There’s a cd we have called Live: In and Between by Tenth Avenue North and my favorite song By Your Side, by them is introduced in a certain way. Mike Donehey says this. “We have joy that’s why we’re here tonight. We’re not here to impress you. We’re not here to be the best band, the best song in the world. We’re not here for God but because of Him and because of what God has done for us and we just wanna praise him tonight.” See God does all the work in salvation. I cannot, will not and never will be good enough for salvation. Ephesians 2:1-10 makes this very clear. I want to take you back in time to 1996 Spring Break. It may not be as memorable for you as it was for me. Some have heard this part of my story some have not. I had gone on my first real mission trip. It was called Beach Reach and it was mission trip to reach people on spring break for Christ sponsored by the Baptist Student Union. There was one night on the beach where we had a prayer meeting and I remember being away from people praying in tears asking God what he wanted me to do because I didn’t understand. I remember clearly two words. “Praise Me.” There have been a few times in my life since then he has asked the same of me. This blog has always been part scripture and part music because I want you to have a chance to praise God after being in his word. I also try to keep this as little about me as possible because the goal is for you the reader to draw closer to God and for both the writer and reader to glorify God. Not rocket science it really isn’t. Colossians 3:16 is my goal. “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” You and I are to encourage each other to praise God.
There’s an old song that both Sandi Patty and the Imperials sing called Because Of Who You Are, the chorus says this. “Lord, I praise you because of who you are, not for all the mighty things you have done. Lord, I worship you because of who, you are
You’re all the reason that I need to voice my praise. Because of who you are.” God is worthy of our praise and we were designed to worship.
King David said it best in Psalm 108:1-5.
“My Heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.”
Psalm 115:1. “Not to us,O Lord, not to us but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”
God is worthy of our praise all creation testifies to this.
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