Sing Praise! Lift the Rafters!

Psa 100:1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Psa 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psa 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

When was the last time you heard a congregation lose all its inhibitions and just rare back and sing to the very best of its ability?

Do you remember the old time song leaders telling the crowd, "Let's raise the roof on this verse!"?

There hasn't been a lot of roof-raising in these last days. I am not sure if it is because of the advent of praise music and the demise of the classic hymns or just lethargy when it comes to music in the church.

I have observed that most people are pretty much disengaged during the song service, thinking about everything but what they ought to be concentrating on, the music.

Also, more people are getting away with not singing at all. Some men are too macho, they feel singing's not for them. It always puts me in mind of verse 2 of "We're Marching to Zion" which says, "Let those refuse to sing, who never knew our God, but children of the heavenly King, but children of the heavenly King, may speak their joys abroad, may speak their joys abroad."

A church that loses its ability and desire to worship whole-heartedly has lost one of its greatest treasures, for the Lord inhabits the praises of His children. Seldom do we sense the presence of the Lord as when the music is all-consuming in our worship.

Let's get back to coming before His presence with singing, making a joyful noise unto Him. Lift the rafters on that next verse!

Planted in God's House

Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Some ground is just better than other ground for growing things. Rich, black, moist soil laden with all the right nutrients is going to be more productive than clay.

For years, middle America was known as the great American desert. It wasn't until brave, tough pioneers were willing to plant themselves on that desert and their seed in that dubious ground that we learned it would be the most productive farmland in the world!

I know that planting oneself in front of the TV or on a barstool or in the gym during church time is unproductive for the soul. This verse tells us that those who are planted in God's house are the ones that shall flourish.

Conversely, planting yourself anywhere else will cause your soul to whither.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Church, that is, a Spirit-filled, Bible-centered house of the Lord, is good ground for a flourishing life.

So, What's Your Story?

Psa 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Have you ever had someone say to you, "Man, you should write a book!"?

Our years are like a story that is told. Paul said of his converts, "You are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men."

I think it is true that virtually every life is interesting enough to be a tremendous biographical novel if the author is just good enough!

But what if the Author was God? Hint, it is!

What would be a good title for your tale? Adventures in Faith? Up From Slavery? Rags-to-Riches? God's been faithful? Ah, so many possibilities.

Novels tend to have a plot, a story line, key players, unexpected twists and turns, a climax, an overall message.

Would your story be a page-turner, a can't-put-it-down, spell-binder that flies off the shelves?

And really, is your book mainly about you, or is it about God?

Know this friend, when you climbed out of bed today, a new chapter began to be written. Make it an exciting chapter where the gospel is shared, Joy is experienced, tragedies are avoided, victories are won and a wonderful resolution ensues.

I look forward to a good read from you!

Abide in Christ

Psa 90:1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

You gotta love Moses! He who dwelt in the palace the first trimester of his life, on the backside of the desert the 2nd, and in the Sinai wilderness the last, knew how to make God his dwelling place throughout. Good man, Moses!

We have here no permanent dwelling. Life on earth is transitional at best. We have no lease on life, no promise of tomorrow. We don't know about tomorrow, we just know WHO holds tomorrow!

To make God our dwelling place is the wisest of the wise decisions. It means contentment when all around us is uncertainty.

And so Christ, Who spoke so highly of Moses, adds to Moses' declaration by declaring no less than 9 times in John 15, "Abibe in me."

That is, Christ invites us to make our residence in Him, to dwell in Him, to continue with Him. By doing so, our prayers are answered, our joy is full and our fruit remains (see John 15:1-16).

A foot in the world and a foot in the Lord will never do, it needs to be full-throttle, head-first, all-in for Jesus and we will never be disappointed.

Are you making your dwelling place in the Lord or is your residence built on the slippery-slope of this world, awaiting the avalanche that will do you in? Abide in Christ, make Him your all in all, your life, your hope, your main-stay, your shield and defender. He will support you come what may.

The Christmas Gift of Heaven

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

I suppose verse 6 has always been my favorite Christmas verse. It summarizes all that our gracious Saviour is to me and all His redeemed. He is the King to Whom we bow. A greater adjective could not be turned into a name for Jesus than “Wonderful.”

The hem of the garment is barely touched when we call Him Counsellor. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that same wisdom is always liberally available to those who ask of this Wonderful Counsellor.

The Mighty God, Everlasting Father! Those religions which deny the deity of Christ wiggle and cringe at this emphatic declaration. That babe in the manger is almighty God, the Ancient of Days! Mark Lowry and Buddy Green’s song says it well…

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

And finally, He is known as the Prince of Peace. Longfellow lamented,

And in despair, I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth, I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

The thing is, the Saviour did bring peace with God to all those whose sins would be forgiven and the peace of God for all who trust in Him.

Tis a merry Christmas for those who claim Jesus as Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Mistletoe, Holly, Santa Claus Jolly, Don’t Miss the Point!

Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

I hate to upset anybody’s notions, but you need to know that the nativity of Christ is not about family, gifts or giving, a tree, decorations, Santa or even eggnog. Don’t get me wrong, I cherish the opportunity to spend time with family and I will take joy in seeing the munchkins rip and tear into their presents. I love the lights! I DON’T care for the shopping!!! Praise the Lord for Amazon.com!

But we cannot miss the point… Look, if I were to have a target to the south and let an arrow fly toward the north, I am going to miss the bulls eye by a good distance. There is no joy in missing the target.

If the birth of Christ is supposed to bring peace on earth and good will toward men, then why is there so much misery and friction during the holidays? Why are so many so sad at this time?

1) People don’t feel they can measure up to the country living Magazine Christmas cover.
2) People are feeling sorry for themselves because Bing Crosby’s songs are not a reality for them.
3) Many are broken hearted because home for the holidays is not happening for them.
4) Others will be disappointed. Because their life is not a Christmas card, not a Norman Rockwell painting. Their halls are not decked with boughs of holly. They experience little ho ho ho and a lot of bah humbug!

You see, life has happened to them ...divorce, death, financial setback, disease, tragedy.

If your goal is a classic Christmas, snow on the ground, a pile of presents under the tree, a sleigh parked outside pulled by Clydesdale horses, etc. You will more oft than not be disappointed.

That's not why God became a man, to bring you a merry Christmas and happy holidays and Feliz Navidad.

 
But if you are looking for peace of/with God, goodwill to men, if you are looking for light of the world and eternal life...then that's why He came and that's what He offers.

If the babe in the manger points you toward Santa riding a Norelco razor through the snow, then all your Christmases will not be merry and bright.

But if the star over the manger draws your attention to the cross of forgiveness and an empty tomb of victory, then unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!

From Strength to Strength

Psa 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Psa 84:6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
Psa 84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. Paul's thorn in the flesh allowed him to discover that He giveth more grace. Joseph's prison experience was needful to bring him to power. Moses' 40 years on the back side of the desert prepped him for leadership of Israel.

The life stories of almost every major character in the Bible follow the same pattern, man's weakness proves God's strength. Valleys give way to mountain tops.

It is said that no great servant of the Lord has not, at some time, been through great trials of affliction, in order to temper him/her for service for Christ.

Perhaps you have personal knowledge of this process taking place in your own experience.

In the 84th Psalm, we are given this picture of a man going from one mountain top to another. However, in between he had to travel through the valley of weeping.

I have found that in between strengths, during those valley experiences, we learn to appreciate the good times. We find ourselves depending on the Lord, developing our prayer lives, learning valuable life lessons, relating more readily to the hurts of others and acquiring patience.

We loathe to experience the valley as we equally long for the mountaintop. But to get from one strength to the next, we generally have to travel through Baca.

Make the most out of your valleys on the way to your next strength.