Tag Archive | praise

Worship and Praise

Sep14

“All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah. — Psalm 66:4

Do you ever think on Sunday morning, as you are worshiping the Lord in hymns, about others gathered together worshiping the Lord God?

I imagine all the churches of the world gathered in one accord giving praises to Almighty God. I know with time zones that this image is not reality but I so look forward to that day when it will be reality — all nations bowed in worship to the Sovereign One.

I wonder what God sees on Sunday mornings as the sun moves from east to west and people are getting ready to go to a gathering place for worship. Does He see a continual 24 hour worship? Is He pleased by what He sees and hears on His Sabbath day? Does He see an eagerness amongst His people to bring offerings of praise and worship to His house? I wonder.

How will your worship be different and will it be pleasing to the Lord today? Draw near to Him and give yourself in worship today.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Be Careful Little Eyes

Aug6

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, — Romans 8:5-6

Remember the children’s song “Be Careful Little Eyes”? As I read this verse today this song came to mind. I have often wondered why this song is considered a children’s song.

For those who may not know the song:

Be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little eyes what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little ears what you hear
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little ears what you hear.

Be careful little feet where you go
Be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little feet where you go.

Are not the things we as adults put into our minds as important as what children’s minds are exposed to? If we are honest with ourselves we would do so much better if we read, watched, listened to and went places that were not in contrast to God’s Word. What we fill our minds with will effect where our feet walk, what comes out of our mouths and our actions.

A few years back when my children were young, (okay, more than a few years back), I removed offensive movies from my house. I stood on the belief that if it wasn’t good enough for my kids to see, it wasn’t good enough for me to see. Since then I have wandered from that but was quite convicted today when I read this verse. Am I being careful what I feed my mind? What am I watching on T.V.? What am I reading? Would I be doing these things if Jesus were standing or sitting right next to me in the flesh? Hmmm. I wonder.

If I am to be obedient to God’s Word and bring Him glory through my life, then I need to be careful what I see, hear and where I walk.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. — Philippians 4:8

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Return to Worship

Aug3

This is a devotion written September 16, 2008 (long before I had a website). Still believe it is pertinent.

2 Chronicles 29:5-6, 10-11, 15-16, 18, 29-30, 35b

5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6 “For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs.

10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”

15 They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord.
16 So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the Lord they brought out to the court of the house of the Lord…

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the Lord,…

29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

35 … Thus the service of the house of the Lord was established again.

I wanted to put the whole chapter but had to pick and choose. It spoke to me of our churches today and of our own temple. Repentance, cleansing, praises, humbleness and worship. True, pure, clean worship. I believe we are so lacking. Pray for our churches today. Pray for revival. Pray for a return to purity, cleanliness, a humbleness in worship, a true reverent worship of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Until I See His Face

Aug2

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. –Philippians 4:18-20

As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. — 1 John 2:27-28

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. — 1 Corinthians 13:12

God most high and holy
To You I send my praise
You are all I need Lord
Each and every day.

You are my strength and refuge
My courage in the race
Help me, Lord, to press on
Until I see Your face.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessed Are We!

Jul18

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. — 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Wow!!! Hallelujah!!!! Praise God!!!!!

Our Father forever and ever
He is greatness and power
He is glory and victory
He is majesty
He is the ruler over His creation
He has dominion over all
He is the giver of riches and honor
His hand holds power and might
It is by His power to make great and strengthen everyone
O Glorious Lord
Thank You
Praise You

Blessed are You, O Lord. Blessed are we, O Lord!
Know Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Praise the Lord!!!!

Jul13

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. — Psalm 146:1-2

So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. — Psalm 63:4

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. — Psalm 104:33

Whenever or however you spend your time in worship I pray that at least once a week it is spent with church family. I hope that you worship our King in spirit and in truth. Praise Him with all your being as you lift up your voice in songful praise and your hands to the name above all names. Worship and praise Him with all your being as long as you live. He is worthy.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Lovingkindness

Jul4

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 136:1-9, 26

Today was an absolute day of blessing after blessing from my wonderful Lord. He knows my heart and blesses it. He knows my needs and meets them with blessing. I could ask for nothing better than my wonderful Lord for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Praise and glory to the only true God worthy of worship and praise!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Lord Is Good

Jul2

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Cloudy With a Chance of Glory

Jul1

These are some of my favorite verses regarding the glory of God:

It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. — 1 Kings 8:10-12

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. — Exodus 40:34-35

in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. — 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.” — 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

The cloud came down and filled the place with God’s glory. What was the reaction of the people? The priests could not stand, Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle, all the sons of Israel bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. The effect was to worship and praise the Lord.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to actually see the glory of God in it’s full array? What would be your response? When you worship the Lord, like on Sunday, do you bow down in worship and praise to the Lord – at least in your heart? What is the state of your heart in the presence of the Lord? Truly His lovingkindness is everlasting and He is worthy, oh so worthy, of our praise to His glory!

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. — Revelation 15:8

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

From Where Do You Seek Your Praise?

Jun25

How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God? — John 5:44 (AMP)

Do you seek the approval, glory, honor and praise from others? Is their praise necessary for you to live for Jesus? Is their approval necessary to serve God?

Jesus said,”I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame]” in John 5:41. Jesus sought the approval, glory, honor and praise from the Father. Jesus served the Father to bring Him glory, honor and praise and in turn the Father exalted His Son. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (Philippians 2:9)

Then if Jesus is our role model we need to seek to honor God. Jesus said that “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” in John 12:26. Following Jesus takes belief in Him as the Son of God who died on the cross for us and was raised on the third day by God Himself. It takes following in Jesus’ footsteps. It takes seeking God’s approval rather than the approval of men. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:18)

Let us seek Jesus so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. (John 5:23) Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. (1 Chronicles 29:12) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (1 Peter 5:6)

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. — John 12:43