Sing Joyfully This Christmas Day

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 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
         Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
 Sing to the LORD with the harp,
         With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
 With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
         Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 
         

Psalm 98:4-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

         Today is a time for singing.   Christmas has long been a time for followers of Jesus Christ to sing joyful songs just as King David once did.

          One day all who have been saved through our merciful Lord Jesus will spend an eternity singing praises to Almighty God.  Multiply the joyful songs of Christmas by more times than your mind can fathom and that is the joy we will experience singing praises to God.

            On Christmas Day we remember God's promise to His children and every day should be our celebration of that promise.   Let the Christmas spirit fill your being not only today, but everyday of your life.

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Jesus Is the Reason and the Promise

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 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, 
   I have sworn to David my servant, 
 ‘I will establish your line forever 
   and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

Psalm 89:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

         God keeps his promises and this is something of which I am assured.  He made the promise to David and this promise was fulfilled as we see in scripture.  The proof is there for those who earnestly seek, study, and pray.

          In this season that we call Christmas we should sing praise just as King David did with his Psalms of praise.  Sing of the coming King born of the lineage of King David.   King Jesus who came as a baby in the humblest of circumstances, who walked among the lost to deliver the message of salvation, and who suffered so that we might be free in Him--Jesus came to fulfill God's promise to David that is also His promise to us.

         The Lord God will bring us to our eternal home with Him.   That is the real reason for this season and a promise you can count on.

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A Tour of the U.S. Capitol

          Today's special post might be of interest to some of you and should be of interest to all who are United States citizens.   I wanted to share this video and I hope that some will find the time to watch it and give it some thought.




            What do you think?   Do you believe that the United States was founded on secular values that excluded any consideration of religion?

Show Me the Way, Lord

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

Psalm 139:23-24

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

          Lord, I call out to you to hear me, judge me, and teach me.  I am tired, but I want to go on--I must go on. There are many worries on my mind.  I call on you to lift me up and guide me to a better place.  I want to be useful in this world, but more than that I want to be used to exalt you and the glory of the kingdom that is to come.

          My thoughts are like a battlefield where war is waged against me and against others.  Let peace overtake me and confidence in your way lead me onward to fight the righteous battle against those who want to distract us from your promise of salvation and victory.  

In God Alone

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In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Psalm 62:7

King James Version (KJV)

        His promise to us is rock solid.  His protection is assured, yet not always in our comprehension.  Let his will be done, not ours.  He is the center, not us.  All praise be to God and not to the ephemera of our brief existence here in this world.  


        A moment of personal glory may build us up for a short while.  We may even relive that glory throughout our lives but it all pales relative to the eternal great and mighty glory of God the Creator.  Shed your foolish earthly cloak of the accolades of others and run to the One who provides the true and ultimate salvation and who lifts you with his strength and who gives you the shelter that will keep you from harm.  


       God's salvation is promised to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.


        Praise God.  His glory can be yours for eternity.

Consider God's Wonders

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I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; 
I will tell of all Your wonders. 

Psalm 9:1    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

      We all like to be recognized for our achievements and to be thanked for a job well done.  Since we are created in the image of God it would make sense that God himself would like this same thing.  

      And why wouldn't we want to thank Him and praise Him and tell everyone about how wonderful He is.  He is God, the Mighty One who created all things.

 

         Take pause and give God the credit He is due.

   

Giving Thanks

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 We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, 
For Your name is near; 
Men declare Your wondrous works.

Psalm 75:1   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

             I can never give enough thanks to God.   Even when things seem at the very worst there is something that I can give thanks for.  

         My life has been blessed by God.  Sometimes when I'm riding high I might have a tendency to forget why.  Shame on me!  God has permitted me all that I have and all I have ever had.  It is my duty to praise Him for everything.

           The Lord Almighty is my protector and my provider.   He is always near even in my darkest times.  My God is amazing.  

   

Please Listen to Me Lord

Image via WikipediaGive ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
Psalm 5:1 (King James Version)




       God hears our prayers, of this I have no doubt.  But we are sometimes insecure in our plaints and pleadings to one so mighty as the Creator of all things.  Why would He listen to us?  Because He is our Father in Heaven.


        I sometimes wonder if my prayers are heard because I am weak, afraid, and foolish.  Perhaps I am babbling nonsense that is overly selfish and ultimately meaningless in the grander scheme of things.  Yet I pray.  Is this not what prayer is?--A meditative process to help us to understand God's will and clarify our wants as they pertain to the needs of ourselves, our families, and our communities?  


       I am like a child before my Lord, asking for Him to take my hand and guide me through the confusion of this life and to protect me from those who want to harm me.  Please hear me God.  Lead me out of the messes I make for myself and open the eyes of those I love so they will know your peace, grace, and glory.


       I humble myself before you O God.  And I thank you for all that you have done and will do.


       


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Good Stewardship

        I have been unemployed for the past 2 1/2 years.  These are difficult economic times as I'm sure you are aware.  I am currently working on something that I hope will help bring me back to a better financial standing and I pray for God's blessings on my endeavors.

         Are my pursuits in vain?  Am I blinded by the brightness of my own vision and failing to realize God's will?

         Lord, I ask for wisdom in my thinking and favorable blessings on that which I do.  Let me see the folly of my ways quickly or begin to feel an uplifting of success.  Open my eyes and let me see clearly, o Lord.

You have made us a little lower than the angels 
   and crowned us with glory and honor.
 You made us rulers over the works of your hands;
   you put everything under our rule...
                                           Psalm 8:5-6






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Going Home

 “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
   I would fly away and be at rest."
                                                    Psalm 55:6


     My trip to Tennessee has come to an end and I am heading back home to Los Angeles.  I will be flying home today and resting up for what promises to be a busy week ahead.  Travel can be fun, but also very tiring.  Tonight a good rest will be welcomed.




..

Travelling

        On this Sunday I am travelling as I drive a rental truck helping my sister make a move from Phoenix to East Tennessee.   As you are reading this my journey may find me somewhere along Interstate 40 in Arkansas or Tennessee.   We will be to our destination tonight or perhaps tomorrow.

          I rejoice in God's continuing blessings on my life.  He is good and merciful.


        The LORD will keep you from all harm— 
         he will watch over your life;
     the LORD will watch over your coming and going
        both now and forevermore.

                             Psalms 121:7-8

Blog Action Day: A Few Words about Food

        My new blog debuts to correspond with Blog Action Day, which coincides with World Food Day.  Blog Action Day  is inviting participating bloggers to write about anything pertaining to food.
     
       Humans and animals require food to survive.  Food is one of the major topics each of us think of on a daily basis.  Many of us take the availability of food for granted just accepting that it is readily available in great abundance and variety.  While for others the quest for something to eat is a daily struggle and they may often be hungry.  Why the disparity?

The eyes of all look to you, 
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145: 15-16 (New International Version)

A Few Words about this New Blog

 Do not be rash with your mouth, 
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few. 

       Ecclesiasties 5:2 (New King James Version)

       This blog will mostly consist of verses from Psalms.  Then a few words from me and perhaps anything you'd like to add in the comments.  The postings will be once a week on Sundays and if there is a reason to add a day now and then I may do so.   But probably not.

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