Children Can Praise God

Psalm 148:7a, 11-13

Praise the Lord from the earth…kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

How incredible it is that in the same breath, God charges both kings and children to praise God. God values their praises just as much as any king or judge or ruler. It is just as important for any child to praise God as it is for any person in authority. God listens to children just the same and he sees them as just as capable to praise God as their parent or any other adult.

Adults can tend to dismiss, overlook, or underestimate their little hearts but they have their own soul and through Christ can have their own personal relationship with God!

What a wonderful God we serve - so understanding, so tender, so compassionate, and so loving of each and every person. Praise God for his word which gives us insight and instruction and guides us in truth.

A desire to know God

The greatest desire to cultivate in life is a desire to know God:

Psalm 84:10

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

Psalm 63:1-5

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

1 Samuel 16:7b

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Acts 13:22

I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Psalm 119:20

I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations

Jeremiah 30:21 (NIV)

For who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?

Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

1 Chronicles 28:9

And Solomon, my son, learn to know (get to know) the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.

Deuteronomy 6:5

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Who's really on trial?

John 19:10

Pilate: "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?"
Jesus: "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above."

Despite his trial, flogging, and crucifixion, it was Jesus and not Pilate or the Jewish religious leaders who was in control.  The high priest was filled with anger and jealousy.  Pilate was insecure and wavered on what to do because he didn't think Jesus should die but he also wanted to appease the people.  But Jesus stayed composed because he knew his mission, and knew his Father had a plan for the persecution he was facing.

Jesus was on trial before Pilate, but he knew a secret:  Pilate and the Jewish leaders were on trial before God.

Inventor of the Dollar Store

The gentlemen who invented the concept of the dollar store just passed away.  His genius led to the ubiquitous dollar stores we now see, as well as the dollar spot at Target.  Interestingly enough, he died a billionaire.  It reminds me of this quote from Thomas Edison:

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Really, is there anything that creative or spectacular about the idea of a dollar store?  And yet, no one had come up with the idea before Dave Gold.  I am certain that the reason for its success is not any sort of genius, however, but through much perspiration


Proverbs 21:5 says it this way:

"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts leads to poverty."

The Wise Listen

Exodus 37:1 Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood

Bezalel not only made the Ark, but all the other utensils, curtains, furnishings, and coverings that were used to make the Tabernacle.  He was especially gifted by God to craft all these things (Ex 36:1) as well as to teach his skill to others (Ex 35:34).  In fact ten chapters of Exodus (25% of the book!) is devoted to the plans for the Tabernacle and the craftsmanship that Bezalel and others faithfully carried out.

The common quality of wise people is that they listen to others.  Why did God take the pains to ask Moses to write down ten chapters devoted to the plans and construction of the Tabernacle?  After all, so much of these ten chapters merely repeats itself.  Because it underscores that fact that Bezalel listened carefully to God and faithfully carried out his commands.  He stands in stark contrast to the rest of the Israelites (see story of Golden Calf, Ex. 32).  Though it took him approximately one year (Ex. 40:1), much of it probably mundane, Bezalel completed the task God gave him.

What tasks does God have in mind for me to complete?  Am I carrying them out with diligence, faithfulness, devotion, and joy?  Am I setting an example for others with my attitude, focus, perspective, and diligence?  Am I allowing others to learn and participate in my work, like Bezalel did? (Ex. 36:2, 35:34, 35:21)

The common quality of wise people is that they listen.  Am I listening to God and obeying?

String Theory

Isaiah 55:12

The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

In science class you learned that atoms are the building blocks of all matter and their nuclei are made up of protons and neutrons.  What you may or may not have learned is that protons and neutrons are made up of even smaller particles called quarks.  Recent scientific research by physicists have led to a theory that quarks (and other related elementary particles) are in fact tiny, vibrating loops of string.

Brian Greene in "The Elegant Universe" writes:

The universe - being composed of an enormous number of these vibrating strings - is akin to a cosmic symphony

With each scientific discovery more and more passages like the one above prove to be beyond just poetical, but in fact scientifically accurate.  The mountains literally are singing!  The trees are clapping! (Albeit on a subatomic level)

Epiphany of Early Disciples

John 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Counselor, Comforter, Encourager), who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth... 

You know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you... 

I am leaving you with a gift of peace of mind and heart.

Imagine the range of emotions the disciples must have felt around the first Easter.  Confusion and fear when Jesus talked of his death and betrayal.  Grief and sadness following his trial and crucifixion.  Then tremendous joy and surprise when they discovered he'd been resurrected.

And then of course Christ ascended and the disciples waited in the upper room for days praying for something they didn't quite understand - this counselor, the Holy Spirit that Christ spoke of.

And then finally on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on each one of them and I imagine that it suddenly would have all made sense - "Oh...THIS is what Jesus meant!  He intended to leave this world so that he could come and live inside EACH ONE OF US!"

What a joy, a privilege to have God himself living inside of each one of us everyday to guide us and lead us in all truth.