pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: praise


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Faithfully (?) Forward

Readings: Numbers 19, Numbers 20, Numbers 21

Numbers 21:34 – “Don’t be afraid of him, for I have handed over all his people and his land.”

Photo credit: Felipe Correia

As we continue into Numbers 19-21 we begin to see the people learning some of the rules of the road. There are still times when the step forward is followed by a step back. Yet they are finally beginning to move forward and to better understand what God requires and expects of them as a holy nation.

Chapter 19 contains more instructions. It begins with instructions on how to make the waters of purification. A flawless, unworked red bull is slaughtered… Its ashes are mixed with water, creating a holy water that can be used to purify uncleanliness. Next comes an application of said water. This water will be used to purify people and things that come into contact with a dead body, making them unclean for 7 days. On days 3 and 7 all that is unclean is sprinkled by the water. On day 7 unclean people bathe and wash their clothing, allowing them to return to community life.

At the start of chapter 20 Miriam dies and is buried. There is no water there. Complaints arise. God tells Moses and Aaron to gather the people and to tell the rock to provide water. God’s glory will be revealed. Instead, Moses strikes the rock, in essence claiming that he and Aaron brought forth water. God then declares that Moses will not enter the Promised Land because of his disobedience. Moving on the Israelites ask for safe passage through Edom. The king refuses and comes out in force to prevent their passing through. They begin the long trek around Edom. Aaron dies along the way on Mount Hor. Leadership as high priest is passed on to his son Eleazar. Israel mourns 30 days for Aaron.

In chapter 21 the Israelites are attacked and they seek God’s help. God gives them the victory! And they follow this up with more complaints about another lack of water. God responds by sending poisonous snakes into the camp. This serves as a wakeup call. The people repent, Moses prays, God saves. After marching for a bit, the Israelites offered up songs of praise and thanksgiving. This is followed up by a crushing defeat of the king of Sihon. As the next battle draws near, God says, “Don’t be afraid of him, for I have handed over all his people and his land.” Victory over Og follows. Israel now possesses all of the lands east of the Jordan – the natural barrier into the Promised Land. The journey is nearing its close.

Prayer: Lord God, while all is not perfect and is, in many ways still far from it, we are beginning to see signs of faith and trust poking out here and there. Israel is yet a work in progress here. So too are we, O God. Guide and lead our journeys of faith too. Build up our faith and trust in you as we learn to live faithfully and obediently. Amen.


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In All of Life

Reading: Psalm 98

Verse 1: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Psalm 98 is a song of praise and worship. The psalmist lifts up salvation and God’s righteousness and faithfulness as reasons to sing praises to the Lord. In our lives, we certainly can offer lots of praise and thanksgiving to God when we are experiencing these and other blessings in our lives. In the good days it is easy and natural to praise God and to lift our worship heavenward.

It is not always easy, though, to praise the Lord. When we experience unwanted change or loss, when we receive that sobering diagnosis, when we feel isolated or lonely – it can be hard to find joy and to have praise on our lips. Today I am reminded that worship or praise doesn’t always have to be loud or joyous or exuberant. It can be prayerful or quiet or meditative. It can be centered on our understanding that as a child of God, God loves us and has plans to prosper us and wants to bring good into our lives.

Yes, I am sure that God enjoys listening in on a good old hymn or a communal prayer. But our faith is also personal and intimate. A quiet moment, a heartfelt prayer, a stillness simply resting in God’s presence – these too are deeply pleasing to God. In and through all things, we know that God is in control. Praise and worship is sometimes simply reflecting this truth back to God. May our praise and worship reflect this in all of life.

Prayer: Lord God, in the days of sunshine and beauty, in the days of darkness and despair, in the days of intermittent clouds and the everyday of life – may I ever praise and worship your holy name. You are my constant in all of life. For that I can always rejoice. Amen.


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All Is Beloved

Reading: Psalm 148

Verse 14: “God has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants.”

Merry Christmas! Peace and joy, love and hope to you!

On this special day we turn to Psalm 148. This Psalm is all about praise. While not a traditional Christmas text, it does fit very well the spirit of the day. The psalmist’s encouragement to praise is sprinkled throughout this text – 12 times in my home Bible! The opening stanza encourages the first parts of creation to praise God – the angels, the sun, moon, and stars, the heavens and the skies. The encouragement to praise next includes the physical creation – trees, mountains – and the living creation – animals, birds… Continuing along the creation narrative the psalmist lastly includes us – all of us. Kings and rulers, old men and maidens, children – all are encouraged to praise the Lord of all creation.

You and I are certainly included in today’s Psalm. So we must ask ourselves: What does it look like to praise God with our lives? It begins with our acts of piety. These include daily prayer and Bible study, regular worship, and fasting. These practices surely elicit our praise! These acts or practices then lead us to acts of mercy. These include all forms of loving and caring for our neighbor.

Returning to the Psalm, it closes with these connecting words: “God has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants.” This horn or king is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Messiah came to teach us how to love. Jesus’ example of love was one without limits. In a world that sees race, gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, and many other things as reasons to hate instead of love, let me say that again: Jesus’ example of love was one without limits. All people were invited into Jesus’ love. None were excluded. As part of the action of creation, which is detailed in today’s Psalm, Jesus knew that all of creation was divine. All of creation continues to carry the spark of the divine within. Therefore, my friend, all of creation – all – is beloved by God. May it be so for you and me as well. This is our true act of praise.

Prayer: Lord God, make me more full thine today. Fill me with your love so fully that all I do and say and think is praise to you. Use me to help others to see and love the spark of the divine within themselves. Amen.


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Glorify and Magnify

Reading: ‭Luke‬ ‭1:46‭-‬55‬

Verses 46-47: “Mary said, ‘With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.'”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Mary is at Elizabeth’s house as she offers these words, called ‘Mary’s Song’ or the ‘Magnificat.’ She has stepped into her role, called by God to bear Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world. Elizabeth’s response and the Holy Spirit’s response have confirmed all that has happened and together they inspire these words. They begin with this: “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.” These are words that exclaim, ‘What a great thing God has done and I’m so HAPPY to be a part of it!’ Mary overflows with love and praise.

After recognizing the blessed and special role that she has been chosen to play, Mary praises the one who both called her and fills her. These words foreshadow Jesus’ ministry. This makes perfect sense as Jesus will be God in the flesh. The proud are scattered and the lowly are lifted. The hungry are filled and the rich are sent away empty. Those who think that they know it all and/or have it all find it difficult to receive from God. Humility and grace are necessary to receive. To those who know their need, the Lord fills them abundantly.

In this Advent season, what is our attitude? Do we seek to be filled by God? Or are we filling ourselves? Do we offer food to the hungry and lift the downtrodden? Or are we only concerned with our own belly and our own spirits? Like Mary, may we choose to glorify and magnify the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to think of others first this holiday season. Keep my focus outward instead of inward. May abundant love and spirit flow from my soul! Amen.


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Lift Our Praises!

Reading: Psalm 96

Verse 7: “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!”

Psalm 96 begins with a call to sing to the Lord, to praise his name and to declare his glory. This call fits well with this season of Advent. In our carols and praise songs we find much joy in our singing this time of the year. The next stanza is a reminder. The psalmist warns of the idols of other nations. This too is a good reminder in this season when we can overspend and overindulge.

In verse 7 we read, “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!” To ascribe is to “regard a quality as belonging to.” Glory and strength, splendor and holiness – certainly qualities that are central to God’s character. It is always a good thing to praise God for these qualities and to offer our thanksgiving for the ways that we can reflect these to the world. This too is an act of worship and praise.

The remainder of the Psalm mostly focuses on rejoicing and praising the Lord who reigns. The heavens, the earth, the seas and all in them, the fields, the trees – they all join in the celebration and worship. All of creation joins the chorus! Tucked within these last four verses are also reminders of God’s judgment. Yes, one day God will judge us all in equity and truth. These things too are part of the Advent season.

This day may we lift our praises to God. May we rejoice in our God who reigns over all of creation!

Prayer: Lord God, we praise you first because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We rejoice in your goodness and grace, in your love and mercy. Guide us to live these out today and every day as one of our acts of worship. Amen.


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Love and Goodness

Reading: Psalm 100:4-5

Verse 5: “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.”

Returning to Psalm 100 today we are once again encouraged to praise the Lord our God. We are invited to be thankful as we enter into God’s courts to offer God our praises. The image created here is one of people entering the temple to spend time in worship, praising God for all of God’s blessings. We have inherited the idea of sabbath worship. We enter the sanctuary once a week to spend an hour or so in worship. During this time we praise God and we offer our thanks for the many ways that God has blessed our lives.

The danger in this system comes in doing to God what we do to the rest of our lives. We can segment God into that time slot on Sunday mornings. By noon we’ve done our God thing and we can get on to the next thing in our lives. This can be part of our tendency to compartmentalize our life. I go to work from x to y on these days. I parent my children in these times slots. I have a date night on the second Friday of each month… We can be so busy. Having times and places for each part of our lives feels easier to handle. It feels more manageable. But faith does not fit into this model. When we try and keep that “God thing” penned into a time slot once a week, then we are practicing religion not faith. Faith is meant to be a part of every aspect of our lives. God desires to be our all in all.

In verse 5 we get a sense of this desire. Here the psalmist writes, “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.” There is a reality here: God is always God. God’s love and goodness are always there. The challenge for us is to be and to bring God’s love and goodness into all of life. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful to all generations. Your love and goodness are constants in this world. So, Lord, use me to reflect that love and goodness each moment of each day. In and through me, may others come to know you more and more. Amen.


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The Saints!

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 2:9-13

Verse 10: “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”

Today is All-Saints’ Day. This church holiday focuses on both the saints who have gone onto heaven and upon the saints who are still serving Jesus Christ here and now. Those who we can call “saints” run a wide gamut – from people like Mother Teresa and MLK, Jr., to people like your 3rd grade Sunday School teacher. There are a great many more saints that fall into the second category.

In our passage today Paul is writing to the church. He is talking about his ministry among them, not as a way to brag but as a way to remind and encourage. This is why we celebrate today’s holiday too. Paul begins by reminding them and us of the toil and hardship inherent in ministry. Ministering to others certainly has moments that are difficult and challenging. Next Paul unpacks the traits or characteristics of a minister of the gospel. It begins with how one conducts oneself: holy, righteous, blameless. He then moves onto the actions needed: encouraging, comforting, and urging the believers to “live a life worthy of the gospel.” This is, of course, circling back around to holy, righteous, and blameless. For Paul and for all other saints past and present, this life of faith is built upon the word of God. A close, personal, intimate relationship with God is the starting point for all believers, saints included.

On this All-Saints’ Day remember the saints who shaped and formed and walked with you in faith. Remember those who are living saints, still guiding you on your journey of faith. Bring your praise and thanksgiving to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the many saints that have blessed my life and encouraged my faith. Some led by example long before I was born. Others have poured into me in my youth and have passed on to glory. And others still lead and guide and walk with me in adulthood. We are a community, connected together with you and with one another, all for the building of the kingdom of God. Praise be to God! Amen.


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Home

Reading: Psalm 107:1-7

Verse 6: “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

Psalm 107 opens with a call to give thanks to God because God is good and loving. And because God “redeemed [them] from the hand of the foe.” God most recently rescued them from exile and gathered the people of God back to Israel. Yes, this is a great reason to bring praise and thanksgiving to God. When has God redeemed or rescued you most recently from a time of exile or wilderness wandering? Pause and offer God a moment of praise and thanksgiving for God’s goodness and love.

Moving into verses 4-5 the psalmist details some of their struggles. The people wandered without a home. During the Exodus wilderness time and during the exile in Babylon, the people were without a true home. They were lost spiritually too, often quarreling with and questioning God. The sense of being without a home raises up insecurities and fears, leading often to an increase in feelings of hopelessness and despair. In the struggle it can feel like our life is ebbing away. This all can, in turn, lead us to a hunger and thirst for God’s presence in our lives. Pause and reflect on a time when you felt this way. When did you feel without a faith home, without an assurance of God’s presence in your life?

In verse 6 we read, “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” In their exile or wilderness or struggle, they got to the point of crying out to God. We too will reach that point. Our efforts have failed. Like it was with Israel, God will come in and deliver us too. God will help us back onto the “straight way,” rebuilding our relationship with and our trust and faith in God, bringing us back home. God is good and loving. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful and true, loving and forgiving. Time and time again I have cried out to you. Time and time again you are right there, becoming present to me in the exile or wilderness, walking with me through the struggle. I beg you to continue to walk with me as I desire to walk with you. Amen.


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Praise the Lord!

Reading: Psalm 99

Verse 6b: “They called on the Lord and he answered them.’

As I read Psalm 99, two parts stand out to me. Parts of the Psalm speak of God’s character and this draws us to worship God. The other parts speak of God’s call upon our lives and of how this draws us into a relationship with God.

The psalmist reminds us that God is supreme over all the earth. He or she also reminds us that God is mighty and that God loves justice. Yet God is also a forgiving God. Yes, at times God has some consequences for our “misdeeds.” Because this is who and what God is, we are drawn to worship and exalt God. This is the entry point into a relationship. As our relationship with God begins we are able to call on our God who hears and answers our prayers.

The psalmist provides a few examples of those who called upon the Lord: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. Before they could call on God, though, they too had to respond to God’s call on their lives. They had to accept the call and make the choice to enter into a relationship with God. The same God continues to reign over all of creation. As we experience God’s character in many different ways we too are drawn into relationship. As this grows we come to trust that God will answer our prayers and cries. This is because God is a God of relationship.

So today and every day may we humbly come before the almighty and all-powerful God of all creation, the personal and intimate God who wants to be in a relationship with each of us. Coming before God, may we worship and praise the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, in power and might you sit enthroned over the nations. In love and grace you reach out for a relationship. You are holy and righteous. And you want to walk daily with me, a sinner saved by grace. I am overwhelmed by your desire to be in this personal and intimate relationship with me. All I can do is praise and worship you for this great love. Thank you, God. Amen.


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The Way to Abundant Life

Reading: Psalm 106:1-6 and 19-23

Verse 6: “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.”

Psalm 106 begins by praising and giving thanks to God because God is good and because God’s love endures forever. To praise and give thanks to God for these things is something that we should do every day. The psalmist then notes that we are blessed when we “maintain justice” and when we “do what is right.” Living in alignment with God’s will and ways is a blessed way to live. This is the experience spoken of in verses 4-5. The people of God – when living as the people of God – they enjoy prosperity and joy. What blessing!

The Psalm suddenly turns in verse 6. It gets real honest. Here the psalmist writes, “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.” This is as true for us as it was for the psalmist. Humanity is prone to sin. Left unchecked by the will and way of God, we become selfish and greedy and prideful… We become the one on the throne or we try and surround ourselves with things that make us feel safe and secure. We seek to achieve and gather, these things soon growing into idols. It might not be a golden calf, but it is certainly as temporal and manmade.

We make idols and lose our way for the same reason that the Israelites did: “They forgot the God who saved them.” We do this when we fail to do what the psalmist prescribed in verses 1-6. Praising God for the love and blessings, living out God’s justice and righteousness, and frequently confessing and repenting of our sins – these are the antidotes to becoming selfish, greedy, prideful… This is the way to abundant life, both now and into eternity. May this be the way that we choose to live day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, forgive my wayward and selfish decisions and choices. Strengthen me to change, to grow less selfish and prideful. Replace these with your justice and righteousness. Open my eyes to your works, filling my heart with praise and thanksgiving – for your mighty deeds and for your gentle touches. All praise and glory to you, O God! Amen.