Praise

"When can time suffice for me to recall all your great benefits...?" (St. Augustine's Confessions 9.4.7)

God deserves our praise.  More than that, we owe it to Him.  "You have loosed my bonds.  I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD." (Ps. 116:16-17)  Yet how often to we set aside time to offer up praise to God?  How often do we praise His works in the presence of others (besides in church)?  Of course, even if we used all of our time, night and day, praising God, it would not be sufficient to praise and thank Him for all that He has done for us.  But does that mean we shouldn't try?  By no means!  What has God done for you recently?  Thank Him, and then tell someone about it.  We have absolutely no excuse not to praise God.  " Let [us] thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!" (Ps. 107:8)  Praise the Lord!

Tradition

It seems as if many young people today, especially those in the church, are averse to tradition.  It seems as if they often think that if something is old, it has no value, and instead are ever clamoring for something new.  Don't get me wrong--new things are good, but they should never supplant the old.  Proverbs 6:20-23 states:

"My son, keep your father's commandment,
and forsake not your mother's teaching. 
Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck. 
When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life." 
If we listen to our parents, we are listening to tradition.  If each successive generation listens to its parents, and passes on their wisdom to the next generation, tradition will not be considered old, crusty ideas that nobody really believes anymore.  It will instead be recognized for what it really is: wisdom from experience.  We don't have to make the same mistakes our parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents have made.  We can learn from those mistakes, learn from the past, listen to the teaching of our parents, and, when it comes time, pass on the tradition to the next generation.  Stand on the old, and build something new. 

Jesus is Mine

"Why should I care if the sun doesn't shine? Jesus is mine, all of the time.  Why should I care if the storm clouds hang low? Jesus is with me, I know He will never forsake me.  I'm under His wing.  When shadows o'ertake me, I will praise Him and sing."
God's hand and sustaining power have been so evident in my life lately.  He never ceases to remind me that He works through so many different events and people that I could never even begin to comprehend what His sovereign plan begins to look like.  But most of all, He has worked in my heart and showed me that He honors those who completely rely on Him in every circumstance.  I know not what the future may hold, but God does.  Psalm 126 says:

^"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
   and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
   "The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
   we are glad.
 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
   like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
   shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
   bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
   bringing his sheaves with him."
God has done so many great things for me it is almost unbelievable.  He will always restore me, and work out His good in every circumstance He puts in my path.  I am unbelievably satisfied in His goodness.  Jesus is mine.  He is with me every step of the way.  Is He yours?

SPEAK!

Today I rode the train to and from Elmhurst.  While I was on the train trying to do my schoolwork, I was reminded strongly of several things:
1. This culture is way too obsessed with appearance.  While good appearances are certainly important, especially for first impressions, worrying about how perfect you look focuses our energy in the wrong direction.  Additionally, I need to be careful not to judge by how people look.
2. Children are precious.  I saw a little girl with her mother, and realized that we truly need to become like little children to enter the kingdom of God.
3. People need the Lord. This cannot be overstated or remembered enough.  Oftentimes as American Christians, we become overly complacent and do not try as hard as we might to let others know about Jesus.  People are so lost , and someone has to tell them about Jesus. 
4. Next time you are given an opportunity to speak about something spiritual, SPEAK! Don't keep silent about what you know to be the truth .  Sometimes we are afraid to speak out, but what is there to fear?  We are not to fear men, who kill the body (highly unlikely in America to be killed for Christianity), but to fear God.
Therefore:
Tell the world about Jesus.  Speak out.  Don't be silent.  There are people out there walking in darkness.  Let them see the light!

Servanthood

I have always been taught to long for and live for the day when I stand before the throne and wait to hear the words of Jesus: "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of the Lord."  I have endeavored to live my life with that end in mind.  Today I was reading Luke 17.  I have heard people say that one can read the Bible many, many times over, and still find something new that was never noticed or pondered before.  That happened to me today.  Jesus, in verses 7-10 of chapter 17, uses the illustration of a master and his servant.  Jesus reminds us that we ought not to expect praise from our Master, but whether or not we do receive it we should always respond, " We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty." (v. 10)  Therefore, we must do all we are commanded, serving God with all our being, remembering that God owes us nothing, but we owe Him everything.  "Keep your hand on the plow, hold on, hold on," and don't look back.

Resurrection

It seems to me that Christians are more than willing to talk about the cross, sing about the cross, wear the cross, and are always remembering the death and sacrificing of Jesus.  Don't take me wrong--that's a very good thing.  However, the cross is only half the story.  The resurrection is a vital part of the Christian faith.
Paul tells us why in 1 Corinthians 15 (if you haven't read it recently, do so--it's beautiful rhetoric), first giving extensive proofs of the resurrection, and then explaining its necessity.  Have you ever considered that without the resurrection, Jesus' death would have been absolutely pointless?  Without Christ's resurrection, "your faith is futile, you are still in your sins." (1 Cor 15:17)  The reason the resurrection is so essential to the Christian faith is found in the beginning of time. We inherited death from Adam.  If Jesus had  not conquered death through the resurrection, death would still be the victor.  Jesus conquered sin through the cross, but he conquered death through the resurrection.  "But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (15:57)  Hallelujah! He reigns VICTORIOUS!