All Creation Praises The Lord

Praise Ye The Lord

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 148 KJV

The Fearful Will Sing With Joy

in the habitation of dragons shall be grass...

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

                                                                                 (Isaiah 35:4-10 KJV)

The Lord will make those with fearful hearts sing with joy. That is His promise. He will lead us on The Way where there is nothing to fear. He will save us. He has saved us! We will live in peace as we make our journey through the land that He has prepared for us.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always! Pr. J.

An Unexpected Journey

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-19

I watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey again last night. It was probably the third or fourth time I've seen it. I can't remember, for sure, how many times it's been. In fact, I didn't remember many of the scenes, so it was like watching it for the first time all over again. I first read the book forty-two years ago - a little strange that I can remember that!

I love that little hobbit, who took a chance; left his family and friends; left the comfort and safety of his home (most unlike a hobbit) to go on a very unexpected journey with some very strange traveling companions.

My life has been a strange and unexpected journey. By the time, I was thirty-five years old my life had been more full than I could ever have imagined it could be. I was ready to go home to my Father's house. But, the journey goes on. Yes, I have had to leave behind family and friends on more than one occasion. But, wherever I have been, I have found people to love and who care about me.

I have also had to face much adversity, including more than a few proverbial monsters. Adversity comes with the territory. Facing dragons and orcs happens; confronting evil happens, when one is in the company of Jesus. But, do not be afraid! God is with you! What can be more awesome than that?

It's been quite a journey! A journey that has not quite ended and never will as long as I stay in Jesus' company. Won't you come with me? Won't you walk with Jesus? I promise the journey with him is far more exciting than walking alone or staying at home where there is a perceived comfort and safety in this world. With him, you will know real peace regardless of the turmoil around you.

When Jesus called those first disciples, they didn't say, I have to do this or that first. They didn't say I have other obligations. They left everything and everyone behind to begin a very unexpected journey. There lives did not become peaches and cream. But, they were definitely action packed as they learned how to fish for people.

God's Peace - Pr. J