Not an easy thing

  Not an easy thing

The writer of Hebrews states,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                     Hebrews 11:1

To have faith in something you cannot see can be very difficult for many people. Let’s face it is easy to believe in something you can see, hear, and touch.

I think that’s why God wants us to have faith He exists.

Additionally I believe people of faith are the strongest of followers.

Scientist use faith a lot. They postulate a theory based on what they see and then make a leap of faith saying that such and such a thing must be true.

Albert Einstein had faith in many things. He predicted that various things were happening in the universe around him and believed in the theory until his death even though he couldn’t prove it in his lifetime.

So it is with God. God asks we believe in Him by faith. That being said it is not blind faith. The psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."   

                                                      Psalm 19:1.

God simply asks us to look at the universe around us.

Robert Brault said,

“God left so many fingerprints at the scene of Creation that you wonder — does He want to be found, or does He want to be stopped?” Robert Brault.

So the question becomes. Do you have faith that God exists?

Please think about it.

Praise God with voice instruments and dance

  Praise God with voice instruments and dance

The psalmist writes,

“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

I love this psalm. It is a call to praise God. In praising God especially when times are hard it helps us to see what God has done for us. 

One of the best times in my life was when I was touring with an amateur gospel group. We were good at what we did. We chose not to go professional.

Still when we were together we led churches and other gatherings in praise. We did so as the psalmist said here in psalm 150. We worshipped God with instruments, voice and dance. 

In doing so our souls were lifted up and we were filled with the peace of God.

Why don’t you take sometime to praise God today. For in doing so I firmly believe you not only glorify God. But God fills you with His peace.

Please at least think about it. 

Live such good lives

 Live such good lives

The psalmist states,

“Trust in the LORD and do good;

 dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

                                                             Psalm 37:3.

The apostle Peter writes,

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus. You have a duty before God to live a good life before the people around you. In doing so you will be able to live in peace while at the same time glorifying God.

Are you living at peace with those around you? How can you use this peacefulness to glorify God?

Pleases think about it.

Extol, Boast, Rejoice, Glorify!

 Extol, boast, rejoice, glorify!

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.

A challenge for today. Take time to “extol” The Lord. Make it a habit to praise The Lord at all times. Take time to even boast in what The Lord has done for you. Take time to Glorify and exalt The Lord today.

Please don’t just think about it do it.

Simple faith

  Simple faith

The Psalmist declares,“You are my refuge and my shield; 

I have put my hope in your word.” 

                                             Psalm 119:114.

My faith is simple. I believe in God. In God I have put my hope. 

Where is your hope?

Please think about it.

Where's you trust.

  Where’s you trust

The psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                       Psalm 20:7.

In this world people put their trust in many things. Money, politicians, celebrities, the stock market, even high profile evangelist, pastors among others.

Sadly none of these worldly things last. Money is easily lost or spent, celebrities, pastors and evangelist fall, as does the stock market.

The only thing one can truly trust in is God who does not fall. God whom the Psalmist states,

“He will not let your foot slip— 

he who watches over you will not slumber; 

 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

                                                                                                 Psalm 121:3,4.

So who do you trust?

Please think about it.

Rejoice in God your maker

  Rejoice in God your maker

The Psalmist writes,

"Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 

Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble with salvation. 

Let the saints rejoice in this honour 

and sing for joy on their beds." 

                                                           Psalm 149:2-5.

If you consider yourself as a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing what the Psalmist is saying here?

When was the last time you praised God with dancing either publically or privately?

God truly does delight in His people. That’s why we should be spending more time praising God.

Please think about it.

Your rock and salvation

  Your rock and salvation

The Psalmist writes,

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

                                                         Psalm 62:1,2 

“My soul waits in silence” states the Psalmist. 

Does your soul wait in silence? When was the last time you took time to be alone with God, pray and hear what He has to say to you?

Is God truly you rock and salvation, your fortress?

Please think about it.

Gods praise

Gods praise

The psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

before the "gods" I will sing your praise.” 

                                                                            Psalm 138:1.

I firmly believe that we live in a society filled with demigods. Materialism perhaps being the most worshipped. Although there are more secular gods than that.

Because we in the twenty-first century are surrounded by so many gods. It is important that we worship the one true God publicly. 

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you taking time to praise God. Does your life and lifestyle show that you are a follower and worshipper of the Lord God Almighty?

Please think about it.

In the presence of the saints

 In the presence of the saints

The psalmist writes,

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. 

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 52:8,9.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus can you say what the Psalmist is saying her. Can you praise God forever for what he has done?

Please think about it.

A dangerous claim

  A dangerous claim

John's gospel records this incident in the life of Jesus. John writes,

"Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.  

"The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  

I and the Father are one." 

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10 22-33.

To claim to be God as Jesus did was a very dangerous claim in His day. Note Jesus states 

“I and my Father are one.” the people who heard this said, they were stoning Him because Jesus was in their minds committing blasphemy for his claim to be God.”

C. S. Lewis states,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

     Please think about it

Shine

 Shine

Jesus said,

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:16.

Francis of Assisi said,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                          Francis of Assisi.

So what are your deeds saying to the world around you? Are they reflecting Gods Love?

Please think about it.