My daily routine was a little different with some appointments this morning and at mid-day. After an earlier morning appointment on some work on our house, I went to the fitness center for a quick workout before coming home for an appointment with my palliative care nurse. She helps coordinate some of the care plans with my doctors from time to time and helps address any issues of concern. I found myself a little more fatigued after my day yesterday and my workout, so I got in a good nap this afternoon. Thank you for all those who continue to pray for my progress.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Sing to the Lord, all the world! Worship the Lord with joy; come before him with happy songs!  Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock. Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving; go into its courts with praise.  Give thanks to him and praise him.  The Lord is good; his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever.    Psalm 100:1-5

These five verses form one of the “classic” Psalms of worship and thanksgiving. These verses bring perspective to the Lord and our lives. As we move through these verses I simply note the following.

Celebration – “Joy” and “happy songs” are to characterize our response in worship to the Lord. When David brought the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, he danced before the Lord. There was music, joy and celebration. The presence of the Lord and the response to the Lord’s work in our life, should solicit a profound sense of joy and gladness.

Connection – This Lord of all the earth is the creator God. He created us. He created us to know Him and to worship Him and to find our satisfaction in Him. As the Psalm declares we are “his people…his flock” it is easy to recall Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Knowing who we are and to whom we are connected meets a fundamental need in our life.

Invitation – Psalm 84:4 declares, “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.“ Thanksgiving and praise go hand in hand. Thanksgiving allows us to reflect on what the Lord has done. It is out of that awareness of all we are grateful for, that our praise is lifted up to the Lord. The higher we come to the presence of the Lord, the lower we find ourselves. I say that in the sense of bowing humbly in the presence of the Lord. Being in awe of who He is as enter “His house” – His presence.

Declaration – This Psalm ends with a declaration of the character of God. “He is good. His love and faithfulness is eternal.” This summation of the Lord’s character is important for us to have in our minds and on our hearts. There may be times when our own feelings or the words of others cause doubt in God’s goodness, His love and His faithfulness. But we see James assessment of one who suffered and lost more than many, “…you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.“ (James 5:11 NLT) One of the greatest “faith-builders” is declaring who God is, when we don’t feel that way or the circumstances of life lead us to the wrong conclusion.

When we turn our heart to the Lord in thanksgiving and praise, it helps set our lives and our world aright. I believe David discovered that and we can to.