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Filled with Praise

8/27/2019

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PSALM 117


117 All you nations, praise the Lord.
    All you people, praise him
2 because the Lord loves us very much,
    and his truth is everlasting.

Praise the Lord!
 
Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm in the Bible but it packs a wallop.  Some students of the Bible have calculated that there are there are 1189 chapters in the Bible (depending on the translation chosen). So the very center chapter of the Bible is the 595th chapter. This would be Psalm 117,  which also happens to be not only the shortest of Psalms but shortest of chapters in the Bible.

It is a psalm directed to all peoples.  Whatever we believe, where we live in the world, what color our skin is, what language we speak, what our circumstances are, we are commanded to praise God

Indeed, praise is mentioned in three of the five lines of the psalm.  There are actually seven different Hebrew words for “praise.”  Can you imagine having so many words for praise?  That shows how important and central worship was in the lives of the people of Israel.

The Hebrew root for the praise word used in Psalm 117 is “halal.”  It is the root from which we derive the famous word “halleluiah!”  The range of meaning for halal is: "to be clear, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish."

Halal reminds us that there’s times when we just got to let go of our inhibitions and give it up for God, just let we would let loose at a baseball or football game. 

Through the outpourings of our heart,  halal  makes us spiritually shine.  Halal leads us to do those things we normally wouldn't do, like reach out to a stranger, to speak up in situations where we feel timid, or to go that extra mile no matter how foolish it appears.  Halal reminds us of the words of the prophet Jeremiah 9:24:

“ but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.”

The apostle Paul latter refers halal to in 1 Corinthians 1:31:” Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." 

So praise is not just about shouting and clapping our hands.  It's about living and loving as Jesus taught us.

We practice halal simply for this:  God loves us – and God’s truth is always with us.   God’s truth is that our God is a God of love for all peoples, and as the prophet Jeremiah spells out for us, we have a God who delights in kindness, justice and righteousness on earth.   

So let us be “clamorously foolish” and let us “shine” in kindness.  Let us “boast” in our pursuit of justice.  Let us “celebrate” righteousness/right living in all our days.  Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!    

How will I shine today in my good deeds?
How will I go out of my comfort zone to love well?



Pray:   "Praise you God!  May the words of my mouth and the actions of my live forever give you praise."

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Two Is Better than One

8/20/2019

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Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble... A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 )


An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits.

When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats.

When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: ''UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''

'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa culture means: "I am because we are".


We cannot be reminded often enough of how much we need each other. Our lives are interdependent.  We live under the false illusion that we can take and take and take, and the impact on others and the environment doesn't matter.  As Christians we are taught that Jesus has befriended us, we are one body, and need each other to function well spiritually. We share the joys together, and the sorrows.  We learn patience, compassion, kindness, forgiveness and mercy by living out our lives together.

As God refines in us  a vision of life and service together in his name, let us remember UBUNTU. Jesus lives -- so I am because we are.

Finally, remember this story? JACKIE ROBINSON was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the crowd booed. Then, without saying a word, shortstop Pee Wee Reese went over and stood next to Jackie. He put his arm around him and faced the crowd. Suddenly the fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

That's a friend. That's how we should be. UBUNTU.

"One Last Summer Spiritual Secular Song"....

Listen to:  "That's What Friends Are For," sung by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John. This recording of the song was done as a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and pop music history was made. The single spent 4 weeks at #1 and earned 2 Grammy Awards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE9KT_dU_R8

PRAY: "God, give us the courage to be a true friend - who stands with someone in need, and considers the needs of others"
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble... A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 )Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble... A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 )

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Every Person Is Important

8/13/2019

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"Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, "Talitha kum!" (which translated means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!".  Matt. 5:41.
"Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "I say to you rise" Luke 7:14

It is not surprising that two of the three miracles Jesus performs raising someone from the dead involves  young persons.  

It's not easy being a young person.  

Being a mom of two young persons, it was painful and heart-breaking at times watching them navigate those tween/teen aged years. Girls are bombarded to look like the air-brushed photos in fashion  magazines or ads. They are either too skinny (are you anorexic or something?) or a little chubby (what are you pregnant)? So body image disorders an self-esteem issues abound.  Boys are under the same scrutiny too -- and between the extra-curricular, grades, and other expectations, the pressures are enormous.   And if you happen to have a special-needs child, the struggle becomes particularly poignant and difficult.

For years I prayed daily for my children (well, I still do!) that God would lead them through their struggles, become real in their lives, would give them role models,  and would keep them safe and guide them to make good decisions.  They are making it.  Maybe not how I thought they would, but they are finding their way, in a manner that's authentic and true to them.  So we pray not just for our young people, but for ourselves -- to love them as God does, and accept them for who they are, for whom God is calling them to be. 

May God bring to life all that is dead within their hearts -- and ours.
 
Listen to: this amazing cover of “Perfect,”(by Pink) performed by AHMIR (listen to the end)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliHyklHr6c 
 
PRAY: “Help us to create safe spaces for the children and youth among us. May they know they are loved by us and by you.”
 

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    Author

    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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