Praise Brings Joy

The words said "New Post." A new page. Empty and ready for words. I'm not sure that I can express all that is in my heart. This Christmas season shines more brightly than any I can remember. It is partly because of my "Jubilee" year where many of my promises have been answered. But it is much more than that. In fact it is in the hardships with my eyes and that long process that I have learned to search the Lord for answers which led eventually to seeking Him more than ever for Himself. I have been reading an old book by Terry Law called The Power of Praise and Worship. It has a copyright of l985, but the message is right on for today, especially in our economy. How amazing that I can sense such Holy Spirit power from something written then. When the fire is there, it stays. Don't you just love it? Basically the book shows how to praise God when times are hard. That doesn't do it justice. I'm sure there are many similar books in the bookstore on the psalms and praise. Get one if you can. If you don't have funds, it doesn't cost anything just to start praising the Lord. Say His wonderful Name, Jesus. Sing it. I have a rather off-key, non-melodic voice. Yet I will praise Him, even in song.

It just seems like the Christmas cards of the nativity draw me more than usual. The people seem friendly and I feel so much more like saying or shouting, Merry Christmas! Most of all it is the Christian hymns and carols that I love. The farther into the versus you go, the more meaningful the words for me. "Joy to the World" says in a later verse, "He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found." That is what Christmas is all about. Jesus came to show us the love of the Father, to destroy the works of the devil, and to save us from our sins on the cross. Joyous, joyous news!

There are some people on my followers list who can write beautiful praise to God every day. I wondered how they could just do that. They must be praising God a lot during the day. What a glorious way to live. Today was harder to press into praise. It doesn't always just come. I couldn't remember any songs. Things didn't flow. But I am going to do it anyway. My Christmas prayer is that God will help me to continue this new way of life that has given me such joy and that I will not to go back into other thoughts during the day that are not helpful.

I prayed about what to say here. It's not about me. It all is in Him and from Him and I am so very thankful. Merry, Merry Christmas!