SCRIPTURE
Psalm 135 (NRSV)
Praise to God
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
you that stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great;
our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;
he makes lightnings for the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both human beings and animals;
he sent signs and wonders
into your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
He struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings -
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan -
and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
For the Lord will vindicate his people,
and have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see;
they have ears, but they do not hear,
and there is no breath in their mouths.
Those who make them
and all who trust them
shall become like them.
O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You that fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who resides in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
DEVOTION
Wow! Doesn’t this psalm make you want to break into song!
Praise the Lord North America! Praise the Lord South America! Praise the Lord Australia! Praise the Lord Europe! Praise the Lord Asia! Praise the Lord Africa! Praise the Lord Antarctica! Praise the Lord!
I just love it! Today’s GOOD NEWS is a reminder that God is good, gracious, great, strong, all mighty, all powerful, all knowing, and eternal!
I can’t talk about God without getting truly excited in my spirit! Have you ever heard the scripture “deep cries out to deep (Psalm 42:7)?”
When I think about Jesus and what he’s done for me, when I think about Jesus and how he set me free, I can dance, dance, dance, dance, dance all day—all night!
What has God done for you? Bear witness to God’s deliverance! What has God rescued you from? Tell everyone about your test-imony! How have you noticed God at work in our world? Let everyone know that, “God is good, all the time!”
When I was a little girl, the old folks would say, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all that he has done for me, my soul cries out Hallelujah, thank God for saving me!”
My friends, we ought not to save our praise only for those days when we find money in the street (THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU JESUS! Laughing…).
We ought to praise our living and very real God every day, all day long, and in every circumstance!
Now let me tell you something. As you take on an attitude of gratitude at least three things are going to happen. First of all, you are going to feel closer to God for the Bible says that, “God inhabits the praises of God’s people (Psalm 22:3).” Secondly, you are going to be happier because you are focusing on the positive rather than the negative. Finally, your non-Christian friends are going to become attracted to your faith and to your Jesus.
See, when we live a life dedicated to the declaration of God’s love and God’s goodness, God illuminates our lives allowing us to become shining stars in darkness!
As we declare the awesome truth that God loves, gave, and saves, our non-Christian friends encounter the unconditional love of God revealed in Jesus’ death on the cross. As they come to believe and affirm the resurrection, they live into the forgiveness of sin and eternal life that God has offered as a free gift to all people!
What wonderful GOOD NEWS! Our praise, worship, testimony, and witness make a difference to God, God’s people and God's world!
Today, will you make up your mind to declare God’s goodness to anyone who will listen?
Holy God, you are good and your mercy endures forever! How I love and praise Your Holy Name! Thank you so much for all of the many ways in which you bless me! Thank you especially for Jesus’ death upon the cross! I can’t wait to tell somebody how much you love us! Please set up “holy ghost appointments” for me all across the city. Make me bold in sharing my testimony. I am not ashamed of this glorious gospel, for I know that it is the power unto salvation for all who believe it! I pray all of this in Jesus’ Wonderful Name, Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus" found at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
This was one of Rev Goatley's favorite songs at West Side. I loved it when he sang it! I wish there was avideo of Kirk singing it. I would really enjoy watching the shouts! Its so hard not to dance when thinking about the goodnedd of God. It makes you want to jump, run and dance. Glory to God!
ReplyDeleteI do feel closer to God now that I thank and praise him daily. I am starting to feel different about a lot of things now that I feel closer to God.