God’s sovereign rule.

God entered in and He has not stepped away from His creation, nor will He ever.

It’s so indelibly important for us all to remember that God is also transcendent.

He is on His throne, above, beyond, and distinct from all that He has made.

This is what distinguishes Christianity from pantheism, the idea the natural world is a manifestation of God, therefore everything is somehow a part of Him.

With this belief, we dare not kill a fly or step on an ant because those insects are divine.

Similarly, we should not chop down a tree or eat meat, because these too are “parts of God.”

Teachings like these are mistaken and misguided and tend to lead to idolatry.

Scripture makes it so abundantly clear that time and time again that people will first choose to worship “the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).

Romans 1:24-25 The Message

24-25 So God said, in effect, “If that’s what you want, that’s what you get.” It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!

When we see a great painting, we rightly admire and enjoy the painting, and then we praise the painter. All of creation is God’s canvas, and all of it speaks of “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature” (v 20).

Romans 1:20-23 The Message

Ignoring God Leads to a Downward Spiral

18-23 But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

Only God is to be worshiped, for creation exists by His power and for His glory.

His existence, Kingship, knows no beginning or end, and He will reign forever.

He is the King of all Creation.

Be it resolved today to praise, honor, worship, exalt Him as He alone deserves.

Go for an extended walk, go for an extended drive, look out of the window open our hearts wide, praise Him as we see His beauty displayed in ALL He has made.

First, foremost, utmost and uppermost, Praise Him, Thank Him as He ALONE continues to rule over His creation, holding you and me in His sovereign hand.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 150 New King James Version

Let All Things Praise the Lord

150 Praise[a] the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty [b]firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the [c]trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

[d]Praise the Lord!

Thank you, Creator God, for your good creation. Open our eyes to see the brilliance and beauty of everything you have made, and to rest securely in the knowledge of your sovereign care for the world you created. In your great name we pray. Amen.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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