Reflections and images from God’s Word
Hallelujah!
Praise God!
Let everything that breathes
praise the LORD.
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Where?
In His sanctuary. (I believe that is ultimately everywhere!)
What for?
Who He is: great! What He does: mighty acts!
How?
With a lot of ruckus!
Let’s praise the Lord with all the noise and clatter and music and rhythm and joy that we can!
Praise the Lord!
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Amen.
Sing to the LORD a new song, . . .
For the LORD takes pleasure
in his people.
There is comfort, and joy in singing the familiar old songs. No doubt. And nothing wrong with affirming faith and praising God with voices filled with the familiar.
But there is something else in new songs:
The Lord loves new. He makes all things new.
He adorns us with creativity that we might celebrate Him with new things from our lives, our minds, our hearts.
Sing to the Lord a NEW SONG!
Amen
Sing to the Lord!
Hallelujah! . . .
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.
Wondering where to praise the Lord?
Everywhere!
From the heights to the depths.
In the skies.
On earth.
To the depths of the oceans.
For this is all His realm. He created it, is present within it, commands it, accomplishes His purposes through it.
Praise God in all the earth.
Who – what should praise God?
Everything!
All creation, from the clouds above the sun, moon, and stars;
and all creatures, here below.
On land and on sea. In the sea.
All plants, trees, mountains, plains – all of it: praise the Lord.
Everything.
Everywhere.
Everyone.
Praise God.
Creator. Sustainer. Redeemer. Savior.
Praise the Lord!
How about a different approach – a different idea all together?
Something to this idea. . . more to come.
The LORD values those who fear him,
those who put their hope
in his faithful love.
The blessings of God are many and magnificent:
The Lord values those whose hearts are set on Him. Who fear Him. Respect Him. Regard Him as the Lord, God, Creator.
Lord, I place my trust in you alone. For there is no hope without you.
Bless us with your faithful love through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
I tried to make those cymbals live . . .
. . . and tried again.
Do not trust in nobles,
in a son of man, who cannot save.
Happy is the one whose help is the God
of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God.
There is no hope in trusting human leaders. No matter how attractive or powerful or influential. God’s Word is clear – all of that vanishes when they die.
Our real hope and happiness is only found in the Lord.
And, what is His agenda?
Lord – accomplish all your plans!
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For the final illustration in this project, I wanted to capture the joy of worship from Psalm 150. (Later this week I’ll share the final image.) I started thinking I wanted to try to show cymbals and/or other loud instruments of worship. This sketch worked (sort of) but the paintings never did – more later. Still, the joy of worship!
The LORD is gracious
and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in faithful love.
Lord, God almighty. I join with David in praising you, blessing you for who you are, what you are.
Gracious. Bestowing the riches of your blessings on us. We don’t deserve any speck of your grace, yet you cover us lavishly with your wondrous grace.
Compassionate. Full of love for us, the unlovable, because your heart for us is full of a love we can’t fully understand. We only receive it and are overwhelmed by it.
Slow to anger. Thank you for being patient with me. It is a clear sign of your mercy, grace, that allows me one breath more.
Great in faithful love. Lord, you are faithful love. To God be glory. You righteous in all your ways, may you be blessed and Lord, may I serve you today.
Happy are the people with
such blessings.
Happy are the people whose God is
the LORD.
As one of God’s – there are many blessings available to me:
Lord, be my Lord, our Lord, this way. Securing us today and tomorrow.
And we will be your happy people.
Let me experience
your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in you.
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I appeal to you.
Lord, this morning, as almost every day, I am here before you. I want to hear from you, learn from you, be guided by you in your way.
I trust you. You are faithful, and you are love and loving.
What more could I want from the One who gives me life and guides me in it?
So Lord, again today: reveal to me the way I should go.
For your glory.
For your honor.
That my life might be a beacon for you in this dark, cold world.
You shine through me.
Without you I am lifeless – but with you, Lord, I am able to know and do your will.
Amen.
I cry to you, LORD;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.”
This psalm begins with a cry for mercy.
It is indeed God’s mercy to me, to us, that He will be our shelter, is our shelter – our portion – in the land of the living.
Some wait for, hope for, look forward only to eternity. To dwell in God’s presence there forever.
But His mercy grants us His shelter for today, “in the land of the living.” Our portion, that which we enjoy in this life, the thing that sustains us on our way, it is Him! His shelter, today!
Shelter from the traps, the injuries, the violence, the fraud of the evil one who would seek to keep us defeated in this day.
Lord, by your mercy, be my portion – today!
LORD, set up a guard for my mouth;
Keep watch at the door of my lips.
David knew.
There are all kinds of evil, wicked traps around us, around me. Set by the enemy to snare us, trip us up. And one of the fastest ways to get to me: my mouth.
If often runs ahead of my brain, my heart, my commitments.
Making light of the most horrible, or responding with words that once uttered cannot be drawn back. Out in the world, hurled by one who is careless, harming, creating the very trap for myself.
Lord, guard my mouth. Help me keep my words in check so that you might be heard and seen instead of me.
I trust you to provide, protect, direct – to care for me in the midst of these evil ones who are all about me so that I may honor you, glorify you.
May the words of my mouth be all praise and glory to you – Lord!
This started out OK. I should have kept it simple.
Numbering My Days 