Praise the Name of the Lord

Psalm 148 English Standard Version (ESV) Praise the Name of the Lord 148 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens;     praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels;     praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon,     praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens,     and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!     For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever;     he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.[a] 7 Praise the Lord from the earth,     you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist,     stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills,     fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock,     creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,     princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together,     old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,     for his name alone is exalted;     his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people,     praise for all his saints,     for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! AMEN

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Stand in God's Way?

Acts 11:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV) 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” That last phrase, “who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”, speaks volumes to me.  I think it all the time.  Who am I to say God hasn’t called them or you?  Who am I to say that their love isn’t real?  I’m just me, Sherri.  I don’t know anyone else’s heart, I can’t hear what God is whispering in their or your ears, just as you can't hear what he is whispering in mine.  What I do know, is that God can work in and through anyone he chooses.  What I do know is that God has called me to love all, to serve all and to judge none. Lord of All, Help us to love as you love, to see you in everyone, to love all.  Amen.

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Made Pure

Acts 11:7-9 Common English Bible (CEB) 7 I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’ 8 I responded, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 The voice from heaven spoke a second time, ‘Never consider unclean what God has made pure.’ It’s easy to become confused with all the information that is out there for us.  Peter grew up with the laws being drilled into him.  “It’s the way it is.  This is what we do, this is what we believe.”  I think we can all say that we have probably fallen into this type of thing.  But then the voice comes back and tells him it’s ok.  God has made it pure!  It’s a little like he’s being told, “Hey, we are doing a new thing.”  This would have felt like quite the change I imagine and well, change is hard.  We still experience things like this today.  Things happen that make us realize that what we thought was unclean, impure, is the old way of thinking.  Maybe, like Peter, we are being told, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” Holy God, Help us to see the new things you are doing around us every day.  Remind us not to call unclean what you have made pure. Amen.

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Fear

Acts 11:1-3 The Message (MSG) God Has Broken Through 11 1-3 The news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish “outsiders” were now “in.” When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: “What do you think you’re doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?” Fear.  That’s what I hear in these verses.  Fear of having their “good name” ruined.  Fear of something different than what they have always believed, fear of letting the outsiders in and fear of change and the unknown.  Fear makes us do crazy things, even in the name of the Lord.  We need to learn to not let fear have its way with us.  We need instead, to trust in our Lord and follow his lead of loving. Gracious God, Help us to turn our fear over to you as we live in love.  Amen.

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Just As I Have Loved You

John 13:34-35 English Standard Version (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you”.  How did he love while he was here in the flesh?  He healed, he taught, he prepared meals, he shared meals, he spent time with the people.  He loved them and invites us to do the same. No, he commands us to do the same. How are we doing at this?  How are we loving others?  Are we taking time to be present with those around us – friend and stranger?  Are we sharing meals, are we preparing meals?  Can those around us see that we are his disciples? Loving Lord, Help us to be more like you, to love more like you.  Amen.

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"A Psalm for Giving Thanks"

Psalm 100 English Standard Version (ESV) His Steadfast Love Endures Forever A Psalm for giving thanks. 100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2     Serve the Lord with gladness!     Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God!     It is he who made us, and we are his;     we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,     and his courts with praise!     Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good;     his steadfast love endures forever,     and his faithfulness to all generations. Amen.

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Believe the Works

John 10:37-38 English Standard Version (ESV) 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Have you ever been doing something good, something you felt God call you to, only to have others mock you, or shame you, or criticize you?  Yeah, me too. It doesn’t feel too good but rest in the knowledge that we are in good company.  Jesus was put to death for the works he did in God’s name but he knew that no matter what he couldn’t be separated from him and neither can we.  Keep doing the hard things, ignore the naysayers and feel God’s peace in doing God’s work. Gracious God, Give us strength and courage to do your work even when others try to deter us.  Amen.

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Never separated

John 10:28-30 English Standard Version (ESV) 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” Isn’t it comforting to know that we cannot be separated from God.  No one can snatch us away from him. We are his forevermore.  Lord of all, Thank you for your gift of unfailing love.  Amen.

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