PTL!

Psalm 148

 ¹ Praise the LORD.^[a]

   Praise the LORD from the heavens;
   praise him in the heights above.
² Praise him, all his angels;
   praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
³ Praise him, sun and moon;
   praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens
   and you waters above the skies.

 ⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for at his command they were created,
⁶ and he established them for ever and ever—
   he issued a decree that will never pass away.

 ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
⁸ lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
   stormy winds that do his bidding,
⁹ you mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰ wild animals and all cattle,
   small creatures and flying birds,
¹¹ kings of the earth and all nations,
   you princes and all rulers on earth,
¹² young men and women,
   old men and children.

 ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted; 

We visited a church over in Woodburn today with CMA. IT was a great sunday school time and church service. Stephanie was sitting in church and all the sudden her arms started swinging like a crazy woman. Then I realized she was swatting an annoying fly. Now that I read Psalm 148, I realize this "small creature" was just doing his job, praising the Lord. Stephanie was interfering with his worship. I'm sure she doesn't see it the same way.

It is mentioned 13 times in 14 verses that all things should Praise the Lord. David covers it all in these verses. He covers everything above, below, alive, and not alive. It should be pretty clear, we should be praising God. I don't think he's just talking about Sunday morning Praise. He's talking about 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,  praises to the creator of all things.

Praising God through all things is easier said than done. Take it straight from a sinner's mouth, it's not easy, but it is necessary. These verses don't just say praise the Lord when things are going well. It doesn't say we can skip the praises when we are grumpy. It doesn't say we don't need to Praise the Lord when we are depressed. It simply says Praise the Lord! Through all things, we must Praise the creator of all things. We don't do it to feel better or for any of our purposes. We Praise the Lord because he is Lord and he deserves the Praise of all things, including us. He deserves the Praise regardless wether we feel like it or not. PRAISE THE LORD!

Thanks God!

Psalm 50 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
   fulfill your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call on me in the day of trouble;
   I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
 ¹⁶ But to the wicked person, God says:
   “What right have you to recite my laws
   or take my covenant on your lips?
¹⁷ You hate my instruction
   and cast my words behind you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join with him;
   you throw in your lot with adulterers.
¹⁹ You use your mouth for evil
   and harness your tongue to deceit.
²⁰ You sit and testify against your brother
   and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,
   you thought I was exactly^[c] like you. 

God knows us. He knows every thought we have about each other and about ourselves. We are not smarter than God. We are no match for his wisdom. He is God and we are not! The Jews of the old testament thought they could win the heart of God by all sorts of sacrifices. You could make sacrifices for different sins and different wants. When it boils down to it, God doesn't need our sacrifices. Really all God wants from us is Thanks and Praise! He doesn't need it, he just wants it. But, most of us are too good for praising and thanking God.

When we ignore God, he just sits silently. When we try to take control of the world, he just sits by and watches. When we sin, it pains him, but he just let's us go. His silence doesn't mean he likes it or even accepts it. He have given us free will. He has promised not to interfere. He knows what's best. He knows what we need.He knows what is right and what is wrong. His silence is not an endorsement for what we are doing. He WANTS us to come to him. He wants us to need him. He just sits and waits. He wants us to need him. He mourns when we don't. He doesn't want our sacrifices. He wants us to ask for help. He wants us to ask for his wisdom. He will not become a better God if we worship and praise him. But, we will be infinitely better when we rely on him!

Thanks God for wanting us. Thank you Lord for giving us free will. We praise you for who you are and the blessings you have so willing given. Thank You for sharing your wisdom. We are not God! You are and we ask your forgiveness of our arrogance. Amen!

Clap with Reverence, Please!

Psalm 47 (New International Version, ©2011)

    For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. ¹ Clap your hands, all you nations; 
   shout to God with cries of joy.
 ² For the LORD Most High is awesome,
   the great King over all the earth.
³ He subdued nations under us,
   peoples under our feet.
⁴ He chose our inheritance for us,
   the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.^[b]
 5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
   the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises;
   sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;
   sing to him a psalm of praise.
 ⁸ God reigns over the nations;
   God is seated on his holy throne.
⁹ The nobles of the nations assemble
   as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings^[c] of the earth belong to God;
   he is greatly exalted.

I have attended literally hundreds of churches over my lifetime. My father was a Methodist Pastor, my Grandfather was a Church of God pastor. One thing that nearly all churches have in common is "No Clapping". Ok, once in a while, people get out of control and just clap. But, this rarely happens. I'm not sure where or how Churches got to be so "quiet". I know this is a radical thought, but "You can be reverent and clap at the same time!"  Now you can add that according to Psalm 47:1, it is even Biblical.
In my present Church we clap a lot. I would say that it happens nearly every Sunday. No, our pastor does not get applause after his sermons. No, we don't go nuts when we have communion. But, there are many times when the spirit moves somebody so much they just have to give a "Clap Offering". If we can take up a "Money Offering" every week, we can certainly offer or praises to God in the form of a CLAP OFFERING!  God brings such great joy in my life that sometimes I just can't hold it in. The most dignified and reverent way to share that joy is by clapping. I haven't yet crossed the line into a "Shout for joy Offering". I should. Because I have certainly felt like it.

Wether it is clapping, shouting, or dancing in the isles, don't hold back your praise and worship for God. When I start dwelling on everything he has done for me and the overwhelming Blessings he has granted, I really get excited and want everyone to know! It's ok! It's not a sin! as a matter of fact, it should be a sin not to praise God to the fullest! Can i get an AMEN?

Ascribe -- Credit 1st!

Psalm 29 (New International Version, ©2010).

 ¹ Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. ² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   worship the LORD in the splendor of his^[a] holiness.


How many of you know the definition of "Ascribe"? I can tell you I did not REALLY know until I just looked it up. i had an idea, but now I can really relate to these verses. Ascribe means -- give credit!

"Give Credit to the Lord, you heavenly beings, Give Credit to the Lord glory and strength. Give Credit to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."

Our girls basketball team just one the first round of a big tournament game. We outscored the opponents, 195-85 in 3 games. When everyone stepped out onto the floor, I had so many people come up and congratulate me. I felt so awkward about this. I did not make a shot, or steal the ball, or block a shot, or get an assist, or shoot a free throw. I really had nothing to do with the team winning this game. Oh, sure I am the Athletic Director, I think I help put these kids in position to win, but when it comes down to really contributing, I am just like anyone else. I don't do any more than the fan in the stands. I don't deserve any reward, We should be aware of that and focus the "Credit" on the proper people.

We should give God credit where it is due. We really have control of nothing. God is in control to everything. He deserves all the glory, honor, praise, and credit. God sets back and let's us take all the credit for the good in our lives, but we always give him credit for all the bad things. But, when all is said and done, God deserves all the credit. He has a plan and he is executing that plan every day of our lives. He loves us and deserves all! Thanks Lord!

Ascribe to the Lord, that which is his!