Love Notes

Ways to Praise

Psalm 147:1, "Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" Psalm 146:2, "I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Psalm 150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

Gary Chapman described five different love languages. Some people say love with words and others with deeds. We each have our own ways of expressing how we feel about someone. In the same way, we each have different ways to praise God. The writer uses words. The poet's words may rhyme or come in stanza form. The artist paints his praise on canvas. The musician plays his praise on his instrument. The singer sings his songs of praise, and the composer praises God through the songs he writes. The housekeeper can praise God by making a comfortable home for her family. The breadwinner can praise God by providing for the family he loves. A mother can praise God when she cradles her small baby and marvels over the perfection of the little person she holds. Children can praise the God of creation as they inspect such marvels as bugs and worms and rocks and flowers. It is almost impossible not to praise God at the seashore as we contemplate the seemingly endlessness of the ocean in contrast to the myriad tiny sea creatures which spawn our fascination. And gazing enraptured at the mighty snow capped mountain peaks evokes a natural response of awe and worship and praise. We can live lives of praise to God by obedience to His word, our righteous behavior, and kind deeds done in love to others. The most direct praise language is prayer. It is, most of all, through prayer that we tell God how much we revere His greatness, His goodness, His wisdom, His mercy, and His grace. Our God is a God of infinite variety, and it is so exciting to see that there are many ways for us to praise and worship Him. What are your favorite ways to praise God? What praise languages might you use today? Mighty God, I praise You with my whole heart today! Amen.

We Would Like to See Jesus

John 12:21, “…we would like to see Jesus.”

One year, several days before Christmas, I put a manger scene on the table in my entry hall. Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus were placed inside the stable. The wise men and some shepherds were gathered closely around the stable, worshipping the baby. Some camels, a cow, some sheep, and a goat completed the grouping. My granddaughter, Mary Frances, who was 3 years old at the time, walked over to see the crèche. She took one look and began rearranging the figures, pulling the animals, the shepherds, and the wise men back away from the manger. When I asked her why she was doing that, her reply was God’s Christmas message to me. She said, “So I can see Jesus.” This was a reminder to me of how easy it is to allow other things to obscure my view of Jesus and how important it is to move aside anything that blocks my sight of Him. Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

Lord Jesus, may I never allow anything to keep me from seeing you. Amen.

Dumbest Bird

Philippians 1:6b, “…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I have met the world’s dumbest bird. My husband I built a “get away” house at the edge of a wooded area. Everyday a male redbird would fly into our windows, time after time. He would thump into the glass, retreat to the porch rail or a nearby tree to rest, and then smack into a window again, leaving ugly streaks on the window panes. Whatever the bird’s intention was, his behavior was self-defeating, and he never learned to change his tactics. Sometimes I, too, make the mistake of continuing habits that bring undesirable results. I eat the same foods and fail to exercise and still hope I will lose weight. I don’t want to make any changes or exert extra effort, but I want new outcomes. That’s redbird thinking. If I want my life to be different, my actions must change. Fortunately, the One who never changes is not only willing but desirous of changing you and me. Sometimes I feel like giving up on improving, but thankfully God never does. He is always at work in us to do and to will of His good pleasure, molding us more and more into the image of Christ.

Thank You, Father, that even though I am not the person I want to be, neither am I the person I once was. You are truly working Your changes in my life, and as I look back I am encouraged to see real improvement. Thank You that You never give up on me. Amen.