Worship the Lord with Gladness

Worship the Lord with Gladness

The Psalmist writes,

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 

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. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100.

Here’s a call to all who believe in God. To all who believe in Christ Jesus. Shout praises to Him. Worship God with gladness.

Why should we do this? For the simple fact it is God who made us. We are his people.

Also, God’s love toward us endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Question, do you worship God each day? 

Do you enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise?

Please think about it.

Worshiping God

Worshiping God

In John’s gospel we read Jesus saying,

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.

Do you believe in God? Is that belief simply intellectual? Acknowledging God exists. Or is your belief a deep spiritual belief?

Do you worship God in spirit and in truth? For this, according to Jesus, is what God is seeking.

Where do you stand when it come to Jesus and to God?

Please think about it.

Taking time

 Taking time

The Psalmist writes,

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                                  Psalm 118:1-4.

This is something all who believe in God should be doing. Praising God. 

All to often as we go through our daily routines we forget to praise the Lord. We forget to thank him for all that he as done for us.

God at times seems to be in the background of our lives. Someone we praise at night before bed. When we should be taking time throughout our day to at least praise Him.

How about you do you do take time throughout your day to praise God?

Please think about it.

Take some time.

Take some time.

The Psalmist writes,

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name.” 

                                                                         Psalm 100:4.

I found this cartoon on the internet and I think it possibly sums up how it can be with people at times.  As Christians we ask God for many things while at the same time forgetting to thank Him.

     It's not a unique situation.  We see this also in Luke 17:11-19. Where Jesus healed ten men of Leprosy and only one returned to thank him.

Is this you? Whether this is true of you or not, why not take some time to praise God now.

The Psalmist writing,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                                                           Psalm 150

Please think about it.

giving thanks

Giving thanks

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4,5.

Today in Canada is thanksgiving. A national holiday. A day to gather with friends around a table full of food. While for some it may simply be a day off work or school. For others especially Christians, it’s a time to think how blessed we are. And in Canada we are truly blessed.

Please, wherever you are in the world today take a moment to thank God for all you have. Do what the Psalmist commands,

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."

                                                                                          Psalm 118:1-4.

Please think about it.

Do you remember?

 Do you remember?

The Psalmist states,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                                   Psalm 63:6-8.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus, do you do what the psalmist is saying here?

Do you think of God night and day?

Is God your helper?

Do you sing to God?

Does your soul truly cling to God?

Do you remember God in good times and bad?

Please think about it.

Are you willing to kiss His feet?

 Are you willing to kiss His feet?

Luke’s gospel records this 

“Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  

Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  

You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:40-48.

We need to be like the woman who washed and kissed Jesus’ feet. 

We need to realize how much God through Jesus truly did for us. So much so that we worship Him and thank with our whole heart. 

Question !

        Is this the kind of Love you show toward Jesus?

Are you willing to kiss the feet of Jesus?

Please think about it.

His Praise

 His Praise

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

Sing, Praise, Proclaim, Declare

Sing, Praise, Proclaim, Declare

The Psalmist states,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name;

 proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                           Psalm 96:1-3

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ do you do as the psalmist says?

Do you...

Sing to the Lord?

Praise Gods name?

Proclaim Gods salvation?

Declare Gods glory?

Proclaim Gods marvellous deeds?

Please think about it.

Love the Lord

 Love the Lord 

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Jesus here is reflecting the what was said in the book of Deuteronomy. Which reads,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

These two scriptures says it all. We are to love God and our neighbour with all our heart and soul. We are to tell of Gods love wherever we go. Further more we are to impress our love of God on our children. 

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The great question

 The great question

The Psalmist writes,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Question, does Gods word really light your path?

What guides you through life?

The late American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“The great question of our time is, 'Will we be motivated by materialistic philosophy or by spiritual power?” Billy Graham.

We are surrounded on all sides by materialism. As such we must make the same choice Joshua gave the Israelites when he said,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14,15.

Jesus made things clear when he said,

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24.

So who are you going to serve?

Think about it.

With thanksgiving and praise

 With Thanksgiving and praise 

The Psalmist writes,

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name." 

                                                            Psalm 100:4

Our lives can be hectic. So hectic that we forget about God. Likewise quite often we fill our prayers asking God to help us and provide for us. All of which are good things to do.

That being said we need to take time to just praise God. To thank God for all He has done for us.

Why not take time now to enter Gods gates with thanksgiving and praise.

Please think about it.

Some questions for Christians

 Some questions for Christians

The Psalmist writes, 

"On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:6-8.

Question: If you claim to be a Christian can you say what the Psalmist says in the above scripture.

Do you remember God throughout the night?

Is God truly your helper?

Do you sing to God?

Do you truly cling to God?

Please think about it.

Do you have breath?

 Do you have breath?

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

 praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                          Psalm 150

Here is a very basic thing all those who believe in Christ Jesus, all who believe in God are called to do. Praise God.

The Psalmist tells us to praise him in his sanctuary and in the heavens.

The Psalmist tells us to praise him for his acts of power, and for his surpassing greatness.

The Psalmist tells us to praise God with trumpet, harp, lyre, tambourine, dancing, with the stringed instruments, the flute, and cymbals.

Most importantly everything that has breath is called to praise the LORD.

Do you praise the Lord?

Please think about it.

In Gods presence

In Gods presence 

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you forever for what you have done; 

in your name I will hope, 

for your name is good.

 I will praise you in the presence of your saints."

                                                                                Psalm 52:9.

Question: If you consider yourself a Christian can you honestly say what the Psalmist is saying here?

Please think about it. 

Enter His gates

 Enter His gates

The Psalmist writes,

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name." 

                                                                Psalm 100:4

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, take some time right now to praise the Lord. To give thanks to God for all that He has given you.

Please do not just think about it. Do it.

The LORD gives and The LORD takes away

The LORD gives and The LORD takes away

In the book of Job we read,

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return . The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:20,21.

Job in rapid succession had faced massive personal loss including his family. Yet Job while grieving did not place the blame on God. Rather he blessed the name of the Lord.

We all have problems. We all have times of grief. It’s just a part of life. Still it’s not easy going through troubled times.

In those times it is easy to turn to God and say “why me?”.

Job here however gives us an example to follow. Despite losing everything he still worships God. Knowing that all he has comes from God. Knowing that even in times of trouble God is there for us.

Job knew that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing.

He also knew that by being faithful to God in good and bad times he will ultimately receive his reward.

How about you? 

Do you worship God in the good times and in the bad times.

Please think about it.

Sing to the Lord a new song

Sing to the Lord a new Song

The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

His marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                                Psalm 96:1-3.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Christians need to praise the LORD. To proclaim His salvation day after day.

Just how do we do it?

Francis of Assisi said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                            Francis of Assisi.

Francis of Assisi also warned,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                Francis of Assisi.

Please think about it.

Time to praise God

  Time to praise God

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                      Psalm 150

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take time each day to Praise God not just listen to prerecorded praise music. We need to participate in worship. 

Prerecorded music is good but we should be taking time to use our voice to praise God. The psalmist tells us to praise God with instruments and dancing.

Do you do this?

Why or why not?

Please think about it.

Every knee will bow

 Every knee will bow

The Psalmist wrote,

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well."Psalm 139:14.

If for nothing else we as believers in Christ Jesus need to praise God because we are “fearfully and wonderfully” made.

Martin Luther King jr. once said,

“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.

We are in nature but we live above nature.... help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

We are created to live on through eternity. And I know this. In the book of Philippians we read,

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

On that day when every knee will bow to Jesus, where will you be?

Please think about it.