Make Joyful Noises

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
    Worship the Lord with gladness;    come into his presence with singing."

Psalm 100:1

I enjoy listening to and watching school bands. Teens are so full of enthusiasm when they come together as a group to make music. Music has the ability to affect our moods; our emotions. Some music can bring us way down. Some can bring us up when we are down. Personally, I like things quiet so that I can hear things that are actually going on around me. I do not relish the idea of shutting out the sounds of God's creation nor the possibility of hearing His voice. But, if there is to be noise, let it be joyful; sounds that will gladden the heart.

Let the noises be joyful sounds of praise as we live in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Teach the Children to Pray

So maybe you don't get how giving thanks and a black bear go together. But, those
who love them do. I do. Found the photo this morning and couldn't help but post it.
He gives food to all creation.

6] HOW THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY
Should Teach His Household to Ask a Blessing and Return Thanks.

Asking a Blessing

The children and servants shall go to the table with folded hands and reverently, and say:

The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord; and Thou givest them their meat in due season; Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Note

To satisfy the desire means that all animals receive so much to eat that they are on this account joyful and of good cheer; for care and avarice hinder such satisfaction.

Then the Lord's Prayer, and the prayer here following:

Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we take from Thy bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Returning Thanks.

Likewise also after the meal they shall reverently and with folded hands say:

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. He giveth food to all flesh; He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse; He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

Then the Lord's Prayer and the prayer here following:

We thank Thee, Lord God, Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

 

An elderly couple that had invited me to dinner. As expected the head of the household asked God to bless the meal that He had provided us with. What I did not expect was that when the meal was over, he again prayed. This time it was a prayer of thanksgiving. That was the one and only time that I have known a family to intentionally pray both before and after a meal.

 

Although; I should, I personally have not made this a habit. What I more often do is conclude my prayers with, "I give you thanks for in your mercy, you have heard my prayers and answered."

 

Setting aside designated times for prayer whether the prayers are petitions or thanksgivings or just plain old conversations with God is a discipline. It takes practice to get in the habit of doing so. We

are to teach our children to pray often; to petition God to take care of our needs and to give thanks for providing us with those things which He has given us. We are to teach our children to set aside designated times to pray so that as they grow older they be able to go to God in prayer whenever there is a need or something to be thankful for. There is so much to be thankful for!

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Philippians 1:1-14 Chains

Philippians 1:1-14 NIV
Paul continues his ministry while he is in prison and not just to those who are around him. He writes this letter to the church at Philippi reminding them that he loves them and how their partnership with them in the gospel brings him joy even in his chains. This exuberant love that he has for them and for the gospel helps to embolden those in Philippi, as well as those around him, to also proclaim the gospel. In spite of persecution; in spite of imprisonment, Paul is joyful and full of love toward others. He knows that his chains are a means to further the gospel.
 
Today, around the world, there are countless Christians in chains for the sake of their faith in Christ. Some are facing possible execution. Some have recently been executed. But, most will never renounce Christ. They will keep the faith even to death. May their deaths not be in vain. Their chains will advance the gospel as we hear of their great love for our Lord.

 

As we remember them today and every day may it be a reminder to us of the great love others have for our Lord. May God grant that our love abound more and more in knowledge and understanding so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. May God grant that we be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

John 6:1-15 - Feeding Your Neighbor

John 6:1-15 NIV
The feeding of the 5000 is one of my favorite stories among many favorite stories. Such a miracle! But, today I'm not wondering so much about the miracle of five small barley loaves and two small fish feeding the multitude. Today, I am wondering about the miracle of this boy who was willing to give his five small barley loaves and two small fish to feed the multitude. Who was he? Where did he come from? Where were his parents? Were they lost in the crowd somewhere? How did he come to have these loaves and fish? What was going on in his head when he gave them to Jesus to feed the people around him? Was he reluctant? Was he excited over the prospect of feeding his "neighbors?"

How excited do you get over the prospect of feeding your neighbors with food for the body as well as the soul? Are you reluctant? Do you calculate how much you can actually give and still have enough for yourself to be a bit more than comfortable? Do not worry. These five small loaves and two small fish fed 5000 men plus women and children and they still had leftovers to gather up. Do we suppose that God cannot do this today as well? Give generously to those in need then of both food for the body and food for the soul and do it with a joyful spirit! Let's get a bit excited about our opportunity to be able to participate in the mission God has called us to. Let's get a bit more excited about living in His Kingdom, even today!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 112 - Fear Not

"Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."   (Psalm 112:6-8 NIV)

I was watching "Batman Begins" last night and wondering what it is that I really fear. I can think of some major fears from years past. But, to tell you the truth, the older I get and the closer to the LORD that I get, those things that make me anxious and even hint at fear are less and less.

Yesterday, I wrote about fearing the LORD. Today, I'm thinking about how in reality "perfect love does cast out all fear."  (1 John 4:18) By trusting in the LORD, our fears are cast aside.

For one thing, trusting God and following in the way of the LORD, keeps us from doing some of those foolish things that will endanger our lives and futures. We know that trusting Him means trusting that His will is for our good, so we strive do His will. It's when we go purposely go off the path that Jesus sets before us that we begin to fear because we know the paths that we create for ourselves lead to destruction and not life. 
Some of the things we fear are really just a waste of time. It's like the devil tricking us, leading us away from focusing on our journey with Christ. Fear just kind of sucks the joy right out of life. Think about it... The last time you were anxious about something were you focusing on serving God or how to save your own skin? Were you joyful, were you at peace?  Or did you feel like throwing up? Don't be letting the evil of the world steal your joy by filling you with fear. Trust in the LORD, follow Him and Him alone, for His will for you is good. He is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

When I was a small child, I use to play in the woods a lot and often alone. I was not afraid and there were a whole lot more wild animals around than there are now. I was not taught to be afraid. But, as I became an adult, I became a bit more anxious about walking in the woods alone. Maybe rightly so, maybe not. The problem was, I really enjoy walking in the woods. I like hiking and very few others that I know like it as much as I do, so my opportunities for hiking were limited. I began taking one of the little Toy Fox Terriors, that we were raising, with me - not for protection - because they certainly could not protect me. (Well, maybe Pudgy could - he was bit aggressive) But, I knew from what my parents had taught me when I was young that the noise they and I made together as we walked through the woods would scare any animals off. The animals, you see, fear us.  Over the years, I overcame my fear of hiking alone in the woods (yes, without a gun) so I can once again enjoy the beauty and peace of this part of God's creation.

I do not believe that we are born with fears. We are taught to fear. We create fear in our hearts when the LORD is not residing there.

Trust in the LORD.  Those who are righteous in Christ have no need to fear. He is with you always. He abides in you and you in He.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Sorry so late this morning - took some time to sort through old photos... I'm not real good at filing them.

Psalm 66 - Shout Joyfully to the Lord!

Oh, how I wish! Oh, how I pray!  Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!  All the earth shall Worship Him!  I wake up in the mornings and wish this were so - not in ten years, not in ten thousand years, but for today.  I wish it were true for today.  Oh, but, if the whole earth would only recognize the awesomeness of God, what He has done and will do for those who turn to Him and worship and praise His glorious name. 

There are days that proclaiming the Good News of His Kingdom seems futile.  No one seems to hear.  Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 

One of my frequent prayers of years past was that the LORD, our God, would allow us (the whole world - every living being) would be one - that we would be completely united with Him for just a few minutes.  What kind of changes would happen if everyone could experience that oneness just for a few minutes?  Then, I thought, that might be too much for most to be able to experience and a second would be enough.  One second of experiencing complete reconciliation with God our Father, with one another, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Can you imagine that coming together.  It would be just amazing beyond words.  How would that affect the way we lived, if every person could experience that for just one second - one micro-second - all at the same time. 

Hope, love, joy, peace beyond measure, would abound for all people, just by experiencing the awesomeness of God as one. 

Let the whole earth, shout to the Lord, sing the honor of His name, praising all the awesome works that He has done.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

P.S.  For those of you who keep wondering what they could give me for Christmas.  How about this:  "Worship the Lord, your (our) God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul."  That would cause me to really rejoice!