The Gift of You
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You”
Psalm 63:3
It was Mark Twain who once said, “I can go for three months on one good compliment.” It’s true. Most of us would admit that we could hear ninety-nine compliments in the course of the day and one negative one and we would find ourselves dwelling on the negative more than all the positive. The book of James reminds us that bitter and sweet water cant come out of the same well.
As I was preparing for this last weekends teaching and again last night for our mid week study a couple of different passages alluded to praising God as both a gift to us for the ability we have to be able to worship the true and the living God and as well, to be able to offer our praise to God as a gift from us to Him. One commentator said that our praise is the only thing God doesn’t already possess. It makes perfect sense in that everything that exists does so because of God and all things that have been created were created by Him and for Him, including me and you. And yet God does not force us to worship Him. Yes, God knows those who do and will but He does not force us to give Him praise. God created mankind in His image and that means we have the ability to reason and to choose.
It’s no wonder King David was considered a man after God’s own heart. We read all throughout the book of Psalms of David singing to God and worshipping Him. I have always been drawn to Psalm 32 since the first time I read it when I gave my life to the Lord back in 1980. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” King David undoubtedly “whistled while he worked” and sang out loud as he traveled from place to place. He is credited after all with 75 of the 150 Psalms that make up the book of Psalms. You could say King David always had a song in his heart. How about you? Whats the song playing in your heart today?
C. H. Spurgeon wisely said, “He who praises God for blessings will always have blessings for which to praise God.” One of the reasons David was so blessed throughout his life I believe is that he determined in his heart to be one who continually praised God. Everything is contagious, even our worship and praise. Have you ever heard someone whistling a tune or singing a song and then later on you find yourself whistling, or singing the exact same song and thinking to yourself, “where did that song come from”, as you remember hearing it earlier that day.
Many of the Psalms David complied were captured for us in the book of Psalms and thousands of years later men and women and children are reading the words on paper and suddenly a song is birthed in their heart that they too find themselves humming or singing. King David’s love for the Lord and the joy he knew from worshiping God became an invitation to me and you today as Psalm 34:3 proclaims, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
There is nothing like the church coming together and singing God’s praises and worshiping Him. There is a dynamic in corporate worship that cant exist in worshiping alone. Not only do we grow in the knowledge of God and our understanding of Him, our appreciation grows too. Even though the primary means of worship is to express God’s worth and to bless His name, we are shaped and changed each time we enter into heart felt worship. It’s been asked often throughout the ages, “What do you get for the person who has everything?” With regard to God, the number one choice is praise. Give God the gift praise today knowing every time you do its your gift to Him. Don’t forget, your life is God’s gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to God. Praise Him!
“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”
Psalm 63:5
I LOVE YOU!
Psalm 63:3
It was Mark Twain who once said, “I can go for three months on one good compliment.” It’s true. Most of us would admit that we could hear ninety-nine compliments in the course of the day and one negative one and we would find ourselves dwelling on the negative more than all the positive. The book of James reminds us that bitter and sweet water cant come out of the same well.
As I was preparing for this last weekends teaching and again last night for our mid week study a couple of different passages alluded to praising God as both a gift to us for the ability we have to be able to worship the true and the living God and as well, to be able to offer our praise to God as a gift from us to Him. One commentator said that our praise is the only thing God doesn’t already possess. It makes perfect sense in that everything that exists does so because of God and all things that have been created were created by Him and for Him, including me and you. And yet God does not force us to worship Him. Yes, God knows those who do and will but He does not force us to give Him praise. God created mankind in His image and that means we have the ability to reason and to choose.
It’s no wonder King David was considered a man after God’s own heart. We read all throughout the book of Psalms of David singing to God and worshipping Him. I have always been drawn to Psalm 32 since the first time I read it when I gave my life to the Lord back in 1980. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” King David undoubtedly “whistled while he worked” and sang out loud as he traveled from place to place. He is credited after all with 75 of the 150 Psalms that make up the book of Psalms. You could say King David always had a song in his heart. How about you? Whats the song playing in your heart today?
C. H. Spurgeon wisely said, “He who praises God for blessings will always have blessings for which to praise God.” One of the reasons David was so blessed throughout his life I believe is that he determined in his heart to be one who continually praised God. Everything is contagious, even our worship and praise. Have you ever heard someone whistling a tune or singing a song and then later on you find yourself whistling, or singing the exact same song and thinking to yourself, “where did that song come from”, as you remember hearing it earlier that day.
Many of the Psalms David complied were captured for us in the book of Psalms and thousands of years later men and women and children are reading the words on paper and suddenly a song is birthed in their heart that they too find themselves humming or singing. King David’s love for the Lord and the joy he knew from worshiping God became an invitation to me and you today as Psalm 34:3 proclaims, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
There is nothing like the church coming together and singing God’s praises and worshiping Him. There is a dynamic in corporate worship that cant exist in worshiping alone. Not only do we grow in the knowledge of God and our understanding of Him, our appreciation grows too. Even though the primary means of worship is to express God’s worth and to bless His name, we are shaped and changed each time we enter into heart felt worship. It’s been asked often throughout the ages, “What do you get for the person who has everything?” With regard to God, the number one choice is praise. Give God the gift praise today knowing every time you do its your gift to Him. Don’t forget, your life is God’s gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to God. Praise Him!
“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”
Psalm 63:5
I LOVE YOU!
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Test PositiveHow Not To ForgetYour Best Year EverRelationship Over RulesKeep The Main Thing The Main ThingBonding FiresTake Me To ChurchWeight Gain Is GoodNot Seeing Is Believing Everything You Need To KnowLove Wins!Servants Not Slaves8 P's and 7 B'sWhat The World Needs NowThe World Is Falling... Into Place10 Minutes That Change The WorldHow To Kill A ButterflyWhat's The Score?You Can Know For SureWe Need A Good Wind StormThe Little Things
February
The Power of KindnessThe Cure For WorryThe Truth; The Whole Truth; And Nothing But The TruthGod UnderstandsDefining MomentsBetter Than NewLittle's Make Big'sOne Hour Could Change Your WorldInstructions With PicturesGrow Through ItFire and IceA Sweet Sweet SoundThe Way Up Is DownThe Gift of YouThe Cure For DepressionA Flower In Life's SidewalkLets Be FriendsOur Secret WeaponLove Win'sAll Gave Some, Some Gave All
March
2020
January
February
March
Why We Can Be FriendsBe What You Want Other's To BeThere Is A Song In Your HeartThe Afterward of FailureWhy God WhispersDon''t Worry, Be Happy!I Can See Clearly NowI'm In It For The Long HaulTrade In Your Fears For PeaceDaddy Hold YouThe EndA Guy Can't Just Sit AroundThe Birthday Boy!Worry Never WorksPromises PromisesTwenty Inches From BlissFit From HomeThe Silver Lining of SufferingThe Gift of PainDo Not Be Afraid
April
Two Tickets To ParadiseI'll Trade YouNo Substitute For TrustOur Greatest NeedHope DispensersYour Finest HourDreams Do Come True!How To Survive A PandemicFeeling ChippieThe Good In Good Friday!The Dark Before The DawnHow Stars Are BornOne A Day, And Leap Year Too!Please, Breathe On MeYou Can't Afford To WorryChristmas In AprilAre You Jesus?Comfort FoodSocial DistancingNew NormalThe Beauty of SelflessnessThrive Not SurviveDon't Ask Why Ask WhatEmpty Is GoodI Miss Your FaceGet Out Of Jail Free
May
Marriage IS WorkYou Are EssentialThe DestinationCourage Looks Like LoveLive The AmenRelentlessYou're Never AloneOpen For BusinessYour're ContagiousGod's Got Big EarsHigher EducationA Season, A Reason, A LifetimeTo Grope Is DopeYou PickWomen Like GodMaking A DifferenceOne Way LoveBlessed To BlessPeople God Uses
June
How To Defeat RacismDon't Be An AnimalJesus IS The AnswerBefore Not AfterDreams Do Come True!ImagineTell It Like It Can BePeace MakersHold OnThe Name Above ALL NamesThe Real You!Don\'t Lose Your PassionA Tale of Four Father\'sJust Do It For Jesus!IfIn or Out?Stay FocusedPriorities MatterGod's Green Thumb
July
August
Whistle While You WorkDon't Worry, Be Happy!Holy Moly, Just Look At You!You Can Do Hard ThingsJoy Is On The Way!Why Not Me?What's Your Backstory?ForgivenessJesus Is Our RainbowJesus In, Jesus OutThe 7 Factors of FriendshipBecause of YouLord, Teach Me To PrayHopeless End or Endless Hope?The Stress RelieverDefining MomentsA Supernaturally Scheduled DayWho's In Your Boat?
September
Hang In There 5 Minutes More!You Can Do It!What You See is What You GetMountains Were Made To ClimbLet Go, Let GodThe Third OptionWhat Will You Be?Better Than New!You Are A Best Seller!Heaven On EarthPray, Don't PreyTo love Is To ObeyIf I Could Live My Life Over AgainLet It Shine!Need A Hug?A Beautiful MessRun Through The TapeCause and EffectLife Is The PitsJust Say Yes
October
How To Have A RevivalLord, Teach Us To PrayBroken and BeautifulWhy God WhispersDig DeepThings Are Not As They AppearChildlike FaithGreat JobWhat On Earth Am I Here ForSafe In God's HandYou Be JesusYou Never Have To Advertise A FireRetraining ElephantsMission PossibleGo Nuts Today!Don't Hide The CracksOne Step AheadWho's Your Caddy?THINKPeter's Favorite PsalmFound Together
November
Success Through FailureNo FearAgainst All OddsGod Works For You But Not For YouThe Worship of TearsThank God For FleasHow To Thank A VeteranSoar Like An EagleOne Out Of TenHow To Get Through A StormCling OnKeep SwingingChoose Winning!The BlessingLessons From My Washing MachineHow To Put Happy Into Your ThanksgivingWe Exist To AppreciateThe Gift That Keeps On Giving
December
Peace On EarthHope In The DarkLessons From Long LinesHe's Making A List And Checking It TwiceKeep Rolling!You Have A ReservationWhen Heaven Met EarthThe Great Gift ExchangeA Thrill of HopeThe Real DealThe Perfect GiftFace Your FearsWinning Over WorryStability From A StableThe "awe" of HeavenJoy That LastsMessage From The MangerChristmas In Three WordsLook Up Not ForwardJust Because
2019
February
Heavenly RemindersThings Are Not Always As They AppearZihuatanejoSatisfied Wanting MoreGet In The Game!Always The Nails, Never The HammerA Four Footed EnemyAll InWhat's Love Got To Do With It?Lessons From A LeperLessons From A Former LeperNo MatchYour Mess Is Your MessageLessons From Your GPS"Ooooo ooooo ohoohohoo"Jesus MarveledShe Walks In BeautyShaken or Stirred?Bring The Rain
March
I Can't Love You AnymoreThe Gift of AttentivenessWha't Outside Your Tent?I'll Carry YouIt’s Worth The PainWorship On The BrainA Door of HopeGet Busy LivingHow Knowledge Becomes Power Please Do Not DisturbNew Normal5 Minutes LongerOur Conquering KingA Matter of PerspectiveAge Old WisdomFaith Your FearsThe Best Day Of Your Life… Starts Now!Who Grace Looks LikeHow To Have Lifetime JoyTo Know You Is To Love YouMistaken Identity
April
Life After The End Of The RopeLet's Get RealWhy God Made MountainsForgive And ForgetLoving You Is EasySweetly Broken Keep The Main Thing The Main ThingKnow God Know PeaceWisdom Never Gets OldOut of the WhirlwindMonday: A Pure and Holy PassionTuesday: The Passion Of JesusThe Passion Week: WednesdayJesus Love From Head To ToeFriday: The Passion JesusThe Ta-da of HeavenWhat's The World Coming To?A Love InvasionThe Gift of YouI'm With You AlwaysHow Is Your Balance?Bring The Rain
May
In Regards To HeavenHope WinsIshteeLove Is A VerbFinishing WellYour New Favorite BookGod Has No GrandchildrenCrossing GuardsYou Were Made For MomentsLiving Like A Rock StarA Wonder Filled DayLess is MoreAll Washed UpIf Your Child Goes Astray... Pray!Like Parent Like ChildBring Back The KingWith God You ARE The MajorityJesus IS EnoughWe Will RememberYou Are Stronger Than You ThinkEscape ArtistsYou Can't Back Into Your FutureThe Worship of Tears
June
For HankGod's 'GPS'A Friend Like YouDesire Discipline DelightDesire, Discipline, DelightYou Be JesusYour WorthA Living Love StoryThe Gift of GraceThe Power of AmenA Dad For All SesonsStuck On YouJust OneI Hope You DanceIt's Your Turn To ShineGlorious Day!Ancient Social MediaA Door of HopeLiving Like JesusPlease, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
July
Flawed Instruments Glorify GodHelp Is On The WayMay You Always Remain As You Are TodayOne Nation Under GodDivine AppointmentsDon't Trip Over Your PastWho's Counting?ShineLove Is A VerbBig Shoes To FillYou Never Have To Advertise A FireLet The Walls Fall DownOne Small Step, One Giant LeapOur God Rocks!Stirred To ActionThe Power of LoveTo Know Him Is To Love HimJesus Loves Pizza
August
September
October
Broken and BeautifulIn The Hands of The PotterRecognitionExtraordinarily OrdinaryBonded By A BonfireColor EverywhereWords To Live ByThe Best of MeJust Say YesChoose HappyThe Best Weekend Ever!Three Yet OneJust KISSGame ChangerHow To Beat An Escape RoomIt's What's Inside That CountsWhen Longer Isn't Long EnoughThe Whisperer
November
The Healing Power of a HugA Work In ProgressThe Best Day of Your Life Starts... NowYou Have Beautiful EyesLord, Teach Me To PrayFive Star FaithDebt Free LivingWhen Close Isn't Close EnoughHave I Got Something Just For You!Perfect In Any LightYour Strength Is Your WeaknessIt's Only A TestYou're Living An Adventure
Slow The PaceThe Art of AppreciationLasting MemoriesBlack Friday Saved My Life
Categories
no categories