Shout to the Lord!

Posted on April 22, 2009 by lesjr.
Categories: General.

Anybody have any fears, worries, or anxieties that are full blown?

What about those little nagging uncertainties with the nasty habit of popping up from time to time?

Aren’t you tired of hearing about the recession?

If we are not careful, Christians can get caught up in and defeated by the doom and gloom that often surrounds us.

Instead of fear and worry, let your mind wrap around a couple of Psalms…

Psalm 98

 1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
       for he has done marvelous things;
       his right hand and his holy arm
       have worked salvation for him.

 2 The LORD has made his salvation known
       and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

 3 He has remembered his love
       and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
       all the ends of the earth have seen
       the salvation of our God.

 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
       burst into jubilant song with music;

 5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
       with the harp and the sound of singing,

 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
       shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

 7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
       the world, and all who live in it.

 8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
      Let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the LORD,
       for he comes to judge the earth.
       He will judge the world in righteousness
       and the peoples with equity.

 

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

 2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
       come before him with joyful songs.

 3 Know that the LORD is God.
       It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
       we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.

 

There is much to be thankful for—much to sing praise about!

When fear assails, try shouting for joy!

 

Les, Jr.

 


 

1 comment.

Mission Impossible, Mission Improbable, or Mission in Progress?

Posted on April 15, 2009 by lesjr.
Categories: Church.

Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
NIV

This scripture captures well the essence of Jesus’ earthly mission/ ministry.

After his ascension, his mission became ours.

Not mine alone. Not yours alone. But ours.

Our mission is to teach and preach and live and share the Good News of Jesus.

Everything else pales in comparison. Everything else either comes after is a part of proclaiming the Gospel.

Too often it appears when we are interested in ministry, it is either a ministry directed toward ourselves or at least some portion thereof is for our own gratification or self-edification.

Personally, I like edification. I like being uplifted. I thrive on fellowship. But it is time to get back to our mission. Amazingly enough, when we are about the mission/ ministry of Jesus and not our own self-satisfaction, there is edification in abundance.

After all, there can be no greater edification than to hear the words of the Master, Well done, good and faithful servant!

How’s your mission going?

Les, Jr.

 


1 comment.

I Will Rise

Posted on April 8, 2009 by lesjr.
Categories: General.

With all of our struggles of late—finishing up school work and the unknown we are wrestling with health wise for our son Cole in particular and life in general—the same things we all face in one way or another, I find myself in a not-so-unusual position: the music on the radio has touched me again.

I listen these days almost exclusively to The Message, a channel on Sirius Satellite Radio that is Christian Contemporary in nature.

I have been enamored of late with a new song called In the Hands of God by the Newsboys. I like this satellite station because I get to hear some of the latest stuff even before it has been released on CD. Such is the case with this really rocking tune that sums up so much of my life.

It’s a great song. You can hear it here: http://www.myspace.com/newsboys

As much as I like this song—I am listening to it now since I had to look up the URL to share—it is a song by Chris Tomlin that has quite literally brought me to tears and raised goose bumps up and down my arms—more than once.

I Will Rise (Songwriters: Louie Giglio, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves, and Chris Tomlin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yvfso4Q8xg

There’s a peace I’ve come to know though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul I can say “It is well”
Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed the victory is won He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear and my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed the victory is won He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing, “Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart, “Worthy is the Lamb”

 

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
 

 

As the Christian community all across the world remembers and celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, I am thankful that because Jesus rose from the dead, I will rise as well!

How about you?

Les, Jr.

1 comment.