I will extol thee, my God, O King: and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  (Psalm 145:1 )

The generations continue to this day. One generation to another in the literal sense. The above verse suggests a construction of day unto day and night unto night with an emphasis on continuous praise of the Lord.

The visceral sense of being part of a Christian community, and sharing in the love of the Lord is fulfilling in terms of fellowship standards. Standing shoulder to shoulder, with children of God, who are aligned in His love, is a rewarding experience for sure. We give non-stop praise to God in all that we do, every single day, such as Psalm 145:1 so eloquently states.

Ostensibly, there are the “lost” ones who are wandering aimlessly, with a vague notion that there has to be something more.  They don’t quite know what it is, but they know there is something more to this thing called “life.”

It is our obligation to go forward as dedicated followers of Christ, to bring the light into focus in His precious name. To bring life to those suffocating in the dark, and to offer them the opportunity through His name, to drink from the living water, and never thirst again. Ultimately, should they choose Him and accept Him as the Savior, they’ll receive the branch of life and become entwined to the vines that graft us in His love.

Signing praise to the One and Only Lord….is a provocative peace that stimulates our senses in the full capacity in which we are designed. Singing praise to God is a blissful existence that shatters any fear or anxiety…pushing it off into oblvion.  While we sign praises, it allows us to concentrate on HIM and not on our flesh or carnal minds. Instead it offsets our focus of “us” and provides an insight into focusing on HIM. Eventually all else falls aways as we concentrate on the One who means the most.

The Word of God is sweet, as honey in our mouth. When we take the time to “digest” the Word, we become as the Father intends.  We begin to see things from a Spiritual sense, and the sour part of ourselves fall away. It is contingent upon our dedication and devotion to Him. When we give and learn and yearn for the LORD, as we sing praises and extol His name on high, everyday…we’ll be transformed into His likeness, eventually giving way to His image…

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  (Psalm 119:103)

I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. (Psalms 119:7)

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. (Psalms 119:16

***

Magnificent Landscape by God’s Hands…pic courtesy of Scott Birge

The works of the LORD are apparent in everything we see. He is all around us.

“Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breatketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”  (Psalm 46:8-11 KJV)

The Lord sees all, knows all and keeps track of everything that goes on in the Universe. Our Father, King of the Universe, Lord of lords and King of kings, is on watch at all times. And we–His children take up a large part of His time because He never stops watching over us.

His heart is with us in all that we do. We may slip sometimes, but His hands will help us up. He is a merciful God. We may get angry at times about inconsquential matters, or significant ones…but His heart loves us and will grace us with understanding as we seek His forgiveness in repentence.

God is with us when someone seems unapproachable. We might speak to them tenderly with great compassion. Or we might smile in silence as we accept them unconditionally…when suddenly, like a piece of ice on hot pavement, we witness warmth overcome the individual who feels the presence of the Lord, as we shine His light forth from within.

Things will happen through God.  It is because of Him that plants grow, rain falls, and the sun shines. It is because of Him that rivers flow, and birds fly.  “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.” (Psalm 48:1 KJV)

As we go about our daily routine in witness of His love, we know that even the car we are driving belongs to God. Man may have the tools to put a car together, but it is GOD who made the tools in the first place, through the natural resources in which tools, and metal, and everthing else is formed. His works are apparent in all we see, and in all we do.

The faithful will be rewarded. As we go forward let’s not forget to give Him daily praise.  Let’s not forget to seek His glorious face, and ask for His blessings on all that we do.  Ask for His guidance in all that we undertake, and bless His name in all that we are. “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever…” (Psalm 52:8 KJV)

The next time you sit down on a chair, or bench, or even your couch…remember it’s there because God had a big hand in it, and tell Him “Thank you my loving Father, I love You.”

Praise His name forever…Amen

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9 KJV)

God’s Command “Be strong and of a good courage” is tantamount to trusting Him, knowing He is with you always. God shows us throughout the Bible in both Old  and New Testament, how He establishes His presence over and over, He goes before us and leads us to victory, through His grace and His power.

Be strong and of a good courage is generally spoken to encourage an undertaking of great magnitude. For example, David’s charge to Solomon to build the temple ( 1 Chronicles 28:20), King Hezekiah’s encouragment to his subjects to withstand the enemy’s siege (2 Chronicles 32:7) and Joshua’s own charge to Israel to fight (Jushua 10:25).

God’s promises are shining examples and testimony about His love for us. He demonstrates repeatedly through His presence, the ability of our success, which will come only through Him, and by Him.  And, because, He is with us and in control.

When we give the Lord our full surrender and hand our “ship to Him” or—for Him to take control of the Helm, we are assured of His presence and the victory. He is our constant source of encouragement and ostensibly, our Light in the darkness, and our weapons of defense against the enemy. He is our sword of protection, which is to say, His Word.

We cannot alter life’s transformations, but we can fall in line to the best life has to offer us by following His commands. We cannot take evil out of the world, but God will protect us as He goes before us,  where no weapons will prosper as the Lord stated so eloquently and powerfully in Isaiah 54:17—No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

If God is for us, who can be against us?  Our weapons of defense, His word, His promise and His unconditional love.  When we love Him, and give Him full control, we will always win, we will sail on placid waters with Him at our helm…

Are you ready to hand your ship over to Him?