What is the next gift God has for us? Citizenship in Heaven!
Are you someone who has moved around a bunch in your life? I am. I have lived at 27 different addresses, and I didn’t grow up in a military family. My average is just under two-and-a-half years per address. So, let me tell you, I am so thankful for the gift of being a citizen of heaven.
“This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.” (Ephesians 2:19, MSG).
A few summers ago, the New York Times ran a list of word phrases that are considered “The Happiest Words in the English Language.” They include:
“You’ve been upgraded to first class!”
“Have you lost weight?”
“It’s benign.”
“Let me help you.”
“I love you.”
When a police officer says: “Be a little more careful next time. Have a nice day.”
And then there is this one …
“In the Spring of 1971, the announcement from the cockpit of a United Airlines plane, as it was rolling into position for takeoff from Vietnam to San Francisco. There were about 250 military personnel on board. ‘The tower has already cleared us for takeoff. Let’s go home.’”
“Welcome Home.”
Jesus has these comforting words for us:
“There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.” (John 14:1-2, NCV).
The context is similar to that of a groom in the ancient days who proposes to his bride-to-be, then returns to his family’s home. He builds an addition to that house — a room for himself and his new bride. And when the construction of the room is completed, and he receives his father’s blessing, he returns to get his bride, and they are married and return to the new home he just built for their new family.
It is the same for us. Isn’t it great to know that we will always be welcomed by Jesus in heaven, no matter our wanderings, failures, or successes? That is such a great gift!
So open your arms and receive this homecoming gift this Advent, the gift of citizenship in heaven.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the precious gift of knowing that you have prepared a place for me to call home in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
Could it be that work is a gift? Absolutely! And not just any work, but work to do for God. Important work. Necessary work.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB).
Now, at first blush, this may seem quite contrary to the previous verse of being saved by faith alone, but really it is not. It is actually an affirmation.
Do you know that God has something for you to do today? He has ordained it. Good works, not for our benefit nor even so that we will earn our salvation, but a project, a deed, a word to speak, a hug to give, a stack of dishes to wash, a bed to make, or a prayer to offer. Yes, God can rearrange circumstances so that these works, these tasks that we do in His name, could come from someone else, but He delights when we do them because, by our doing them in His name, our faith is built up, and we are then drawn into a deeper relationship with the Father.
Let us not forget that Jesus did good works, even when it was considered unlawful to do so!
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6, NIV).
The Pharisees didn’t know what to do with a law-breaker like Jesus when He performed good works.
When we do good works, this is what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Feeding the poor. Handing out a water bottle to someone in the park on a hot day. Building a wheelchair ramp. Cleaning up a widow’s yard overgrown with weeds and shrubs. Simply loving our neighbor.
But please be careful. Many well-intentioned folks will tell you that your good works will earn you a special place in heaven. Only God’s grace and unconditional love grant us access to the eternal Kingdom.
Do you know that the word “workmanship” means we are God’s masterpieces? He is Creator. We are the created ones. Lovely. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Works of art. The best way to showcase God the creator, God the artist, is to do the good works He has for us. So, let’s do them out of love for the Creator! Out of love for the ability, the gift, of doing them so that His Kingdom is increased.
So, roll up those sleeves and get going. You have work to do! Receive this gift joyfully, the gift of work to do on God’s Behalf.
PRAYER
Father God, help me to be your hands and your feet today. Help me love my neighbors as I love myself. Help me to do good works in your name. Not because it will benefit me, but so that You may be glorified and so that Your Kingdom will come on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
Have you ever received something totally free, with no strings attached? Marketing executives often create advertising campaigns around free giveaways. They’re called “B1G1F.” That’s advertising speak for “Buy One, Get One Free!” Or “BOGOFree!” You know deep down that whatever they give away isn’t free, is it? Somebody had to pay for the free product being given away, right? That person is usually you, in the form of buying something else in the store at a greater markup to cover the cost of the free giveaway.
Well, the gift of salvation is free for you and me. All we have to do is ask for it, and God is quick to give it to us.
Immense in mercy and with incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in the highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play a major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. (Ephesians 2:4-9, MSG).
When you read this, you can’t help but see that the gift of salvation is a beautiful gift of faith, given not because of anything we’ve done but because of God’s love. He wants to shower grace and kindness upon us. Do you remember when someone just showered grace and kindness upon you? Even when you didn’t deserve it? Perhaps it was a parent, a teacher, a spouse, or a close friend.
God gives. We receive.
If you are a giver, sometimes it can be really hard to receive, can’t it?
There was a season in my life when I gave and gave and gave. I had this spreadsheet all worked out, and I was on track to give away half of my income by the time I turned 50 years old. And then I lost my job. It was my turn to receive. Boy, was that ever a challenge! But God taught me something. In order to truly appreciate the gift, I had to joyfully receive it. During this time, an almost complete stranger gave us a couple of thousand dollars. It was a sacrifice for them to give. I didn’t want to receive it. But then, I realized that if I minimized the gift, I minimized the giver.
Thanks to Jesus’ death on the Cross of Calvary and His gift of laying down His life, we have the gift of life and life eternal. And if He hadn’t been born during this Advent season, He could not have given us this incredible gift.
So open your hands, get down on your knees, and receive this most wonderful gift- the free gift of salvation.
PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the ultimate gift, the free gift of salvation. Please give me a heart that truly appreciates this gift and the giver. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
Trained bank tellers and others handling money can distinguish between real currency and counterfeit. The real stuff has markings embedded between the bills’ fibers that can be seen when one knows how to examine the money. Real. Genuine. Authentic.
The third gift is being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV).
It is a gift to be sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit!
What does it mean to be sealed in God by the Holy Spirit? Think of a letter or edict in the days of Paul. It was common for a king to write a letter on animal skin parchment, roll it up, and then dip his royal signet ring into hot wax and press the wax onto the parchment, sealing the letter, assuring that if anyone opened the letter, they would crack the seal. It made the letter authentic. It was certified as coming from the king.
So what happens when God seals you with the Holy Spirit? It makes you authentic. It certifies that you are from God and that God protects you. Whoa! Your life as God has chosen you is to be read by others as someone who is “of God.” That is a pretty big responsibility, isn’t it? However, here’s the good news. If you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and walk in the ways God calls you to walk, you reflect God naturally, or perhaps we might say “supernaturally.”
Recall that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his followers.
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth. For He will not speak His own message; but He will tell whatever He hears and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of what is Mine and will reveal it to you.” (John 16:13, AMP).
The Holy Spirit is leading you into truth. You are reflecting that truth to others. You are sealed, and that seal “is given as a pledge of our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:14, NASB). It’s a promise from the King! We are His children. We will spend all eternity with the King. More appropriately, we are spending all eternity with the King. He promised it. He sealed it. It’s done. What a gift!
Open your hands and receive this gift today — the gift of being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the gift of being sealed with your Holy Spirit. I am your authentic child who represents the King of kings. Protect me and help me reflect You today in all I am and all I do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
If you do a Google search on the word “adopted,” you’ll find heartfelt story after story of a child being adopted and given a new life when the birth parent(s) could only provide much less. There are countless examples of the famous and obscure enjoying a fresh life thanks to adoption and being chosen.
God is the ultimate adoptive parent. He has given us the choice of whether we want to be adopted by Him through His Son. Being the omnipotent God that He is, He knows what our choice will be while urging us to become His child. The next gift? Adoption.
“In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5, NIV).
Some get hung up on the word “predestined.” Some would suggest that if God has predestined whether I go to heaven, I don’t need to get caught up in His decision. I can act as I want. Since it is mentioned in several other places in the Bible that God wants everyone to be saved, then I’ve been predestined to go to heaven. It doesn’t matter how I act, right? No, that’s not right.
Predestination means God has the plan — and it’s a good and great plan — but we choose whether we will follow it. When we choose God, we receive the inheritance, like sons and daughters. God’s plan for us is clear:
‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’ (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
So, why wouldn’t we accept God’s plan for us? It’s a great plan. It’s a wonderful gift!
John Calvin, one of the early Christian faith leaders in the 1500s, wrote and preached much on predestination. He suggested that no one can live a Godly life without the Holy Spirit in him, without God calling that person to be a believer.
Why would a person want to be God’s son or daughter? Romans 8 says God’s love for each person is so immense that nothing can contain God’s love for us. Calvin wrote:
“When we have our adoption engraved in our hearts, then … we have a good and infallible pledge that God will guide us unto the end, and that since he has begun to lead us into the way of salvation, he will bring us to the perfection to which he calls us, because, in truth, without him we could not continue so much as a single day.”
God has called us. God has elected us.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of … the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NASB).
God has predestined us to follow Him, embrace the great things He has for us, and love Him. I am thankful for that gift because, with it, He is the One who guides us through this life on our path to spending all of eternity with Him. He guides. We choose.
So the second gift is the gift of adoption. Adoption, as being called God’s son or daughter, and all the love that goes with it!
PRAYER
Thank you, God, for this gift of adoption, of being Your child. I joyfully choose to be your child and receive all the love you give me as my unfailing heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
No trips on donkeys. No angels singing. Not even a baby in a manger. Yet, there are still 25 gifts God wants to give you for Christmas. We can find them in a little, six-chapter book halfway through the New Testament. These are The Greatest Gifts, as revealed in Ephesians. Along the way, you’ll find the gift of love, the gift of salvation, the gift of unity, and many more. Prepare your heart in a special way this Christmas season by receiving, and giving, God’s greatest gifts.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Advent, the season that heralds our Lord Jesus and leads to the celebration of His birth. This devotional will perhaps take a slightly different slant to the season as we open Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. Why Ephesians? You are right to suggest that the book isn’t very “Christmasy.” There are no stories about trips on donkeys, a baby born in a stable, or angels singing outside the window.
However, the book of Ephesians mirrors many writings throughout the Bible. It includes these two main points:
God loves you and has a plan for you.
That plan includes the gift of hope, glory, power, wisdom, and the love of Jesus, our Messiah.
Even if you have never bowed your knee to Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, know that God loves you and has a plan for you, and He has good gifts for you, His child.
So, let’s take the month of December, between now and Christmas Day, and give Ephesians a closer look. At its core, we’ll discover 25 wonderful gifts God desires to give each one of us. They are The Greatest Gifts. Are you ready to receive them?
A prayer for you from the author and rabbi Paul:
For this reason, eve I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:15-23, NIV).
The very words of God.
Paul starts this prayer by offering thanksgiving for the people of the church congregation in Ephesus. He asks God to give them all wisdom and revelation so that the people may know God better, and then Paul prays for their hearts — that each may know His hope, His inheritance, and His power! Finally, he affirms that that power is the same that raised a dead man to life — Jesus — and, in its fullness, is available to us, filling everyone in every way.
DAY 1 – The Gift of Every Spiritual Blessing, which is the Gift of Love
December, Christmas, and gifts. They go hand in hand, don’t they? Do you remember the best gift you’ve ever received? How about the worst gift?
Sometimes, it’s a matter of perspective. My sister tells the story of a gift she and her husband once gave each other — gutters. Yep, gutters. You might not think that’s a very romantic gift, but rain gutters were an extravagant luxury for this newly married couple building their first home. So it was a delightful welcomed gift for each!
There are things we want and things we need. I believe there are three basic categories of “needs” that we all have:
Physical needs: food, water, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs — tangible things.
Emotional needs: happiness, peace, tranquility. Those are generally easy to identify, but this third one is sometimes harder to grasp.
Spiritual needs. What are the spiritual needs we have?
One definition is from a man named Howard Clinebell. He is a clinical psychologist and a university Ph.D. He says we all have at least seven spiritual needs in our core. The first is this:
“All people need to experience regularly the healing and empowerment of love — from others, from self, and from God.”
Love!
Paul says right at the beginning that Jesus “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3, NASB). Jesus is the source of spiritual blessings! So it makes sense that even the worldly scientist, Dr. Clinebell, says that spiritual blessing is love because we know that 1 John 4:8 says that “God is love.”
Jesus is the One who gives us the greatest gift we can have — every spiritual blessing. Love!
I can live without physical needs like a house or food for a while anyway. I can survive without emotional needs. I don’t have to be happy. I can choose to be grumpy, but I would say that none of us can fully live the lives that God has for us without embracing the unlimited spiritual need for love — provided by the grace-filled hands of Jesus.
That gets us back to the greatest gifts.
“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him may not be lost but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NCV).
Open your hands and receive the season’s first gift – the gift of love, the gift of every spiritual blessing!
PRAYER
God, thank you for the gift of every spiritual blessing. Help me receive it with joy. Help me receive Your love this Season, and help me give joy and love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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This advent devotional can be found on the YouVersion Bible App here.
You are invited to join Linda and me for a Bible Study Tour in The Land. This is an adventure where we will uniquely experience this special place. We will hike. We will feel the breezes coming off the seas and laugh as we are splashed by cool water in the desert. We will walk along rolling meadows and rocky crags. We will taste amazing foods. We will hear rushing waterfalls and the quiet prayers of men and women at the Western Wall.
Each day we’ll open the Word of God in about six different locations. We’ll read the Text. We’ll look around. God will speak to all of us in a very special way. Our hearts will be changed forever.
And yes, we will walk where Jesus walked.
The Sea of Galilee. The Mediterranean. Jordan River.Capernaum.
Jerusalem. Mount of Olives. Mt. Arbel. Jericho. Bethlehem.
Dead Sea. Qumran. Ein Gedi.Massada.
We’ll see The Land “from Dan to Beersheba, and from the Great Sea to the Jordan River.”
ITINERARY
Day 1, October 8. Travel to Israel on Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, Turkey.
Day 2, October 9. The Central Plains, the Shephelah. Jewish culture overview. Samson. David and Goliath.
Days 3-5, October 10-11-12.
Southern Desert. Ein Gedi. The Dead Sea. Qumran. Massada. Camel ride. Our three-night stay is in a four-star hotel overlooking the Dead Sea.
Days 4-6, October 13-14-15.
Travel north up the Jordan River, through Jericho to the Sea of Galilee Region. Mount of Beatitudes. Capernaum. Bethesda. Chorazin. Mt. Arbel. The Syrian border. Boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. We stay three nights at a working kibbutz where you can enjoy your morning coffee along the water’s edge.
Day 7, October 16.
Bet Shean. Mt. Carmel. Caesaria. Armageddon. Bethlehem.
Days 8-10, October 17-18-19.
Jerusalem. Mount of Olives. Garden of Gethsemane. Via de la Rosa. Church of Holy Selplecher. Temple Mount. Rampart walls walk. Yad Vashem. We’ll explore the ancient underground tunnels and walk on top of the walls of the Old City. We will stay three nights in a four-star hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 11, October 20.
Fly home from Tel Aviv, through Istanbul, Turkey. Thankful for all God has revealed to your heart while in The Land.
Total costs are to be finalized by November 2022, but at this time are estimated to be around $5,000 per person, all-inclusive (airfare from a major U.S. hub, 4-star hotel accommodations, fabulous food and dining, ground transportation, special excursions, tips — everything!).
We will host a Zoom info meeting in early October 2022 which will cover all your questions. Additionally, you can go to the GTI website, here, for more details, photos, packing lists, and stories. And click here for our trip blog from 2019. Or here for the trip blog from 2013.
We’d really love to begin to gather names of folks who might be interested in journeying with us to Israel. So, please send an email to rich@richlyspeaking.com to make sure you’re kept in the loop and invited to the Zoom call. Being on the call doesn’t commit you to anything!
This will be my sixth time exploring Israel. Like opening the Word, I learn something new each time.
GOD REDEEMS 3,000 SOULS — A LESSON FROM JERUSALEM’S SOUTHERN STEPS
There are steps in Jerusalem that used to lead to the Temple at the top of Mt. Zion. Thirty-one of them are still there. A wall blocks the remainder. You can visit them today. In Jesus’ day, the steps led all the way up to the main level of the Temple Mount. Everyone walked up these steps. Likely Jesus did. Often.
Many believe on these very steps, the Church was born. It is where the New Testament church received its power.
Unleavened bread, or matzah, and four glasses of wine are key symbols used to celebrate Passover.
PASSOVER begins this Friday evening, April 15, 2022, on the Jewish calendar. Many Christians celebrate the holiday on the Thursday evening between Palm Sunday and Easter. A Passover Seder (pronounced SAY-der) is a meal and celebration that tells the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from the bondage of Egypt and Pharoah. The Bible’s book of Exodus tells this story.
What follows is a Haggadah — or Story– that affirms Jesus as the Passover Lamb. Some may suggest it is misguided for Christ-followers to celebrate a Jewish holiday such as Passover. But I would say, Jesus is our Messiah. He was a Jew. This meal is likely the “Last Supper” He celebrated with the disciples in the Upper Room on the night He was betrayed, on the evening before Good Friday. It is very appropriate for believers in Jesus to celebrate the story of the Exodus, as it represents our own story of being in bondage to sin and death and our journey to freedom and life. In the days of Moses, life was given to people of faith by the blood of the lamb painted over the doorposts of houses. Today, we receive life by way of the blood of Jesus “painted” over the doorposts of our hearts.
Passover lasts for eight nights. Feel free to celebrate a Passover Seder any night, not just the first night. Make it work for your family. This is a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to join you. Because of social distancing, maybe you celebrate via Zoom or Skype.
Before you gather, you’ll need a few key ingredients for your table:
Two candlesticks in candle holders.
Wine or grape juice. You’ll be pouring four glasses for each participant, so be sure to have enough on hand for everyone.
Matzah bread. You’ll need at least three full-sized squares on a separate plate wrapped in a cloth or linen napkin. Plus, you’ll want enough for everyone to enjoy as much as they’d like.
The Seder Plate includes items that we’ll feature throughout the evening, including: a lamb shank (you can get this from the butcher at your local grocery store), a dollop of horseradish, a sprig of parsley, charoset (which is a mixture that includes chopped apples, honey, and cinnamon). You will also need in separate bowls/small plates enough horseradish, parsley, and charoset for everyone to enjoy at least a small taste.
For your table, you’ll need a bowl of fresh water (like a cereal bowl) and a smaller bowl (like a ramekin) of salt water (just enough salt to taste salty, maybe 1/2 teaspoon).
A red ribbon, scarf or piece of yarn, about three-to-four feet in length, for each participant.
You’ll also want to have prepared your main course of the evening meal, and keep it warm in the kitchen. You’ll take the first 30-45 minutes of the evening telling the story.
In most families, the father will read through the narrative. There are times when there is a responsive or group reading as well, so it is helpful for everyone to have their own copy, or a shared copy, of the “script” for the evening. Also, this is a very family-friendly event! Children are encouraged to participate. There is a specific place where they are to ask questions, but if you’d like, feel free to allow them to interrupt with queries and laughter. Our Seder is a time bathed in much grace. Sometimes we recline on the floor (more on that later). One year, we actually roasted a lamb on an open pit in the backyard. We often have coloring pages and snacks available for younger children. Feel free to be as creative as you like as you demonstrate your love for God’s plan of redemption in the life of your family.
WELCOME
Welcome in the name of Yeshua, Jesus our Messiah! Tonight we will celebrate Pesach (PAH-sach)… Passover. This is the celebration of the most incredible feast on the Jewish and Christian calendars. It intricately weaves a story of God’s power, faithfulness and love for mankind in both the Old and New Testaments. It was celebrated in the Ancient World, in Jesus’ time, and is still celebrated in traditional Jewish homes today.
The first Passover was not a celebration (see Exodus 12). It was a night of apprehension, fear, and expectation for the beginning of a new journey for the children of Israel. The Bible tells us that the Hebrews were to take the blood of a perfect lamb and paint it on their doorposts. By following this command, the Angel of Death who moved through Egypt that night would “pass over” their homes. But since the Angel of Death did not pass over Pharaoh’s house, and his firstborn son was taken from him, his hardened heart was finally softened and the next morning Pharaoh let the Hebrew slaves go free. This meal that we celebrate tonight, the Seder, is symbolic of the rush to leave Egypt and the bondage it represents.
We also celebrate the significance of Yeshua’s last meal, sometimes called the “Last Supper,” a traditional Passover meal, with His disciples in the Upper Room. There is a lot of symbolism between the Old Covenant meal and the New Covenant meal. We hope you’ll enjoy learning how Yeshua tied the two meals together… and how it is applicable to us all.
Tonight, we tell a story, the Haggadah (hah-gaw-DAH), of how the blood of a lamb saved the people of God in the Ancient times… and still saves today.
John 1:29: The next day, John the Baptizer saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Reading: Luke 22:7-20. (This can be read by one of the children).
Hallelujah! We praise you, LORD! We thank you for this beautiful conclusion of these prayers, hymns and ancient writings. They speak with love and strength and grace and power for today as well.
With all our being and with every kind of musical lyric and instrument, we offer our loudest and most joyous praise! When we think of heaven with its majestic throne and sparkling rivers of life, we know the language of eternity will not be English or Spanish or even Hebrew. The language of heaven is joyful worship and eternal praise!
Your every deed is too marvelous to describe. Your surpassing greatness has no words. All we can do is sing. From the bottom of our hearts! With every breath we take and every word we speak and every step we take, we give you glory and honor and praise!
We make a joyful roar of praise to you today! We join with every living creature in praising you, our Lord and King! Hallelujah!
We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.
RichRonald.com 