Give Joyful Thanks!

Psalm 100; KJV; So much good around us - let us make a joyful noise in thanksgiving!

Praise The Lord; Psalm 146

Psalm 146; Praise Him for all that He has done for us.

Time For Joy!

Reading from Psalm 100 KJV with brief meditation on focusing on the good not the bad. Don't be tempted to spend your life depressed over what the world does; rather, rejoice in what God has done.

Advent: Be Prepared

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

                                                                                            (Luke 21:25-36 KJV)

On this first Sunday in Advent we look to and prepare for the day we will celebrate the birth of our Savior on Christmas day. We are also reminded to prepare for the day when he will come again in full glory.

The gospel according to St.Luke reminds us to be prepared. Stay away from the things that will steer us away from our preparation to receive Christ and his kingdom in all of their glory. 

The things of this world can be great distractors from living our lives in the Kingdom of God, in the presence of God. Stay awake! Be aware! Prepare for the day that you will meet your maker and savior face to face.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Put Not Your Trust In Princes

Psalm 146 KJV

Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.

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Put not your trust in princes! What a reminder these last few weeks have been of that! Our rulers too often do what they think will get them elected or reelected or keep their prestigious appointments with no mind paid toward those who will suffer because of their decisions.

May God be with and have mercy on all who have been left behind because of the decisions of our leaders! May God have mercy on all of us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

All God's Creature Praise The Lord!

Psalm 145:10-22 KJV

All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

+++

Let all of God's creation praise the Lord!!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Rejoice In The Lord's Mercy

PSALM 85

Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

+++

He has forgiven us. He spoken peace to us in that he has reconciled us to himself by the sacrifice of his only begotten Son for our sins. We have been revived; given the opportunity to dwell in his glorious presence. Let us rejoice in our salvation!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jesus Is The King Over All Kings

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Psalm 72:11

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

(Psalm 72:1-14 KJV)

+++

There is one King and on King alone that can save us. His name is Jesus the Christ!

For some unknown reason many have deluded themselves into thinking that the government can help us. We even think that the government is going to make sure we are fed. The government will make sure that we have a roof over our heads. Look around. That has not happened. It has not happened in capitalist or socialist countries. 

The governments around the world are made up of fallible human beings who have their own agendas. However, this King Jesus who abides in all who love him helps those in need through you. His agenda that is to love you.

After Jesus had risen from the grave he asked Peter, who had denied him three times at his trial, if he loved him. When Peter said that he did, Jesus told him three times that if he did he would go and feed his sheep.

"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (John 21:17)

Jesus didn't tell governments to go and feed his sheep. He told you. He told us to. 

At one of the parishes that I previously served; I not only had local people stop by the parsonage for assistance with their needs, I often had travelers stop by my home (usually near midnight) who needed assistance. Some needed gas or a ticket home; some needed shelter (motel for the night); some needed food. Many of the travelers seemed to be coming from Canada. In fact there were so many coming from Canada, I finally asked one of the travelers how he found me since neither the church or the parsonage were on the main highway. I jokingly asked if there was a sign at the Canadian border in Sault Ste. Marie with my address for anyone needing help. He laughed, as well, and told me that he had stopped by the State Police and they gave him my address. 

I cannot help but wonder with all the shut-downs due to COVID-19 how many people in need knocking on church doors to seek assistance are finding the churches closed and no one to help. I am assuming that not too many Police Departments are handing out pastors' addresses so those in need can knock at their homes. 

The governments of the world cannot; do not; and will not help everyone in need and sometimes when they do attempt to they actually cause more hunger and homelessness with their rules and regulations that go along with the assistance. We have been witness to that. 

But, the King of all creation can help. He helps through you. He helps through everyone of his followers who hear his call to "feed his sheep."

There is only one King who can save us. His name is Jesus!

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Mercy and Truth

 PSALM 85 KJV

Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

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Thy Word Is Truth

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

                                                                                  (John 17:15-21 KJV)

On the night that Jesus was betrayed he prayed that his followers might be sanctified through the truth which comes by God's word. He prayed not just for his followers of that day; but, for all followers who would come in the many generations to come. Without ever seeing Jesus in the flesh those generations would be sanctified and united with the Father and one another by hearing the word of God; by hearing the truth. And, it is so. 

Evangelists of every sort have been proclaiming the Kingdom of God through Jesus the Christ for two thousand years and through that word proclaimed many have come to believe that Jesus died that they might live eternally in the presence of God in the Kingdom of God.

Let us continue preaching this Good News for faith comes by hearing the word of God; hearing the truth. 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:13-17)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

His Love Endures Forever

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deut 7:9 KJV)

To a thousand generations; he keeps the promises of his covenant. How awesome is that! Those promises that he made thousands of years ago to have mercy on us and to save those who love Him the Lord keeps. 

The covenant He made through the blood of Jesus were not meant just for the people of that generation; but, to you and me and to our children and to their children. His love for His children will endure forever.   

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

                                                                                            (Rom 8:35-39)

Do not neglect to tell the generations; your children and their children that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus; not any troubles and especially not time, because His love for them endures forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Care For Your Children!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." (Psalm 127:3 KJV)

For at least a couple of generations now, I have witnessed children being neglected and some abused. Sure, most, but not all, have adequate food, shelter, clothing, etc.. Most of the children are physically provided for. But, not all of them. This morning, the neglect that I'm thinking of isn't due to lack of caring for physical needs. The neglect that I'm thinking of is when love is withheld and abuse is allowed to occur. Parents will cover for each other to save face. Some children are even left to, in effect, raise their parents because their parents put themselves before all others. They put themselves before God. They put themselves before their children. Sometimes, they have a lot of fun with their children. They horse around and play with them because that makes the parents feel good for the moment and then they are off to do their own thing.

There are some who say that there are many children raising children. Sadly, in many cases it has gone beyond that. The children are raising their parents and they are not equipped. I am not saying that the whole world or all parents are being raised by their children. But, way too many are. It really is up to the parent to raise up a child in the way that they should go. It is not up to the child to take care of the parents needs and desires. It is not up to the child to take the fall for a parent who cares only about their own future.

"Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:14)

Wake up, as they say, and smell the roses. Your children are a gift from God. Care for them, guide them, teach them, love them as God loves you. Do what is right by your children and love them even as they love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Happy Are They Whose God Is Lord

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
  he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
  the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
  the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.                                               Psalm 33:10-12 NRSV

Are we a happy people or not? Some days, yes. Many days, it seems as though, as a nation, we are not. There is way too much division and that division comes because, as a people, we do not listen or follow the will of the Lord. But, we must know that the Lord is God and His will will be done whether we listen, like it, or follow him or not. The further we pull away from him to do our own will, the less peace and joy we will know.

We can know the will of the Lord and we will all know it if we bother to listen to him. Happy would be the nation whose God is their Lord.

It is an absolute truth. The Lord reigns! Listen to his counsel!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thankful That I Get To Stay Home On Black Friday!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5 NRSV)

Today, I am very thankful for a couple of things.

1. I am thankful for the internet. I did my Black Friday Christmas shopping online early yesterday morning so I do not feel compelled to go out shopping today! I do not feel compelled to get run over in any store today just to get a deal on something no one I know actually needs. I am thankful that I will not be in any store today feeling frustrated because it is so crowded that I cannot push a cart down the aisle.

2. I am very thankful that I am a pastor and not a clerk in a store today. I would probably have a very difficult time being nice for an eight hour shift. So, I am thankful that I will not be tempted to lose my temper with complete strangers today. My husband works in a home improvement store. He works eight hours today. I am very thankful that I am not him today.

We each have our limitations and our gifts. I have a pretty good idea of what both of mine are. Therefore; I can use my gifts for the good; and avoid the problems that would come with me overstepping the bounds of my limitations.

Let us give thanks and praise to God for giving to each of us specific gifts to serve others. Let us pray for all of those clerks who have to deal with people who are pushing their limits.

May your Black Friday be stress free.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Who Is The Antichrist?

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 

                                                                           1 John 2:22-23 NKJV

So, exactly who is the antichrist? According to St. John the antichrist is anyone who would deny that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Son also denies the Father. Whoever denies either is a liar and the antichrist.

Next question: How does one deny that Jesus is the Christ? Response: By trusting in our own good works for our salvation. When we trust the world, ourselves, anything or anyone before Jesus the Christ we are denying him; we are denying his power and authority to save us.

The antichrist is not some mythical being. Generations have looked for the antichrist and pointed their fingers at various political or religious leaders saying, "he is the antichrist; these are the last days." Pointing the finger at one person only distracts us from looking within ourselves to see who it is that actually abides in us. Is it Jesus the Christ or the antichrist?

May the Word of God abide in us and we in him. May God help us to trust him above all others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job's Sacrifice; Our Prayers

His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. (Job 1:4-5 NIV)

Yesterday morning, as I was praying for a few generations of my family, it suddenly occurred to me that Job had done pretty much the same thing for his children. Of course, my prayers only included thanksgivings and petitions; whereas, Job's included sacrifices of burnt offerings.

It was Job's custom as is the custom of many parents and grandparents to worry about what kind of relationship their offspring have with God. Are they sinning against God? Are they cursing him in their hearts? And; if so, have they the wisdom to repent; to ask for forgiveness? Do they even recognize when they have sinned against God?

Considering that I might sound like Job praying for his offspring; it brought just a bit of fear into my heart, as for all of Job's praying his story was not a happy one. For all of his sacrificing, he lost everything that he owned. His children were all killed when a windstorm destroyed the house that they were partying in. 

We hear, in Job's story, only the outcome of his children's lives here on earth. We hear nothing about the fate of their immortal souls. Who can tell about that, other than God?

Job had worried about the relationship his children had with God. He had made sacrifices for them; just in case! The truth is that no matter how much we worry about our offspring we cannot do a thing to save them. Assuredly, we can pray  But, there is no offering; no sacrifice that we can make that will save them. The Good News is that God is concerned about the eternal fate of our children. He is so concerned that he sent his only begotten son to be the sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of our offspring.

May God bless our children and all the generations to come with the wisdom to seek him before all things so that they might live in peacefully in his presence for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Other Gods

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
                                                                         (Deut 5:6-11 NIV)

I spent many, many, years as the wife of an active duty Marine. The U.S. Marines have a saying: "God, Country, Corps." That is in proper order. God always comes first. There can be no other gods. There can be no other priorities. When faithfulness to God comes first, faithfulness to our other obligations just falls into place, with the help of God. But, if we cannot be faithful to God, then we will not be truly faithful to anything or anyone else, either.

As a Marine Corps wife, I spent a lot of time alone raising two sons, as my husband was deployed for far more than half of his career. I had no family near. It was a good thing. Through this time, I learned that there is one who I can trust all of the time and that is God. Through this time, I learned that there was one who loved me like no other. God was there when no one else was. I wasn't always thrilled with the way He worked things out; but, I came to know and trust that no matter how He was working them out; they were being worked out for the good.

The best thing we can do for our loved ones, for our country, for our world, is to fear, love and trust God above all things; and to follow in the way He would have us go. His plan is perfect for us. Ours is not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Everything Was Created Beautiful

The Beauty of Creation

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. . Eccl:3:11-12 NIV

There are very few things that I enjoy more than being able to experience the beauty of God's creation. He has made both man and animal; He has made everything beautiful; everything awesomely wonderful, in it's own time. His handiwork is way too much for us to be able to fathom. Yet, humankind has worked very hard at making things ugly by striving after things that do not really make us happy; by not doing what is good for all of God's creation. 

I know it sounds just a bit arrogant; but, just think about it... What was the last thing that God created? According to God's word, it was us. He created humankind on the sixth day. All those others things were done prior to our being. Before they were created the earth was not ready for us to inhabit. They were created for us and not for us to abuse or destroy; but, for our benefit. And, not just our benefit; but, for the benefit of generations to come. Therefore, we must care for all of God's creation that the beauty of it all might be a pleasure to behold for every generation to follow us. 

May God help us to see the beauty of His creation and care for it that it might bring delight to our children and their children until the day of the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Of This Generation, Consider The Word Of The Lord

"You of this generation, consider the

     word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel

    or a land of great darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;

    we will come to you no more’?

Does a young woman forget her jewelry,

    a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

    days without number.

How skilled you are at pursuing love!

    Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.

On your clothes is found

    the lifeblood of the innocent poor,

    though you did not catch them breaking in.

Yet in spite of all this you say, ‘I am innocent;

    he is not angry with me.’

But I will pass judgment on you

    because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’"

                          Jeremiah 2:31-35 NIV                                         

Stand your ground! I read in the local news last night about a man who is appealing his conviction of murder by using the "stand your ground" defense. He claims the man he was arguing with, who was standing on his own property on the other side of a fence, was threatening him. Indeed, they were arguing. But, the man that was shot and killed did not have a weapon. The man who claimed it is was not murder but self-defense was carrying a weapon. After arguing with his neighbor, he had gone into the house purposely to get the gun to threaten his neighbor. He came out and continued to argue with his neighbor with the end result being that he shot his neighbor five times, killed his neighbor, and then claimed self-defense. He had been found guilty. Yet, he still claims that he did no wrong. He did not sin. 

Just because we think our stories will justify us does not make it so. We do a lot of justifying of our sins. We would really like our sins to not be considered sins. It would be nice if everyone (including God) smiled upon our sins and let us keep on keeping on as we were. It would be nice to be able to do whatever we want; whenever we want; to whomever we want without consequences. But, it does not work that way. There are consequences for sinning against others and there are consequences for sinning against God.

Jeremiah reminds us not only how it is that we sin against man; but, how we neglect and sin against God, as well. He reminds us to consider that there are many who would say that they worship the one true and Almighty God. Yet, they neglect and forget to give God all glory and honor; while they would never forget to put on their jewelry before they leave the house! They forget to worship the One who gave His very life, that we might drink from the waters of life; eat from the tree of life. Is the life of Christ less valuable than our jewelry? 

Yes, we are free to roam wherever we please. We can do that. But, remember that there are consequences in this world and in the next for our actions and inactions. Confess your sin and return to the LORD destroying the false gods that you worship that you might be truly justified by the blood of Christ shed for you. The lies and the false gods can do nothing good for you! They can do nothing! They are worthless! But, the One who loves you enough to save you from your sins, by dying for you, can and does do all things for the good of those who love him. Trust him!

God's Peace - Pr. J  

Make A Joyful Noise

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100 NIV

I do not like noise for the sake of noise. I never listen to music at home or when I am driving. Music during worship or at concerts or at youthful events is good for me. But; normally, I like things quiet so I can actually hear things that are going on around me like sirens coming up behind me on the highway or someone at the door. Nor do I consider shutting out the sounds of God's creation nor the possibility of hear His voice as a good or a wise thing to do.

However, there is a time and a place for joyful music. I do enjoy listening to and watching music come alive as it's presented by young people that I know. They are so full of enthusiasm when they come together as a group to make music or to dance or even to skate. Music has the ability to affect our moods; our emotions. Some music can bring us way down, which is not so good. Some music has the ability to bring us up when we are down. Joyful music presented by joyful youth is especially good for the calming of our souls.

I do not care to listen to music just for the sake of having noise to distract me or fill in the silence. But, if there is to be noise, let it be joyful sounds that will gladden the heart; let it be music that will glorify God.

Let the noises be joyful songs of praise as we live in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

God's Peace - Pr. J