Revitalize Your Church

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Chorus: Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r Sun and moon, and stars of light, For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth and friends above, For our gentle thought and mild, -- written by Folliott Pierpoint (1835-1917)

C. S. Lewis connected worship with wellbeing when he wrote: The obvious fact about praise—whether of God or anything—strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honour. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless …shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it.  The world rings with praise—lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game – praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars. I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits, and malcontents praised least...Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to b...

As you came near the spring you would marvel, seeing that the water was endless, as it constantly gushed up and poured forth. Yet you could never say that you had seen all the water. How could you see what was still hidden in the bosom of the earth? Hence no matter how long you might stay at the spring you would always be beginning to see the water. For the water never stops flowing, and it is always beginning to bubble up again. It is the same with one who fixes his gaze on the infinite beauty of God. It is constantly being discovered anew, and it is always seen as something new and strange in comparison with what the mind has already understood. And as God continues to reveal himself, man continues to wonder; and he never exhausts his desire to see more, since what he is waiting for is always more magnificent, more divine, than all that he has already see. -- Gregory of Nyssa

 Are you groping for a blessing,  Never getting there?  Listen to a word in season,  Get somewhere!  Are you struggling for salvation  By your anxious prayer?  Stop your struggling, simply trust and --  Get somewhere!  Does the answer seem to linger  To your earnest prayer?  Turn your praying into praise and --  Get somewhere!  You will never know His fullness  Till you boldly dare  To commit your all to Him and --  Get somewhere! --  From Streams in the Desert

Many morning, before climbing out of bed, I repeat Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!”  I do this especially on days when there are major challenges before me. This simple little practice, is like hitting a spiritual/emotional reset button, and has  proven to be a helpful “faith lift." THIS IS THE DAY  -- It reminds me that today really counts. In fact, it’s the only day I have.  I don’t have yesterday. It’s already gone. There’s no guarantee about tomorrow. But I do have this golden opportunity called today! It’s important to treasure and make the most of it! John Wesley encourages us to “redeem the time, for that’s the stuff life is made of!” Moments are precious. Every breath we take is a special gift. This is the day to live! Some folks live in the memories of the past. Others live in the anticipation and fear of the future. But, we are called to live today! Make it count! Make it count! THE LORD HAS MADE  -- ...

"We should never forget that the purpose of theology is doxology; we study in order to praise.  The truest expression of trust in God will always be worship to praise God for being greater than we know." --   Geneva Study Bible note

We thank Thee, Lord, for pilgrim days, Across the desert sand, For there we learned to know and praise Our Father's guiding hand. We thank Thee, Lord, for loneliness, Beneath the desert sky; For there we learned Thy ways to trace; As silent stars swept by. We thank Thee, Lord, for midnight fear, For wilderness alarm; For there we learned that Thou art near, When aught Thy saints would harm. We thank Thee, Lord, for lack of bread, For pillows made of stone; For then we were by manna fed, And slept beneath Thy throne. We thank Thee, Lord, for parching thirst, When desert wells were dry; For there we saw the fountain, Christ, That gave us full supply. --D. W. Whittle in Jonathan: And Other Poems

Christ Lives in You! Happy New Year!

I was at O'Hare Airport in Chicago about a week ago, in a jet preparing for takeoff. As we taxied down the runway, I read these words in Knocked Down but not Out by Billy Joe Daugherty: Praise is what gets you airborne. A lot of people are taxiing up and down the runway saying, "I'm a hopin' and a prayin'. You all pray with me." Get off the runway and get into praise: :Lord, I praise you. I thank you that you have redeemed me. You are going to make a way for me where there seems to be no way!" Suddenly, you are airborne and you are on your way! I nudged the guy sitting next to me -- "Look at this! Look at this! Isn't that something!! We're taxiing down the runway and I'm reading this! Praise gets you airborne!" Just as I was saying "praise gets you airborne" the jet lifted into the air.

My good friend, Bill Kilian, has recently gone through some deep waters, and has come forth shining like gold. I am inspired by his faith and optimism. He's a real blessing. Not long ago, Bill wrote this beautiful poem which captures what he has experienced: He shall lead them to still waters. I, son of man, forget that I am not son of a king. It is surprising how small a part of life Is taken up in meaningful moments. Life is precious, Especially when you're a Christian and only allowed one. In wisdom and folly- For what can a man do who succeeds a king? Only what he has already done in all his works. It seems not enough! He shall come and fill the empty rooms! For I have danced with A King !!! Men will bring much charisma, When they enter a room, demanding all attention. But The Spirit comes from God, It is extraordinary, It brings not charisma, But Presence of all that The King of Kings asks.... To Love! Oh Yes! Creation sings and dances in the country, Goodnight moon! For ...