Psalm 138:1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
Oh Friends, it’s official; in these northern climes, summer is over and autumn has begun. And though the day was cloudy and humid, more summer than fall weather, we’re not going to complain. Today, let’s just be thankful that we’re alive and healthy enough to get around and enjoy whatever kind of weather the Good Lord brings our way. So instead of contemplating the cold, the snow and ice of which autumn is a harbinger, we’ll concentrate on enjoying the lovely gold’s, browns, reds, russets and all the in-between colours that the fall weather brings. It’s really a beautiful season, one that we should enjoy and appreciate more than we do. However, once we see the leaves changing colour and eventually falling, all we can think of is winter’s coming. So what? It comes every year and we get through it. And it does have its good points…just don’t ask me what. (smile) All I know is that we should be thankful for every day that we’re alive, that we don’t wake up and see our name and picture in the obits, and consequently are required to live it to the best of our ability, doing God’s work, regardless of the weather. So Friends, let’s join Bruh David and sing in loud, tuneful harmony: ‘I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.’ And so it should be my people. It’s our bounden duty to give continual thanks and praise to our wonderful Creator for whatever we have, wherever we go. As Bruh David boldly declared: ‘I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings and will not be ashamed.’ (Ps.119:46) Yes my brethren, we should be glad, proud an enthusiastic to sing the praises of the Most High God Jehovah before all and sundry, from every roof and mountain top, without fear or shame. Unlike the few members of the Jewish elite, as we saw a couple days ago, who privately believed, but did not publicly acknowledge our Saviour because they were scared of the Pharisees’ threat to expel anyone who did so from the synagogue. Instead Friends, we must be bold and unafraid to sing His praises to all who would listen, even to those who don’t want to hear. And to prove we have the manly parts, (smile) let’s sing it out loud right now. ‘I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.’ (Ps.138:2) That’s exactly why the Lord deserves our thanks and praise; cause He’s a LOVING, caring, kind, generous, faithful and true God! And then, ‘In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.’ (Ps.138:3) Oh Friends, yuh see what happens when we continually give our Heavenly Father praise, then cry out to Him in anguish? He answers us by strengthening our souls, making us bold and fearless, so that we can face up to our problems like a staunch soldier, a true believer, and overcome said problems instead of them overcoming us. Now Bruh David begins Psalm 138 by talking about individual praise, but like the confident, faithful believer, knowing the value of spreading the Word, he’s also expecting, working towards universal praise. And he exults expectantly…sorry friends, not expectantly, but with a profound sense of confidence and certainty. ‘All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.’ (Ps.138:4-5) Yes my people, Bruh David had no doubts whatsoever, that once the kings of the earth heard God’s Word, they’d also loudly sing His praises, because the Lord’s a great God, and His glory is most excellent. That’s also how we ought to feel and behave; so proud of our Christian heritage that we’re continually giving thanks and singing the praises of our Mighty God. But remember Friends, this must not just be mouth work, which some of us are so good at, but our words must also be backed up by the actions of our hands and hearts. That means our hearts have to be right with God and we have to help others. We can’t play the hypocrite and expect to succeed, for hypocrites are quickly discerned by the unbeliever, and simply hardens his heart and causes him to look upon all believers with scorn and contempt. Remember too, ‘Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.’ (Ps.138:6) So though you may fool some people with your pretentious Christian behaviour, you’ll never fool the Lord, for He knows exactly what’s happening in your heart and mind and greatly despises the proud, the haughty, know-it-all, better than everybody else, crowd pleasers. So Friends, whatever we do in the Lord’s name, let’s do it with heartfelt enthusiasm, but also with truth and humility, for the Lord expects His people to be truthful and humble. Yuh see where He placed His only Son Jesus, in a lowly carpenter’s family. He could have put Him anywhere, but chose the poor and humble above the rich and proud. Let that be a lesson to us my Friends; regardless of how high we rise and wealthy we become, we must ensure that our feet stay firmly planted on the ground, and our souls filled with humility and caring, just like Jesus. Till tomorrow then; Much LOVE!…our goal today…to loudly sing our Saviour’s praises…with a right and humble heart…
Oh Friends, it’s official; in these northern climes, summer is over and autumn has begun. And though the day was cloudy and humid, more summer than fall weather, we’re not going to complain. Today, let’s just be thankful that we’re alive and healthy enough to get around and enjoy whatever kind of weather the Good Lord brings our way. So instead of contemplating the cold, the snow and ice of which autumn is a harbinger, we’ll concentrate on enjoying the lovely gold’s, browns, reds, russets and all the in-between colours that the fall weather brings. It’s really a beautiful season, one that we should enjoy and appreciate more than we do. However, once we see the leaves changing colour and eventually falling, all we can think of is winter’s coming. So what? It comes every year and we get through it. And it does have its good points…just don’t ask me what. (smile) All I know is that we should be thankful for every day that we’re alive, that we don’t wake up and see our name and picture in the obits, and consequently are required to live it to the best of our ability, doing God’s work, regardless of the weather. So Friends, let’s join Bruh David and sing in loud, tuneful harmony: ‘I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.’ And so it should be my people. It’s our bounden duty to give continual thanks and praise to our wonderful Creator for whatever we have, wherever we go. As Bruh David boldly declared: ‘I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings and will not be ashamed.’ (Ps.119:46) Yes my brethren, we should be glad, proud an enthusiastic to sing the praises of the Most High God Jehovah before all and sundry, from every roof and mountain top, without fear or shame. Unlike the few members of the Jewish elite, as we saw a couple days ago, who privately believed, but did not publicly acknowledge our Saviour because they were scared of the Pharisees’ threat to expel anyone who did so from the synagogue. Instead Friends, we must be bold and unafraid to sing His praises to all who would listen, even to those who don’t want to hear. And to prove we have the manly parts, (smile) let’s sing it out loud right now. ‘I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.’ (Ps.138:2) That’s exactly why the Lord deserves our thanks and praise; cause He’s a LOVING, caring, kind, generous, faithful and true God! And then, ‘In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.’ (Ps.138:3) Oh Friends, yuh see what happens when we continually give our Heavenly Father praise, then cry out to Him in anguish? He answers us by strengthening our souls, making us bold and fearless, so that we can face up to our problems like a staunch soldier, a true believer, and overcome said problems instead of them overcoming us. Now Bruh David begins Psalm 138 by talking about individual praise, but like the confident, faithful believer, knowing the value of spreading the Word, he’s also expecting, working towards universal praise. And he exults expectantly…sorry friends, not expectantly, but with a profound sense of confidence and certainty. ‘All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.’ (Ps.138:4-5) Yes my people, Bruh David had no doubts whatsoever, that once the kings of the earth heard God’s Word, they’d also loudly sing His praises, because the Lord’s a great God, and His glory is most excellent. That’s also how we ought to feel and behave; so proud of our Christian heritage that we’re continually giving thanks and singing the praises of our Mighty God. But remember Friends, this must not just be mouth work, which some of us are so good at, but our words must also be backed up by the actions of our hands and hearts. That means our hearts have to be right with God and we have to help others. We can’t play the hypocrite and expect to succeed, for hypocrites are quickly discerned by the unbeliever, and simply hardens his heart and causes him to look upon all believers with scorn and contempt. Remember too, ‘Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.’ (Ps.138:6) So though you may fool some people with your pretentious Christian behaviour, you’ll never fool the Lord, for He knows exactly what’s happening in your heart and mind and greatly despises the proud, the haughty, know-it-all, better than everybody else, crowd pleasers. So Friends, whatever we do in the Lord’s name, let’s do it with heartfelt enthusiasm, but also with truth and humility, for the Lord expects His people to be truthful and humble. Yuh see where He placed His only Son Jesus, in a lowly carpenter’s family. He could have put Him anywhere, but chose the poor and humble above the rich and proud. Let that be a lesson to us my Friends; regardless of how high we rise and wealthy we become, we must ensure that our feet stay firmly planted on the ground, and our souls filled with humility and caring, just like Jesus. Till tomorrow then; Much LOVE!…our goal today…to loudly sing our Saviour’s praises…with a right and humble heart…
SCRIP-BITS 