Thankful, Day Twenty-Two

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

And God said, "Let there be light." Then He separated light from darkness. Then He separated heaven from earth. Then He separated earth from sea, and caused the earth to produce grass and trees, fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Then He created the sun, moon, and stars to shine upon the earth. Then He created fish to fill the seas and birds to fill the sky. Then He created animals of every kind to fill the earth. And finally, He created man in His own image and after His likeness, and in that man woman and all of humanity, and He gave them rule over the earth, its resources and its creatures. Everything that exists was thought of first in the mind of God, then created by the will, word and hand of God. And everything that exists does so for the praise and pleasure of God.

So when the Psalmist writes, "Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands," He is not merely talking about himself and the human inhabitants of planet earth. He is literally talking about the entire creation of God.

Let the whole earth praise the Lord!

Let the ground and everything that grows in it praise the Lord!

Let the inhabitants of the earth praise the Lord!

Let everything in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth praise the Lord!

Let every kindred, tribe and tongue praise the Lord!

Let every city, state, nation and kingdom praise the Lord!

From the ends of heaven and earth, let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Let us fill our God-made lungs with God-made air, plant our God-made feet on God-made ground, lift our God-made eyes toward the God-made heavens, and send a man-made shout Godward. And let all creation shout with us in praise to the One who made us all!

Today, I'm thankful for simple solutions to big problems.

I'm thankful for God's grace in every situation.

I'm thankful for rain.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Twenty-One

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

That shout that I talked about the other day, it's not an arbitrary shout. It's not random, unreasonable, or indistinct noise that serves no purpose. It's not making noise for noise sake, or being loud for loudness sake. It is a directed shout, a purposeful shout, a cry of triumph heavenward to the One who has given us all things. Our God is the object of our praise because He is the source of our victory, the reason for our joy, the purpose and direction in our lives. The Bible says He is worthy of our praise because He is the creator of all that is, and we exist for His good pleasure.

The name that is used here for God is translated LORD in the English versions of the Bible, but it is really the ancient covenant name God used when communicating with His people. It is the name Yahweh, or more correctly YHWH, which means "the one who exists", or perhaps more familiar to us, "I AM THAT I AM". One of my preacher friends likes to put it this way: He is whatever you need Him to be whenever you need Him to be that.

YHWH is such a sacred name that it is never written or spoken out loud by a proper Jew. Many Jews or Christians with a Jewish flavor, substitute writing G-d for God and saying HaShem, which means "the name" instead of saying God. In the old translations, the name YHWH was given the vowel points from the word Adonai, which means lord, and that combined name is often rendered Jehovah, which is another familiar name to us.

He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. Jehovah Nissi, our banner of victory. Jehovah Tsidkenu, our righteousness. Jehovah Rapha, our healer. Jehovah Raha, our shepherd. Jehovah Shalom, our peace. Jehovah Shammah, our omnipresent God. Jehovah Sabaoth, our protector.

He is the object of our praise, the one to whom we direct that triumphant shout, and since He is never far from us and always available when we call, He should never be far from our thoughts or our heart when it comes time to give thanks.

Today, I'm thankful for the wealth that I have in my friends, who have made this week such a blessing to me.

I'm thankful for the many wonderful greetings and gifts I received from my friends and family, which made this a very special birthday.

I'm thankful for all the prayers and wishes for the blessings of God in my life for the coming year. I receive!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Twenty

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Make a joyful shout, it says. Some versions say noise. I looked it up in the Hebrew and found the word to be (transliterated) ruwa, which in the original language is said with a hard ch sound at the end, but I'm from Texas. I couldn't help looking at the word and thinking it might come out a little bit like the old HOOAH, which is an army battle cry. Lest you think I'm taking these thoughts far afield, check out the Hebrew meaning behind the word. That joyful shout was a war cry, a noise of alarm and triumph in the ranks. In battle, in distress, in victory, it was the loud noise lifted up by warriors to put the enemy on notice and to encourage the allies.

Of course, as in all things Hebraic, there are multiple layers of meaning. Ruwa was also an ovation, an exclamation of religious impulse, a joyful adulation. But mostly it is used in the Bible as a shout of triumphant victory.

Jesus said, "In this world, you have tribulation. Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world."

Paul wrote, "In all things we have been made more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us!"

John testified, "This is the victory that overcomes the world: your faith."

And in the Revelation it is said, "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."

We are certainly in a battle for our eternal destiny, but too many Christians are fighting that battle as if they are on the losing side. With helmets dented, shields cracked, swords bent and dragging in the dirt, too many Christians are ready to wave the white flag of surrender just to get some relief. They fail to realize that Christ is on our side. He who fought all our battles on the cross defeated death, hell and the grave, sin, sickness and satan, and all his enemies have been placed under his feet by the omnipotent Father. And the Bible says, "If God be for us, who can be against us!"

So lift up your head today; you're on the winning side!

Gird your loins and do battle in prayer today; you're on the winning side!

Strengthen yourself in the Lord and fight on today; you're on the winning side!

No enemy can defeat you. No power can conquer you. No devil can possess you. No weapon can prosper against you. And nothing shall separate you from the love of God! You're on the winning side!

When your enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against it.

When your enemy comes on strong in one direction, he will flee from you in seven.

So lift up a shout today; you're on the winning side!

Let the devil hear your cry and tremble, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Let the gates of hell shake and quake before you. Get ready to charge hell with a water pistol and go devil hunting with a switch. I've read the end of the Book, and I know everything is gonna be alright!

Today, I'm thankful for my new home where I have found peace and comfort and rest.

I'm thankful for the outpouring of love from friends and family that started a couple of days ago in honor of the day of my birth.

I'm thankful for the sweet fellowship I shared last night with my favorite person in the whole world.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Nineteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

We are living in a time and culture where truth is often treated as relative--relative to time and culture and individual and circumstance. Many people believe that the only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth. Every person can be a god or goddess unto themselves, making up their own truth as they go along, and changing their truth to fit current trends. And they don't want anyone else imposing any kind of truth on them, because what's true for you may not be true for me.

However, I always have to laugh at those who say truth is relative. Because there are certain things they still consider to be universally true. For instance, they may say that there is no absolute truth, but take a gun and shoot somebody with it, and they will be among almost all humans saying that murder is always absolutely wrong. Unless circumstances dictate that it is acceptable. Such as abortion or euthanasia. Then murder is okay. But capital punishment is definitely wrong. Self defense is questionable. Killing cows and chickens for food is horrific. War is bad.

No one is going to stand up for the murderer and say it was okay, even if that murderer insists that in his version of truth, killing people is okay. Even among those who say truth is relative, they want to pick and choose which truths are relative when.

It's situational ethics. What's wrong right now might not be wrong in the right circumstances. Lying for instance. Lying to spare someone's feelings is okay, some say. Even casual deception is acceptable. Unless you're the one being lied to. Then you declare that you shouldn't have been lied to; that you want the truth, even if you can't handle the truth!

I have to tell you, I'm a smart man, but I am no where near smart enough to determine my own truth. I much prefer submitting to an infinite God who has written me a very long note called The Bible, which is the only absolute truth I need. I get it in it and I find out everything I need to know about being in relationship with God and living my life the way He intended for me to live it. And there is not one rule or commandment or absolute truth that does me any damage. This is one truth that has been written down completely for my good.

Today I'm thankful for some little things.

I'm thankful that Luther is making a place to keep my tools; and also that he can teach me how to use them.

I'm thankful that tomorrow is signing day...that the house which has been my home for the last 5 years is finally no longer mine.

And I'm thankful for the small prayers that still get answered. I needed to find two sets of keys...in an apartment that is stacked and packed with boxes and other moving debris. When I prayed, I had a picture in my head about where one set was; if I had gone right to it to begin with I could have saved myself a couple hours of looking through boxes. On the other hand, I got some boxes unpacked and my office rearranged so that I can at least get in it and continue the unpacking. The other key I was sure I had lost, but was prepared to spend the whole night looking for it. Then an idea hit me, and I went right to the exact place where I found my impossible to find key. Thank you Jesus that you care, even about the little things. That's why I'm trusting you with the big things too.

Thankful, Day Eighteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

How ease it is to let time get away, to let the minutes turn into hours and hours turn into days, sometimes without our even acknowledging God, much less giving thanks for who He is and what He has done for us. I know these last seven days have been extremely busy for me. Even though I haven't blogged it, I've still tried to be thankful. But I have to admit, sometimes I let the time get away without a thought to thanksgiving.

And yet there is so much to be thankful for. I'm glad that the LORD is a merciful God, a loving, forgiving, long-suffering God who has done everything for us out of the love and care and compassion that He has for us. His mercies are new every morning, thank Him, and I usually need them every morning too. I'm glad that even though sometimes we may lose sight of Him, He never loses sight of us. Even though we may sometimes forget about Him (even if only momentarily), He never forgets about us. And even when we walk (or run) away from Him, He never walks (or runs) away from us. Rather, He pursues us, calling to us constantly to return to His wonderful love and care.

Today I'm thankful for the strength He gives for work.

I'm thankful for the rest He gives from work.

I'm thankful for the help He gives through Himself and through other people when we need assistance with our work.

Thankful, Day Seventeen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

There are lots of things that are good about God, but I have to admit that His mercy is one of things I am most thankful for. It springs from His boundless love and amazing grace, and is wonderfully new every morning. It is available to the tempted and the tried, and also to the fallen and the flawed. His mercy is what keeps us alive when we deserve wrath. His mercy is what sees us through until we have reached that place where He is waiting for us. His mercy is forever and always, everlasting and eternal, wonderful, bountiful, more than enough to deal with a multitude of sins. I'm glad they can deal with mine.

Tonight, I'm thankful for sweet fellowship with the Lord in prayer throughout this day. It's been a great day and full of His presence.

I'm thankful for sweet fellowship with my mother, who has worked hard with me and for me today. I really appreciate her help.

I'm thankful for the sweet fellowship I'm going to have tomorrow with my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ. They have been so encouraging this week, and we've seen God do some amazing things!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Sixteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Indeed, the LORD is good. He's the goodest of good. He's better than anything that has ever been, better than anything that will ever be. He's the ultimate definitive of everything that is right and holy and perfect and good. He's good for me, He's good to me, He's better to me than I've been to myself. He is the giver of good and perfect gifts. In me there is nothing good that dwells; my righteousness is as garbage compared to His. But the Spirit of Christ in me has made me the righteousness of God. I will never, in and of myself, be as good as God. But when I stand in Him forgiven, I stand in Him complete!

Today, I'm thankful for the goodness of God in providing for my needs, the ones I know about, and the ones I didn't know I had.

I'm thankful for the goodness of God in giving me people who love me, and for giving me people to love.

I'm thankful for answered prayer--one very specific request that was answered immediately tonight for someone else! God still answers prayer!

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Fifteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

It's very late, and I'm very tired, but I did not want to close my eyes on this day without giving God thanks for some big things today.

First of all, I'm thankful for all of my friends, but today especially for those who came out to help me move today. Thank you Reza, William, Chris, Matt, Jesse, & Tracy. I could not have done this thing without you!

I'm thankful for my mother, who flew in from Colorado Springs to help me during this move. Your presence is already invaluable, and I'm so thankful that your my Momma, and that I'm your son.

I'm thankful for what is continually looking like the perfect home for me, and I cannot wait to get this new chapter in my life started.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful, Day Fourteen

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV

Even though the words seem plain enough, I just looked up thankful and bless to see their meaning in the original Hebrew. It's interesting that the first can mean cast down and the second can mean kneel down. Immediately, I was reminded of the heavenly imagery from Revelation 4 & 5 where, as the angels sing Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty, the elders fall on their faces and throw down their crowns before the presence of God.

As always, the kind of worship encouraged and demonstrated in this Psalm is the active kind. Praise and giving thanks mean more than giving God lip service; it's about action. It's about actually doing something in honor of God.

When was the last time you fell down in worship to the Lord? I'm not talking about any mystical experience like being "slain in the Spirit". I mean, when was the last time you voluntarily prostrated yourself in the presence of God and just worshiped Him for all that He is and all that He has done?

And when was the last time you really threw your praise down to God? Another meaning of being thankful is to shoot upward. So when was the last time we shot our praise like an arrow in the direction of God?

To bless His name is to give Him praise, to honor Him, to bring glory to Him, to make His name excellent with our words and works. This is how the Bible instructs us to give thanks!

Today, I'm thankful for the bounty with which God has blessed me. I've got more stuff than any one person needs, which is also why I've been getting rid of alot of stuff...either selling it to put the funds to good use, or giving it away as a blessing to someone else. At a time when so many are in desperate need, I'm thankful for the God who has supplied all of mine.

I'm thankful for the strength God has given me in my body, the ability to do the things which need to be done. There are lots of people who can't get around very well, who can't walk, who can't lift and carry heavy loads; I can, and to date I've never been seriously injured doing anything that needed to be done. Even when I am weak, He is strong.

I'm thankful for the help that God provides in the form of people, such as the ones who are going to help me tomorrow in my move. Even my mother is coming in to help me do this thing. I could do it by myself, but I'm thankful that I don't have to.

What are you thankful for today?