Psalm 97:6 - God made it!

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
     and all peoples see his glory.

I saw this cartoon posted on Facebook earlier today, then I read my psalm for the day and the two went perfectly together. This psalm mentions the earth, shores, clouds, darkness, fire, lightning, mountains and the heavens rejoicing and proclaiming his name.

Lord, thank you for the gorgeous creation you have made. Please help all to see your hand in the majesty of this earth. Amen.

Matthew 5:11-12 - Bible Study Challenge Day 3

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Question 1 - How are we persecuted as Christians today?

We are persecuted when our government creates laws which do not allow us to follow our beliefs, when people make fun of our lifestyle and when we loose out on jobs and opportunities because of our faith.

Question 2 - What are the blessings that come from persecution?

Our openly displayed faith may not make us popular, but that may help keep us away from some temptations. Also, some doors may be shut because of our beliefs, but God will open other doors. The world may not acknowledge our sacrifice, but Heaven and God applaud us when we are persecuted.

Question 3 - How can we rejoice and be glad in the face of persecution?
We can know we are doing the right thing and that it is God they are rejecting, not us. We can be proud that people are noticing that we are Christians!

Lord, thank you for helping us to see the blessings in persecutions. Please help us to let our light shine and not be concerned about the negative consequences, Amen.

Psalm 70:4 - Amen

And the Church said...Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - A guide for daily living

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

It's easy to say and hard to do, but really, if we live this way every day we will be living in God's will. Rejoice always - allow the peace that passes understanding and the joy of the Lord to always be felt inside and seen by others.
Pray continually - talk to God about everything all day long, let prayer be your inner monologue.
Give thanks in all circumstances - there is always something to be thankful for, even in the most difficult situations.

Lord, thank you for telling us your will for us. Please help us to rejoice, pray and give thanks. Amen

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - God is good, all the time

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

This reminds me of a phrase I have heard many times from my sister-in-law, "God is good, all the time." This same sister-in-law taught a class about the song Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman. From a post on June 18, 2015, "God is worthy all the time regardless of our current situation. In good times and in bad we must choose to praise and worship God. When the Lord gives and when the Lord takes away we must choose to praise and worship God." Habakkuk is prophesying and complaining to God about permitting the evil in Judah to go unpunished, then using an sinful nation to execute judgement.Yet in the midst of these complaints, Habakkuk remains in awe of the Lord and says he will rejoice and be joyful in God.

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to come to you with our complaints and sorrows. We will honor you and rejoice in your name in all situations. Amen.