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Up with God! Down with his enemies! Adversaries, run for the hills! Gone like a puff of smoke, like a blob of wax in the fire - one look at God and the wicked vanish. When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy. Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider. Enjoy God, cheer when you see him! Father of orphans, champion of widows, is God in his holy house. God makes homes for the homeless, leads prisoners to freedom, but leaves rebels to rot in hell. God, when you took the lead with your people, when you marched out into the wild, Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat; God was on the march. Even Sinai trembled at the sight of God on the move, at the sight of Israel's God. You pour out rain in buckets, O God; thorn and cactus become an oasis For your people to camp in and enjoy. You set them up in business; they went from rags to riches. Sing, O kings of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! There he is: Sky-Rider, striding the ancient skies. Listen - he's calling in thunder, rumbling, rolling thunder. Call out "Bravo!" to God, the High God of Israel. His splendor and strength rise huge as thunderheads. A terrible beauty, O God, streams from your sanctuary. It's Israel's strong God! He gives power and might to his people! O you, his people - bless God! (Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 The Message)
Don't you love being around happy, blessed people? Are you one? I especially love being around people who see God's hand in everything and have this marvelous attitude of laughter and praise towards God. When I was an intern minister, I disliked the idea of going to a nursing home. I associated a very terrible smell with each (and yes, some did have that odor to them), and the thought of people being and acting miserably towards life. But the first visit to one particular home and this one particular lady, she changed may attitude towards nursing homes. She never had a negative thing to say; and always had a smile and a personality to match. This version of the Bible makes the psalms come alive for me. "Up with God!" Such a nice way to start the day. "When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy." Talk about making your neighbors wonder what you're up to! A gracious attitude towards God and God's hand in all that we do, blesses us and blesses those who know us. Mark Twain's criticism of Christians included the line, "The only difference between undertakers and Christians is that undertakers smile more." (Sorry, undertakers reading this; and that's a quote I'm relying on my memory for). The point is that God is awesome; we have to make time to discover that for ourselves in ways that do bring smiles to our faces and smiles to our actions. Someone else said, "You may be the only sermon someone will hear today."
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be a blessing for You. Let my life laugh and sing, and laugh and sing for joy because of what You're doing in my life right now. Help me to be Your light and love. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Be someone's good sermon today!
Eradio Valverde
