Praise is an art that every child of God should pursue, learn, and practice. Upon coming to Jesus, one of the first things we find is that He gives us “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” Isaiah 61:3. He has provided and given […]
Many today have a shortsighted view of life with self-gratification, pleasure, and the now (present) being as far as they can see; grasping for every emotional high, material gain, and fleshly pleasure they can find, with little or no thought about God, the heart cry of other people, or the eternal tomorrow. Sadly many “Christians” […]
The Christmas season – the time we as Christians claim to celebrate the birth of Christ – is a season of love, joy, and peace. The story of Christ’s birth is beautifully wrapped up in one verse, John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes […]
A choice is given to us when we face difficulties, to praise or to complain! Our choice is pivotal toward victory or defeat. Rebellion and Complaining seem to have a close relationship, and between them they kept a whole generation from entering the promised land of Canaan, Numbers 14:2-3; 22-23. 1 Corinthians 10:10 warns us […]
Have you ever considered the power of song to turn a place of seeming defeat into a place of victory, to turn a dry barren place into a fertile field, and to bring the light of hope into the midst of darkness and gloom? This is exactly where Paul and Silas find themselves (Acts 16:16-34) […]
Several verses in the Old Testament speak of a time when the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. The scope of this glory will be so extensive, that what is probably the best known of these verses, Habakkuk 2:14, says: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the […]
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” -Psalm 95:2. Psalms has to do with singing, music, or words set to music; here it is associated with thanksgiving, and while true thanksgiving incorporates the use of words and music, this rhythm must spring out of adoration and […]
In Acts 1:11 Jesus had just been taken up from His followers when two men (we believe angels) brought this re-assurance, “This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” And when He so returns, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 assures us, […]
In John 14:2-3 Jesus promised “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” This promise receives its richness from the Hebrew marriage customs in which the time […]
In 2 Corinthians 7:4, Paul, whose Christian life was marked with persecutions and suffering (2 Corinthians 11:22-28), says “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.” Paul had tapped into a source of Joy beyond human understanding. If you spend enough time with someone that is full of joy, some of that joy is likely […]