Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I will bless (praise, exalt, worship, glorify) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
Everyday we have a choice. We are constantly surrounded by one person or many people who will rain on our parade or burst our bubble. People will be negative without even realizing it. That doesn’t mean we have to react or take part in their negativity. Don’t allow yourself to participate in negativity or criticism. This scripture doesn’t suggest we praise the Lord often or most of the time. David doesn’t say he will only praise the Lord when everything is going well. He said he will praise ALL the time and continuously.
I often need to remind myself of this. I have many opportunities and have allowed myself to be pulled into negative discussions. It’s harder to get pulled in, though, when we are praising God continuously. When we praise, situations begin to shift & heaviness lifts.
Praising the Lord has a way of turning friction into peace. Praising the Lord breaks strong holds. Praising the Lord brings joy. Praising the Lord is a solution when you don’t even realize there is a problem. In the book of Psalms, praise is mentioned 100 times. It’s that important. – Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord.
How will you devote 2day?
I will bless (praise, exalt, worship, glorify) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
My dad didn’t grow up in the church. Though he came from an Italian-Catholic background, he never went to mass or church growing up nor did my grandparents. He became a Christian when I was only a year old, feeling the call to preach about 3 years later. Not certain he was really “called”, he prayed and fasted for 3 days and 3 nights, seeking the Lord for understanding. It was during that process he answered the call to ministry.
When I was 4, (my siblings 9 & 12) we left our comfortable lifestyle and sold our home. Dad left his great job in Bedford, Ohio and we moved to Lexington, where my dad pastored his first church and studied for the ministry through MVNU.
God was using a man who knew nothing of the bible or really nothing of what the church might say is meant to be a Christian. He had no prejudgments. He was simply a man willing to say yes to The Hoy Spirit of God.
Often, I would watch my dad sit at the table with His bible open & a few reference books while taking notes for his Sunday sermon. Dad spent many hours each week preparing for what God laid on his heart. He would take plain white typing paper and tear it in half. He would then hand write his sermon using the front and back of several pieces of paper.
Every Saturday for many years dad would go “calling.” This meant he would go visit people in their homes. It could be anyone- lifelong church goers to first time visitors. He just popped in uninvited to spend time talking or praying with them or inviting them back to church. He even stopped by people’s homes who families from the church would say needed a visit that he didn’t even know. Times are quite different these days. Could you imagine someone just stopping by unannounced on your Saturday?
Dad spent many hours of his life visiting people in the hospital. He also performed many baby dedications, baptisms, funerals, and weddings. He would bring many of us along on visits to the local nursing home.
Dad invested in the lives of those in the congregations. He also mentored many young men who felt the call to preach.
I am so grateful for my heritage as a pastor’s daughter. More importantly, I’m thankful for a dad who lived his life showing me and others the way to salvation. I’m thankful for a dad who I often watched reads his bible. I’m thankful for a dad I watched love others into the kingdom. He showed me the importance of reading, praying, giving, and serving. I am blessed.
Happy Father’s Day to the best dad ever. Even though your home is in heaven now, I still think of you and talk to you about everything. Oh, and thanks again for driving me to school and carrying my books. You know what I’m talking about- lol.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, (guided & directed)
and He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, (Abandoned, deserted)
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed. (a blessing)
Psalm 37:23-26
In my mind’s eye, I can picture a dad holding the hand of his toddler son. The son begins to run, so the father grips the boy’s hand even tighter. The dad knows the toddler will try to break free of his grip. The father also knows that in the newness of his ability to run, the young boy will lose balance and fall directly into the rocks.
Just as expected, the son begins to stumble. However, as the young boy is about to fall and hit the rocks, dad gently pulls him up with his strong hand.
The father kept the son from falling simply by holding his hand. The son kept from falling, by allowing His father to hold it.
Sometimes we may begin to stumble, but God is right here holding our hand. If we aren’t holding God’s hand, it’s because we let go, not Him. Life will never be perfect, but we will be blessed if we keep holding his hand. Our kids will be blessed if we keep holding His hand. Because we are blessed, may we be a blessing to those around us.
Isn’t it good to know we have a heavenly father who orders our steps? He guides and directs our path. He wants to keep us from hitting the rocks.
Have a blessed day with your hand firmly holding His.
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due (to) His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (To be set apart for God’s Purpose) NKJV
God deserves glory. We owe it to Him to tell everyone how good He is. The God who is all powerful and full of mercy & grace, is the same God who heals, delivers, preserves, protects, and provides. He is a God of peace & strength. Our praise is due Him. He is entitled to and worthy of our honor and our respect.
In Romans, Paul urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The reality of what it means to be a ‘living sacrifice’ makes it seem like a tall order. However, Paul goes on to say it’s a completely reasonable request to serve Him this way.
God doesn’t ask us to do anything unreasonable. It’s acceptable and reasonable to give God our whole self to be used for His purpose. As I think about all God has done for me over the years, this request not only seems reasonable, it seems proper.
I beseech(Urge) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (fair) service. (True & proper worship) Romans 12:1
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 29:1-2
Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
honor the Lord for his glory and strength. (Power)
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. NLT
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. NKJV
Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; (owed, entitled, worthy)
worship (respect, love, adore) the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. NIV
Praise the Lord, you angels of his; praise his glory and his strength. Praise him for his majestic glory, the glory of his name. Come before him clothed in sacred garments. LB
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2
The last few days I haven’t been able to get this scripture off my mind. Everything I have isn’t really mine at all. Everything is God’s. I’m just a steward of what is already His.
That means when I choose to give, I am just giving back to God what is already His. God is so wealthy. He allows us to share in His wealth. What we do with what He’s given us stewardship over is so important. I often heard my dad say, “you can never out give God.”
May we never forget that all good things we have come from God. He owns it all. We are just taking care of it for a while. May we also remember to use what He has given us for His glory.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2
“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”