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Tuesday Morning Epistles Welcome to “Tuesday Morning”—A great read on any day of the week.
Yesterday my “In-box” this was flooded with nearly 100 messages from Facebook friends. Most of them sent “Happy Birthday” greetings, but a few went well beyond the subject of birthdays to remind me of how I had influenced their lives over the years. That was very special, and I appreciate all who took the time to write.
Sunday my adult class blessed me with a beautiful cake and a nice card. The lesson was from Psalm 103—you know, it’s the one that begins and ends with “Praise the Lord, O my soul.” My heart was full. So I decided to reduce my manuscript from two pages to one and send it to you for this week’s “Tuesday Morning” piece. It is attached below. Continue reading whenever you are ready to be thankful. Then express your thanks to God--and to others to whom you want to say "thanks." The rest of the week will go better if you do.
Tom Barnard One Very Blessed Man _______________________________________________________________ God Wants Our Praises Tom Barnard
watched the people around me in church during the choir special. The song was one of those that lifts spirits. The piano and organ and orchestra accompaniment added to the excitement of the experience of a church at worship. Two older ladies to the right of me had their hands raised in celebration. Some others in attendance followed their example. I wish I could raise my hands when I praise God, but I am more reserved than most. Even though my hands were still, my heart was raised in praise.
Later I asked myself, “Why are Christians less responsive during worship than they used to be? Why don’t more people raise their hands as an expression of their praise to God? Why are the shouts of ‘Amen’ heard less today than a generation ago?” It may be that they do at your church. Good for you!
I have been studying the Psalms. Psalm 103 was my choice for this week. Have you read the 103rd Psalm recently? If your answer is “no,” lay this epistle aside and read the psalm now. My thoughts can wait.
David was in a mood to praise God. Here is how he began and ended his psalm:
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits… Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”
In his excellent book, Psalms Now, Leslie F. Brandt paraphrased verses 3 though 5 of Psalm 103:
“He forgives all my sins; He touches my afflictions with healing; He snatches me back from the gaping jaws of hell; He covers me with concern and love; He fulfills my deepest desires and gives me meaning for life and purpose for living.”
We live in a secular world that does not experience any of the blessings David enumerates in this psalm. Self-centeredness says, “What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is negotiable.” Selfish people live where sin abounds and where grace is seldom experienced. They suffer natural disasters and personal setbacks like all of us, but they have no God to call upon for relief. They do not understand the depth of love we enjoy with God and with each other. They have no Holy Helper to stand with them and empower them to live godly lives. They are pessimistic about the present and anxious about the future. Their pleasures are tied to what they own and where they go for entertainment. Their joy is artificial. They have no future beyond this life. But believers do! Now you can say with the psalmist, “Praise the Lord, O my soul!”
Whatever problems you are facing; whatever your disappointments; whatever pain you feel, God’s grace is sufficient. God wants to surround you with his mercy and bless you with his presence. Maybe it’s time to begin praising God more and complaining less. Maybe it’s time to join David in singing Psalm 150:6,
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” |