"I'm Thankful For..."

This being the month of November, and considering that toward the end of this month we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day- we will take the 30 days of this month to express our gratitude. First and foremost, I want to say "Thank You" to the GOD, MY SOURCE. The dictionary defines "source" as the point of origin, the beginning place, from which something is obtained. Synonyms are supplier or originator. For me, that's God. James 1:17 (NIV) says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I am grateful to God for all of the good and perfect gifts that He has bestowed upon our family. He proves His faithfulness day after day. Looking back, I wonder why we complain or worry when we have seen Him shower us with blessing over and over, time and time again. Thank You, Jesus, for all that you have done! One of my favorite songs says:

"Dear Jesus, I love you. You're a Friend of mine.

You supply my every need. My hungry soul you feed.

I'm aware You are My Source, from which all blessings flow.

And with this thought in mind, I know where to go."

Philippians 3:12-14

From among the many things we can do, what is the 'one thing' we should choose? Consider Paul's answer to this question in Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV) - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Paul's choice of the 'one thing' involved the most important relationship in his life and his destiny. On his journey with God, he states that he had not yet arrived, but that all of his focus was placed on the prize or the finish line. I think that the lessons to be learned from this are that: 1) We cannot progress if we don't learn to let go of the past. It weighs us down, and slows us down. Let it go. Forget it. 2) We need to look forward to what is ahead. Keep your eye on the goal. Put your energy and effort on what lies ahead. And, 3) We must press on - there will always be obstacles, hindrances and distractions, but if we remain focused on the 'one thing' that matters, we will arrive to our destination.

Luke 10:41,42

Continuing on the subject of focusing on "One Thing" let's consider Luke 10:41,42 (NIV) - "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." There are 'good' things and there are 'better' things - often we settle for many good things at the expense of the better thing. Jesus was visiting in the home of Mary and Martha and the passage says that Martha was distracted by the 'many things' that needed to be done, (cleaning, preparation of meal, hospitality, etc.) while Mary was focused on 'one thing', sitting at Jesus' feet listening intently. These verses are in response to Martha's request for Mary to leave her 'one thing' and help her sister with the work of 'many things'. Jesus tells Martha that her preoccupation with the many things had her worried and upset. Isn't that what happens to us when we get caught up in the many good things and neglect the one thing that is better? May we with wisdom, ponder, evaluate, and choose the 'one thing' that is needed. Choose carefully. Don't forsake the important thing for the anxiety for the urgent things.

Psalm 27:4

Psalm 27:4 (NIV) - "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." One of the challenges of life these days is that we have too many choices. When I was a kid, there were only 3 channels of TV to choose from - NBC, ABC, or CBS. Now with digital cable and satellite we have hundreds of channels to choose from and we still can't find something to watch. It used to be you could have either chocolate or vanilla, - now there's 31# flavors and we can't decide which one we want. (I prefer frozen yogurt :) - 16 different flavors each day.) Our crayon boxes had only 3 colors - now the boxes have 64 colors (some with names we can't even pronounce). I think we need to learn to focus on ONE THING! David's one thing showed his priority and his DESIRE. His one thing was to cultivate a relationship with his God - seeking, dwelling, beholding, and inquiring. (Inquiring hearts want to know) What is our One Thing - our chief desire - our main pursuit? We have wish lists of many things we would like to have and even for prayer we make lists of requests to ask of the Lord. What if you had to narrow it down to One thing? The Message reads this way - "I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet."

Zephaniah 3:17

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) - "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." I just love this verse! It assures me of so many things that bring security, peace, and joy to me. Consider the following: 1) I am not alone - My God is with me. (Good to know) 2) My God is all-powerful, can do anything and everything, and He will save. 3) God thinks that I am terrific and delightful :) (you, too) 4) His steadfast love calms and soothes me - fills me with perfect peace. 5) He enjoys me so much that I make Him want to sing. Can't you just picture His smile, His laughter, His beautiful voice belting out a love song just for you? (I often wonder what songs He sings to us - but I'll share more on that later - you would probably be surprised) My response to this great love is expressed by one of my favorite songs these days says by Jared Anderson: "You dance over my, while I am unaware; You sing all around, but I never hear a sound. Lord, I'm amazed by you, Lord, I'm amazed by you, Lord I'm amazed by you, how You love me."

Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:6 (NIV) - "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Have you ever been out walking and then you get the feeling that someone's following you? Is someone stalking you? Well, you can count on it! Nothing to fear, its all good. We can be certain that wherever we go, every day of our lives, if you turn around and look - goodness and love (mercy) are close behind! They follow you always! The second part of the verse assures us that our status in God's House is not temporary, but permanent! No fear of foreclosure nor eviction. Isn't that good to know? We surely, definitely are being followed. Take comfort in His goodness, delight in His love. Same verse in the Message: "Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."

Matthew 12:20,21

Matthew 12:20,21 (NIV) - "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope." These words refer to Our Messiah and Savior. Jesus is gentle, tender, loving, kind and considerate. He is not harsh, brutal, nor heavy-handed as some would have you to believe. He comes to help, heal, and restore. He sees our weaknesses and is drawn to our brokenness. He understands our hurt, our pain, our situation. I am amazed at his never-ending compassion, mercy, and grace. I love this passage. This is what Jesus is really like. Don't be afraid - invite Him to draw near - trust Him - He touch will bring hope and peace. The same verses from the Message read: "He won't walk over anyone's feelings, won't push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph; the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers."

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 (NIV) - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." Talk about a declaration that is pure 'good news' - this is it! No condemnation in Christ! I have met so many people that have spent much of their lives feeling worthless, guilty, ashamed, and condemned. They rate their 'performance' and feel they will never measure up. They are on a constant treadmill, trying to earn, achieve, and gain God's approval and love. You don't have to do that! You are forgiven and loved! Jimmy Needham talks about this in his beautiful song "Forgiven and Loved." He says he too struggled with the tendency to try to feel better about himself by trying, striving and working harder with the intent of overcoming feelings of guilt, shame and condemnation. I share with you these lyrics for your consideration:

Tell me I’m forgiven and loved
‘Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and how man can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I’m forgiven and free

O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But I bought the lie I still have work to do
Now I’m working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You

O whisper to me now that it’s for real
‘Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
O but that can’t stop the faithful friend
Giving mercy once again as You heal
Here it is I’m feeling it

O He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand Empty pockets, open hands
O there is no condemnation for me

Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven And child, you are loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved.

NO CONDEMNATION!

Spying On The Free

Galatians 2:4 (NIV) - "This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you." Ever been spied on by people who just want to enslave you to their traditions or way of thinking? That's nothing new - its been happening since the beginnings of Christianity. It really bothers some religious people when they see those who are free in Christ enjoying themselves. To some - if its fum, it must be sin. Don't let the spies take you back into bondage for things that are not clearly defined in Scripture. Those who are truly free can really irritate those who only pretend to be free. Same passage in The Message reads: "While we were in conference we were infiltrated by spies pretending to be Christians, who slipped in to find out just how free true Christians are. Their ulterior motive was to reduce us to their brand of servitude. We didn't give them the time of day."

True Freedom?

Check out this passage from Romans 6 in The Message that answers the question - "What is true freedom? "So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!" True freedom is not doing anything you want to do, but doing everything you should do. Before being set free by Jesus Christ, we were slaves to sin and did whatever it dictated to us. If we continue to live the old way we will be right back in the bondage we were in before. Now we can choose to live by God's way that keeps you enjoying the freedom to which we have been called. True freedom!

Free From Sin And Death

Romans 8:1,2 (NIV) - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." We are free in Christ Jesus because the law of the Spirit of life is more powerful than and has triumphed over the law that had condemned us to spiritual, physical, and eternal death because of sin. Being free from the penalty and power of sin we can now live without guilt and judgment hanging over us. Jesus wants us to live by the power and presence of that life-giving Spirit that He has now filled us with. He wants us to be led and guided by the Spirit that brings us freedom and abundant life. Let the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control by the marks of our life in Jesus.

Exercise Your Freedom

There is some very sound advice on the way we should live and exercise our freedom by Peter in Chapter 2 of his letter to the church, verses 15-17 from The Message Bible: "It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government." Whether dealing with friends, family, co-workers, or government officials and authorities; we are called to exercise our freedom by putting others above ourselves and serving them. The proper exercise of freedom will treat others with dignity, love and respect. This serves as a great testimony to spiritual freedom and its use.

Perfect Law Gives Freedom

James 1:25 (NIV) - "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." The perfect law does not restrict and bind you but it liberates you. It is meant to show us who we truly are and move us into actions that bring about the manifestation of God's Kingdom. In the same way that traffic laws are not meant to restrict our driving as much as protect and keep order so that we can be safe - God's perfect law frees us to live and act in a way that is for everyone's good and protection. This same verse in The Message reads this way: "But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action." Check out God's perfect law and in freedom, take action and live by it!

Use Freedom Carefully...

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) - "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Freedom is meant to be enjoyed and shared but it is best used carefully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sinful nature, or flesh, is egotistical and selfish and if we are not led by the Spirit, it is easy to hurt and cause damage to others by the use the freedom we have been given in Christ. Don't separate freedom and love. Look at the way The Message further explains this passage: (verses 13-15) - "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?" Something to think about, huh?

Retain Your Freedom

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Jesus Christ set us free so that we can live in freedom and remain free. Some people have trouble with freedom and resent those that enjoy their freedom so they try to impose their rules, regulations, convictions, and restrictions on you. "You shouldn't do this or that, it's wrong to do that, you're not supposed to go there, you're not a Christian if you..." You must learn to stand firm and not give in to the pressure that is put on you to return back to religious bondage. Don't let yourselves be enslaved again to things that are not clearly taught in Scripture. You have been born again free - so stay free!

Freedom Where The Spirit Is...

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV) - "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." In the New Covenant, life is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in us, on us, and works through us. We are taught and guided by the Spirit. We don't depend on rules and regulations to keep us in step with the will of God, but, rather, we are led and kept by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is always with us speaking to our hearts so that we may know what the Lord wants us to do and say. There is such a freedom in being filled, empowered, and guided by the Holy Spirit. He works by influencing us internally rather than externally. Thank God for the liberty that we enjoy through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Walk In Freedom

Psalm 119:45 (NIV) - "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." God's ways are not restrictive, but liberating. When you understand that God's Word is not meant to bind or confine you or deprive you of good things, you are enabled and empowered to live in the fullness of who God has created you to be and walk in total freedom. God's words are not to be viewed as strict rules, regulations, commandments, "do not do this or that orders" that deprive you of enjoying life fully. Rather, they teach us to understand and respect God's ways - His perfect perspective - that brings us into alignment with the unique way that He has designed us. We are free to choose to the best that God has to offer us - the freedom to love, serve, and be a blessing to those He has placed in our lives. When we seek God and His Kingdom first, our priorities can then be placed in proper order and we can then freely give ourselves to pleasing God and living for Him. This is true freedom!

Free Indeed

John 8:31b,32,36 (NIV) - Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."... "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." True freedom is experienced through a relationship with Jesus, the Son of God ('I Am The Truth' John 14:6), not through an idea. Jesus reveals the truth about God and the truth about us. The religious Jews prided themselves by claiming to be Abraham's children and never having been slaves. (Huh? Did you forget about the years of bondage in Egypt?) Jesus pointed out that spiritual bondage to sin is the worst kind of slavery. The good news is that Jesus sets us free from sin and its hold over our lives! Freedom indeed! The Message says we are "free through and through." The Amplified Bible uses the words stating that we are.. "really and unquestionably free." We will continue to explore the depths of this wonderful freedom in the next few days.

Proclaim Freedom!

Luke 4:8 (NIV) - "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed..." Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One who has proclaimed freedom to those of us who have received Him. We were spiritually imprisoned by our sins and held captive until Jesus our Liberator set us free. We are free because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Freed from guilt, condemnation, and fear of punishment for our sins. We have been forgiven! Completely! Now we must learn to live in the freedom that has been proclaimed over our lives. Do not become enslaved again, by anything or anyone - discover the joy of living free! Freedom has been proclaimed by Jesus - now let us proclaim that freedom to those that are still living in bondage. The Spirit of the Lord is on us now!

Freedom!

One of the most famous phrases from the Declaration of Independence states that three aspects of man's "unalienable rights" are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." We were created by God to be free. Freedom refers to the absence of undue restrictions or confinement and the given opportunity to exercise one's rights, powers, and desires. It's about the power of choice. I want to take this month to look at some of the Scriptural references to freedom - especially where it pertains to the freedom we have in and through Jesus Christ. Many of religion's teachings attempt to control, restrict, and restrain individuals from living in the freedom that God intends for his children. As we will discover, God has called us to live in the wonderful freedom that has been purchased for us through the sacrifice of Jesus. That does not mean that we live irresponsibly or without accountability, but that we live in full enjoyment of the spacious place of grace that God desires for us. This should be an interesting month of looking into the Word to discover God's perspective on freedom.

Greet One Another

Romans 16:16 (NIV) - "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." As a spiritual family, we experience joy when we see one another and there are five passages where we are encouraged to express that joy by greeting each other with a holy kiss. So what is a holy kiss? In our western culture, we are accustomed to shaking hands and sometimes embracing (a hug) when we greet someone. In biblical times it was common for friends to greet one another with a kiss on one or both cheeks. This greeting was practiced by the early believers. There was nothing impure nor sexual about it. I think that it is a beautiful expression of the family type of love that we have for one another when we can show that we deeply love one another when we meet by greeting one another with a holy kiss. It serves as a wonderful testimony to those watching us that we truly love one another sincerely.

Agree With One Another

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) - "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." Amos 3:3 (NKJV) - "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" We all have different thoughts, ideas, opinions, and perspectives. That does not mean that these differences should cause division and discord. Paul says in Ephesians 4 that we are to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. We can experience perfect unity in mind and thought through the Holy Spirit. Diversity does not have produce discord or disunity. Even when we have a different opinion on some subjects, we can maintain a spirit of unity and disagree agreeably without causing divisiveness. When we walk in step with the Spirit, there will be agreement. Unity doesn't mean uniformity or that we lose those things that make us unique. Agreement simply means that we don't impose our own way of thinking on others and we don't let petty things divide us. Let us walk in agreement in the name of Jesus.

Speak To One Another

Ephesians 5:19 (NIV) - "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." Communication is vital to healthy relationships. Knowing that life and death are in the power of the tongue, we must be careful in the way that we speak to one another. Chapter 3 of James is devoted to the power of the tongue. Words can judge, condemn, and kill; or they can comfort, encourage, build up and impart life. We are to live filled with the Spirit and as a result, have hearts filled with praises for God. With our hearts and mind set on things above, we will then speak words of life to those around us. Don't go through the day without a song in your heart because when you are making music to the Lord, it has a positive impact on the words that come out of your mouth. Good things in your heart = good things coming out of your mouth. Speak life to one another.

Submit To One Another

Ephesians 5:21 (NIV) - "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Submission is an often misunderstood concept that is sometimes viewed as bad or negative. However, mutual submission is very important in a relationship when it is correctly understood. It doesn't have to do with being under the control of someone, but has to do with how we value and respect one another. To submit means to give over or yield or surrender to the authority of another. It means to defer to another's opinion, judgment, or decision. When mutual submission is done out of reverence for Christ, it will never be about manipulation of control of others, but rather, with total value and respect for the other person, it is the surrender of oneself to another knowing that they will protect what is in your best interest. This can only be done when we are first submitted to Jesus as our Lord and Master. Then we will unselfishly look out for what is best for those who entrust themselves to us. I submit to Christ, you submit to Christ, then, - we submit to one another.

Admonish One Another

Colossians 3:16 (NIV) - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Admonish is not a common, everyday word in most vocabularies. So, what does it mean? To admonish means to caution, advise, warn, or counsel against something. It also means to urge, reprove, or even scold, but in a mild, gentle, good-willed manner. It is human nature to not want to be told what to do or not do by others. That is why admonishing is best when done with all wisdom. We all have blind spots, things we don't see clearly, decisions to make where we may not understand all of the consequences. It helps so much to have someone who cares enough about you to admonish you. What they may see that we don't see can save us from much sorrow and heartache. That's why a true friend will tell you the truth even if it hurts because it shows that they really care about you. Thank God for the faithful wounds of a friend like that.

Encourage One Another

1 Thessalonian 5:11 (NIV) - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) - "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." These days especially, people need to hear encouraging words. Words that inspire, build up, motivate, and strengthen those around us. Encouragement is that which serves to incite, support, promote, increase confidence, and give incentive. People facing the daily grind often get drained of energy, and begin to lose heart and courage. The need a 'boost' in the same way that a battery that has been drained needs to be jumped and recharged. Our words of encouragement can restore and give renewed life to those who are despondent and discouraged. Let us speak encouraging words daily to those who are in need of them.

Spur One Another

Huh? Spur one another? What's that all about? Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." In place of the word 'spur', the NASB uses stimulate, AMP uses stir up (incite), NLT uses motivate, KJV uses provoke. As a noun, a spur is a U-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward. As a verb, the dictionary defines spur as: to urge or incite, impel, stimulate, inspire, induce, instigate to action. It is a way of encouraging someone to move forward and do good, showing love and taking action to help and serve others. We all need to be spurred sometimes. Spurring is not done to hurt nor to harm, but rather, to cause someone to move into positive action. Let us spur one another.

Forgive One Another

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." We all need to be forgiven by others because in our humanity, we all make mistakes, we all offend, we all fall short at times. We are encouraged to show kindness and compassion to those in need of forgiveness. Guilt and shame can really bring a person down; spiritually, emotionally, and physically. When we offer forgiveness instead of judgement, tenderness instead of harshness, we can help bring peace and healing. We are told to forgive others in the same way that God forgives us. God forgives completely, not based on our worthiness but rather on our need. He forgives and forgets. He does not hold our offenses against us. He forgives us over and over again. Jesus said that when we pray we are to say: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Let us willingly offer forgiveness to those in need of it.

Bear One Another's Burdens

In a relationship you can either be a bear or help bear burdens. Everyone need help carrying their burdens sometimes and we are never more like Jesus than when we come alongside someone to help ease and lighten the load. Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV) "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (NIV) - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." We need to be available to those who are burdened, whether the burden is physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or any other type of problem that may be too much for one to carry. Two are better than one. When one is weighed down, some one's help can make a huge difference. The lyrics of a great song say: "Lean on me, when you're not strong; and I'll be your strength, I'll help you carry on." You can help me with my burden and I can help you with yours. We all need that kind of support at one time or another. Who do you know that needs your help today? Reach out help lift the load, carry the burden, show your support.

Serve One Another

Galatians 5:13,14 (NIV) - You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Selfishness and self indulgence is at the heart of sin. It thinks only of self ("what I think, what I want, what I need") and has no regard for the other person. Love and freedom are to be expressed in caring and serving others. Consideration for others and their needs is the real way to show love. There are so many practical ways that we can bless others. Simply be aware of others and their needs and you will find that there are unlimited number of creative ways to serve others. Think of someone that you can serve today and take some time to be a blessing.

Accept One Another

We all long for acceptance. To be embraced and loved in spite of our faults, shortcomings, and weaknesses is something we all need. The Bible says we have been accepted by Our Heavenly Father because of our standing in Jesus Christ, His Beloved Son. Based on that acceptance, we are to do the same. Romans 15:7 (NIV) - "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Acceptance means to: taking or receiving favorably, to give approval, favor, to give approbation. In the same way that we are validated and made secure when someone accepts us as we are, let us accept one another. Remember that we ourselves are not perfect. Be open to receive others and leave the changing and transforming job to the Holy Spirit. This pleases the Lord since He accepts us just as we are.

Harmony With One Another

Romans 12:16a (NIV) - "Live in harmony with one another." Being a musician, I have an appreciation for harmony. I definitely appreciate harmony as opposed to discord. The whole verse in the Amplified Bible reads this way: "Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits." I think that's pretty clear. The dictionary defines harmony as: agreement, accord, pleasing arrangement, congruity, concord, unity, peace and friendship. Even though each of us is different, it is great when we are able to adapt and come into harmonious relationship and agreement. This makes our lives peaceful and pleasant. Let us take this word to heart and strive to live in harmony one with another.

Honor One Another

Honor is very important in relationships. It benefits the relationship when there is respect and consideration for the other person and you put them first. Romans 12:10b (NIV) - "Honor one another above yourselves." To honor someone is to: value, esteem to a high degree, hold as precious, apply high worth, to give high distinction, to show respect for, to have high estimation for, to regard with admiration. Author Tony Campolo says that we assign a value to people and treat them accordingly. If that value was based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being someone you highly value - then honoring others is treating them as if they are a 10. Treat others with honor, in the same way you would want them to treat you. Put others above yourself.

Be Devoted To One Another

Romans 12:10a (NIV) - "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." What does it mean to be devoted to someone? The dictionary defines devoted as: To give or apply (one's time, attention, or self) entirely to a particular activity, pursuit, cause, or person. It also means to be loyal of faithful to someone and implies dedication. The Greek word used in this verse is philosorgos which means to have kind affection for someone. It is best demonstrated the loving dedication one has for his own family. We are to be devoted to one another as if they were our family - brother or sister, father or mother - which we are, since God is our Father and we are His children. We are to give ourselves to sharing, caring, protecting, and attending to one another. Devote yourself to those of the household of faith.

Love One Another

Jesus said that the first and foremost commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. To love one another is most important because it serves as a reflection of our relationship with God. We are to love and do good to all but especially to those who belong our faith family. Consider once again, Jesus' words to His disciples in John 13:34,35 (NIV) - "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Loving one another is not merely having affection or feelings of love for others but, rather actively demonstrating commitment to care for the well being of others. Romans 13:8 (NIV) - "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Jesus is our model in how to show love for one another. Let us be intentional in loving our family.

Relating One To Another...

For the rest of the month of May, I want to share some thoughts on relationship. We have vertical relationship (our relationship with God); and we have horizontal relationships (our relationships one with another). Both are of great importance in our life. The quality of our relationship with God is demonstrated by our relationships with other people - especially family and friends. Jesus said that the greatest witness we would give to the world would best be seen in the love relationships we have with one another. There are more than 60 references in the New Testament referring to how and why our relationships with others are of such vital importance. I will be commenting on a few of those verses in the coming days. In the meantime, be good to one another. God's blessings to all of you!

Good Hope

My prayer for you is that, whatever you are going through, you may be filled with the good hope that comes from our Heavenly Father. Through faith, be certain that what you hope for will become substance. Along with faith and love, hope is essential to our spiritual well being. Hold fast to it. 1 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (NIV) - "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." Stability, encouragement, and strength are yours as long as you continue to hope and trust in Him, His everlasting love and grace.

Hope In Jesus Christ

Jesus said that the wise man builds his house on a rock so that when the rain falls, the wind blows and beats against it, the house will stand because of it's foundation. It definitely matters what you build your hope upon. Around 1834 the lyrics to the hymn Solid Rock were written by Edward Mote. I include a couple of the verses and the chorus here for your consideration:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Hope As A Helmet

When it comes to our spiritual life, guarding our hearts and minds is of vital importance. That is why we must take Paul's counsel that we always wear the full armor of God. Consider this verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV) "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." The breastplate protects the heart and the helmet protects the mind. The mind of the believer is the battlefield. When our thoughts are on the hope of our salvation, which is Jesus, our mind is guarded and protected. Keep your eyes and thoughts on Jesus and he will keep your mind safe and secure and in peace. Doing this, we will stand sure no matter what the enemy tries to do to defeat us.

Firm Hope

The hope that we have in God is firm when it is based on the faithful promises of God. We can be sure of what we hope for because God always comes through for those who trust in His word. 2 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV) - "And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all of our troubles according to His promise in this chapter. We cannot avoid pain and suffering, however, we can definitely count on God's comfort. Paul says in this same passage in verse 10 that God has delivered us, will deliver us, and will continue to deliver us from peril and despair. We can set our hope on Him. We have the testimony of His comfort in the past, presently, and that gives us confident hope for future comfort and deliverance. Let your hope be firm.

One Hope

There are seven essential things that unite us in the Spirit. There are many things that are non-essential on which we can have different opinions. But, all of us how have placed our faith in Jesus Christ share one hope. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) - "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." We all embrace the same hope! It unites us. We have been adopted into God's family as His sons and daughters, have a new spiritual DNA and are a new creation in Christ Jesus. We will be glorified together with Him. It is this hope that inspires and motivates us to live the Christian life. John says that everyone who has this hope lives pure as He is pure.

Anchored By Hope...

The purpose of an anchor is to hold fast and firm, secure, stabilize, and support. It keeps a boat, ship, or sea vessel steady and and prevents it from drifting or being moved. Hope is an anchor for us as well. Check out these verses in Hebrews 6:17-19a (NIV) "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." God's firm and confirmed promise to us serves as a secure anchor for our souls. We are secured and made stable by holding on to this hope as an anchor. It keeps us from being tossed to and fro by the winds and waves of life. Hold fast to God's promises and you will be firmly anchored regardless of what may come your way.

Hope And The Word

One of the important functions of the written Word of God is to instruct us and inspire hope in us. As we are introduced to men and women in the Bible who faced obstacles and seemingly insurmountable odds yet held on to hope and prevailed, we are encouraged to persevere. Romans 15:4 (NIV) - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." The stories of the struggles of people who are no different than us - running their races, fighting their fights, holding on to faith and trust, never giving up gives us hope and therefore strength to continue our journey. If the endured - so can we! Open up the Word and be inspired by these stories. The Word will build up your hope!

Know The Hope...

Spiritual perception is needed in order to 'know the hope.' Hope is not something you see with your natural eyes, nor merely feel emotionally, but, it is something that you know deep within your heart or spirit. Part of Paul's prayer for believers in Ephesians 1 is that we might have the spiritual insight to know the hope to which God has called us. Ephesians 1:18 (NIV) - "I pray also 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 the saints..." God has called us to the glorious hope that is given to His children. To be glorified with Him. Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Our hope stems from knowing what God has promised to do in, through, and for us; transforming us to be justified, sanctified, and glorified along with Jesus Christ! Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness. What a hope we have! Know it!

Joyful In Hope

Hope is a great source of joy. These days it is easy to lose your joy as you deal with the daily pressures that can cause you to become discouraged. It is the anticipation and expectation of a favorable future that restores your joy. Romans 12:12 (NIV) - "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) - "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Hope will keep you focused on God and His promises, which will make you grateful and remind you to prayerfully give your cares and concerns to God. This will restore your joy and maintain your hope. Rejoice daily in hope! God is faithful and He will come through for you.

Hope Renews Strength

Hope placed in God will keep you strong. Consider these verses from Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV) - "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Another version uses the word wait instead of hope. Vitality and stamina to persevere in life's journey doesn't come from stopping to rest, but rather, from continuing to trust and hope in God. He is the source of strength. Strength and power are given by God to those who confidently hope in Him. No matter your age or condition, strength for the race will come to you as you daily put your hope in God. So if you are feeling faint, weary and exhausted today, look up in hope - strength and power are yours.

Hope And A Future

God has great promises and plans for us. We are not merely wandering aimlessly through life - wondering where we will end up - we have a predetermined destiny. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - "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." The Message puts the same verse this way: "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." It is good to know that God has plans, good plans, and that He knows. Those plans may include difficult times and pain, but, ultimately they are for our prosperity and well being. We must trust God's plan for us and not look back, but look forward with hope to the future that He has for us. Be comforted, strengthened, and encouraged by this promise from the Lord. We have a favorable future to look forward to.

Hope Deferred...

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." When you hope for something, you await it's fulfillment with excitement and anticipation. When it does not happen in the time you expect, - the disappointment can make your heart sick. It can take an emotional and even physical toll on you. Having to wait can make your hope diminish and deplete your faith and resolve. On the other hand, it is so exciting when what you hope for is realized. A hope that comes into fruition can refresh, re energize, and revitalize. It is life-giving and life-sustaining. Give your hopes, dreams, and desires to your loving Heavenly Father. Don't become discouraged if the fulfillment takes longer than you would like. God has His own timing and wisdom. He will answer in His time. Wait on the Lord, keep hope alive!

Hope In God!

In Psalm 42:5; 42:11; 43:5, David asks two questions with one great answer. In both of these Psalms, he is going through some difficult, despairing, discouraging times that have left him despondent, depressed, disturbed and downcast. (My question is why so many of these words start with a D? :)) Check out the verse that is repeated 3 times (NIV) - "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Seasons of testing have a way of emptying and draining us - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We find ourselves with many questions, anxieties and uncertainties. People can even cause us to doubt by asking, "Where is your God? We may sigh and we may cry. There is only one good answer in these situations. Put your hope in God! It's not over. You will sing and praise again! God will come through for you. Don't give up hope, child, things are gonna get easier, things will get brighter. Weeping may endure for a night but joy is coming in the morning.

Overflowing Hope

In these days of gloom and despair with so much negative talk and outlook around, I'm sure we could all use some hope - not just a little dab but enough to overflow. Hope comes from trusting God. Check out this verse in Romans 15:13 (NIV) - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Notice several things from this verse:
1) God is the source of hope - The God of hope.
2) When you put your trust in Him, the result will be fullness of joy and peace.
3) Hope fills us to overflowing by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Those who are filled and overflowing in hope can now be an encouragement to others around them who may be struggling and losing hope. Share some hope filled words with someone who you meet that needs a dose of hope. You will be encouraged as well.

HOPE!

I'd like to spend the first couple of weeks of May with some thoughts on the subject of Hope and then the last couple of weeks talking about relating one to another. Hope is one of the three essential elements in our relationship with God. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) - "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Surrounded by faith and love, hope must be nurtured and kept in our hearts. Let's begin by defining hope. Hope means: to anticipate, to long for, fervent desire, to look forward, to have confident expectation. It is similar to faith and reaches forward to embrace God's promises and His goodness. We cannot live without hope. Hope gives us the motivation to keep on moving forward in anticipation of something better. We will be examining several Bible verses that will unfold for us the beauty of hope.

Praise-Not Because But Although...

It is one thing to praise Him because all is well and everything going is your way, but, another to joyfully praise although everything seems to be going wrong and nothing seems to be going your way. We must learn to praise always- not because but even though. Habakkuk 3:17-19 in The Message reads this way: "Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!" Praise that is not determined by favorable circumstances but rather, on complete faith, unwavering hope, and undying love for God! Not because of what we have or don't have, but in spite of good or bad, happy or sad, the song of joyful praise is sung. Don't let the praises stop!

Praise Raised...In Unison

Nothing is more powerful than a gathering of people to sing praises to God in unison. When hearts are joined together and the praises are elevated in celebration, voices raised to proclaim with expressive music the wonders of our God. God's presence is manifested most in this kind of atmosphere. Look at 2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV) - The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud... The temple was filled...We are that temple today - we will be filled with His presence when praise is raised in unison to God. He inhabits, is enthroned, is glorified in the fullness of His Majesty when we come together to praise. When we are in harmony and symphony like a well-conducted orchestra - there the Lord commands a blessing - even everlasting life! Raise the praise - United!

Praise The Lord

A few nights ago I was listening to some old music and I came across this great song (old school 1979) that is still relevant given our present situation. It was sung by the Imperials (Russ Taff lead vocals) and written by Brown Bannister and Mike Hudson. The song is 'PRAISE THE LORD.' I think it is a great example of the power that there is in praise - especially when facing a trying situation. If you have time, check out the video on You Tube of Russ Taff singing this song. Here are the lyrics:

When you're up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams
And your hope has been cruelly crushed by Satan's manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears
Don't let the faith you're standing on seem to disappear

Praise the Lord! He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord! For our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord! For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you Praise Him

Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think
That we are paupers when he knows himself
We're children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle has been won
We know the Jesus Christ has risen so the work's already done

Praise the Lord!

Instrumental Praise

God loves music and musicians. He is the Chief Musician - the source of music. Praise can be instrumental. 1 Chronicles 23:5 - (NIV) - "Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose." God created us with the ability to offer musical praises. The Bible mentions percussion, string, and wind instruments. Rhythm, melody, and harmony with instruments can produce beautiful sounds that are pleasing to God's ears. We enjoy music because He enjoys music. 1 Chronicles15:5,6 (NIV) Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. If you play an instrument, no matter your level of skill, you can make sounds of praise and offer them to God. Praise Him with some GodTunes today.

Morning And Evening Praise

Morning is a good time to praise God and evening is also a good time to praise Him. 1 Chronicles 23:30 (NIV) - "They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening..." I think that praise is a great way to start the day. When we get up, let our first thoughts and words be about God, His goodness, and His love. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." Commit your heart and day to Him. "From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same, may His name be praised." As kids, we used to sing the praise chorus: Praise him in the morning, Praise him in the noontime, Praise him when the sun goes down. At the end of the day, before we go to bed, let us again reflect on Him. Were you blessed throughout the day with His provision and protection. Praise Him! Did you receive the gifts of His love? Acknowledge Him as the source with praise. For who He is and what He has done, praise Him in the morning and again in the evening.

Appointed To Praise

David loved to praise God! When he returned the Ark of the Covenant back to the place he had prepared for it, he for the first time organized and appointed singers and musicians to offer praises to God 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 1 Chronicles 16:4 (NIV) - "He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:" This entire chapter shows the detail and care taken to insure that continual praise would be offered to God. Check it out. Verses 8,9 say he gave them further instruction: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." Today, we who are saved have also been chosen and appointed to praise the Lord. We are assigned, designated, set apart, ordained, ordered, and commissioned to offer continual praise to our God. This is a great honor and priviledge. Don't forget: you have an appointment to praise!

Praise For His Promises

There are hundreds of promises that God makes to his children in the Bible. He is faithful to fulfill each and every one of them. 1 Kings 8:56,57 (NIV) - "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us." Solomon spoke these words in his prayer of dedication for the temple he built to honor God. God's promises are good and today we can still count on Him to keep His word to us and to our children. Let us not forget to praise Him for those promises we have seen fulfilled in our lives as well as those we are trusting Him to keep. Jesus promised that we would never be left alone nor forsaken. God is with us and will continue to be with us to the end. Praise His Name!

He Is My Praise!

When you consider the Lord, who He is and What He has done - He becomes the object of our praise. Because we revere and respect Him and admire His mighty works, we not only direct our praise to Him, but He is the beginning and end of our praise. Consider Deuteronomy 10:20,21 (NIV) - "Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes." The same verses in the Message read as follows: "Reverently respect God, your God, serve him, hold tight to him, back up your promises with the authority of his name. He's your praise! He's your God! He did all these tremendous, these staggering things that you saw with your own eyes." It can't be any more simple or clearer that that. He is our praise! Remember that all praise, all honor, all glory belongs to Him! He is all in all! Praise Him!

Praise Warfare

In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, a story is told of a battle that is won by giving praise to God. Facing a vast army coming against him, Jehoshaphat consults the Lord and through the Spirit of the Lord and prophetic declaration is told that the battle is not his but the Lord's. The strategy he is given could seem ridiculous, however he obeys and acts by faith. Verses 21,22 (NIV) says: After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. God fights the battle and victory is obtained as they sing and praise the Lord. Are you facing an obstacle or battle that is bigger than what you are equipped to handle? Why not try praising the Lord and let Him fight the battle and defeat the enemy and triumph over the enemy. Praise is an awesome warfare tactic. Read the story in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.

Total Praise

Today, I want to share with you the lyrics to a powerful praise song by Richard Smallwood -
'Total Praise'

Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills
Knowing my help is coming from You
Your peace You give me in time of the storm
You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

These are great words that acknowledge God as our helper, our source, our peace, and in the trying times that we find ourselves in, - it is good to look up to God and give Him total praise. Sing this in your heart and you will be strengthened.

Bringing Praise To Our Father

Our lifestyle and conduct observed by those around us can be the cause of directing praise to our Heavenly Father. Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." So today and everyday, let your light shine bright! People are watching us, from our family, to our co-workers, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. Are we representing our Father well? In loving others, being kind, doing good deeds, giving encouraging and uplifting words? When people notice positive, constructive behavior in our lives and compliment or praise us - that praise is to be directed to our Heavenly Father. Let your light shine and represent Him well.

Garment Of Praise

Jesus and the Message of the Gospel bring to us the declaration of the year of the Lord's favor. Along with that proclamation come several blessings. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV) - "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." We have been offered a garment of praise in replacement of a spirit of sorrow. Put on that garment of praise and display the wonderful promise of God. Wear it well - one size fits all.