From The Rising To the Setting of The Sun; Praise The Lord!

Sunset: Beaufort, SC

"Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
    praise the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations,    and his glory above the heavens."

Psalm 113:1-4 NRSV

 

What else is there to say; but, in everything praise the Lord? God has made all things wonderful. He is with us not just from the rising of the sun to its setting; but, from its setting to its rising as well. He is with us always; in the good times and in those times that seem not so good to us. God is with us and His intentions are for our good. May God open our ears to hear His good will for us and "Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Are We Prepared?

Moon Rising

Last evening my husband alerted me to look out the window and get my camera. He could not tell if Skanee was on fire or if the moon was rising. There was a bright red glow on the horizon over Skanee. It truly looked like a huge fire burning.

I grabbed my camera bags and after a few failed attempts with the Canon Rebel decided to use the Canon EOS 5D. Better; but, not great. The EOS 5D is so heavy, even without the battery pack, that the moon was nothing but a blur. I set up the tripod and connected the camera to it. That worked even a little better. But, by that time the moon no longer looked like fire in the sky.

I love photography; but, truth be told, I am never prepared. I do not know enough about the cameras. I do not practice enough. I keep them packed away in their bags and they are never handy when I want them.

I love Jesus even more so he is a much higher priority for me than photography. Much more of my time is spent praying and studying the word found in the scriptures and attempting to do God's will than worrying whether my cameras are ready in case a great shot presents itself. But, I do wonder sometimes if I am really prepared for him. Just as the ten bridesmaids did not put oil in their lamps preparation for the groom to come and get them for the wedding (Matt 25:1-13), I wonder if we are prepared for the day he returns to take us to himself.

St. Peter encouraged us to "... prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance."  1 Peter 1:13-14

Are we prepared?

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 8:12-20 Up With The Risen Son Before the Sun Rises

John 8:12-20 NRSV
It is still dark outside; yet, here I am again preparing for another day. I don't remember the last time I woke up after the sun had risen over the horizon. It is always before sunrise so that I might have time to be prepared for the coming day. I prepare for the day, by intentionally coming into the presence of the Risen Son and spending some time with His Word and in prayer. I do this because by I am well aware that by the end of most days I am thanking God that He was with me because I do not know how I would have possibly made it without Him. I can do nothing without Him. (John 15:5)

"...Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (vs. 12)

I would be lost without the light of the world, who is Jesus Christ, my LORD. He is my light and salvation. (Psalm 27:1)

Try it! Try spending some time with the Risen Son before you face the day after the sun has risen. Rise, oh sleeper from the dead and let the light of Christ shine upon you.  (Eph 5:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 9:1-13 Rising From The Dead

They had just seen Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus on the mountain. Moses and Elijah had both died long before; yet, the three disciples had seen them with their own eyes talking with Jesus.

"As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant." (Mark 9:9-10 NIV)

We still discuss this among ourselves today. What does it mean to rise from the dead? Is it a spiritual awakening? Is it a physical resurrection? For Jesus, it meant that even though he died a physical death and was buried; he rose from the dead. He lives, again! Yet, in the garden when Mary was looking for Jesus, she did not recognize her until he called her by name. Had his physical appearance changed so much? How did those three disciples even recognize Moses and Elijah on the mountain? They had never met them. There were no photographs of them for the disciples to have seen. Yet, they recognized them.

It is most certainly a physical resurrection with a transfiguration as we see in the case of Jesus. But, there is a spiritual resurrection that occurs, as well. Through faith, the old Adam dies and the new man in Christ arises. We shall live, not in the darkness of the tomb; but, in the light of the living Christ. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 113 - Sunrise To Sunset

"Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." (Psalm 113:2.3 NIV)




Praise the Lord. At all times and in all places, everyone shall praise the LORD.

Sunrise Aura, MI

I woke up a little late this morning. The sun should rise in about an hour. Many of the people that I know have the same habit as I, wake up early, before the sun rises for devotions and prayer and again around or after the sun sets spending more intentional time in God's presence. 

It does not matter where you are, who you are, or what time it is; He who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look upon the heavens and the earth, is always worthy to be praised. Spend time in His presence, not just to go down the list of prayer petititions, but to thank Him for answering our prayers; thank Him for listening; thank Him even for the sunrise and sunset; praise His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. It is about about hour before sunrise on Sunday morning. You still have time to get ready to join your brothers and sisters in Christ at Worship, praising His Holy Name.