Good Morning! It's a gorgeous day in Minnesota, and we are reminded on all sides on the blessings from the Lord.
This is one of those days on which the words of the Psalms are the best words for us to reflect on. "Sing to the Lord a new song," says Psalm 96. We struggle and even argue about the songs we sing to the Lord. They may have been composed in the 16th Century, the 18th Century or the 21st Century. If they show the feelings of our heart and our gratitude to the Lord then they are appropriate. "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad .... Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.... Let all creation rejoice before the Lord...."
In Psalm 147 it says, "Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp." I think the harp may have been the guitar of it's day!
In the Gospel lesson today Jesus warns of the presence and the dangers of hypocrisy. Perhaps we think about hypocrisy on some larger scale, but the hypocrisy that Jesus is concerned about starts small. It's not the grand acts of hollow puffery played out before the world. It's the way in which we relate to God in the privacy of our hearts. It starts with the sincerity through which we praise the Lord! It all begins in our heart.
When our song - old or new, classical, traditional, contemporary, rock or blue grass - reflects the joy that we feel in our hearts so that we bring a sincere song of gratitude to the Lord, then we are truly praising the Lord. That's what the words of David call us to do. That's what the words of Jesus call us to do. He tells us that when we can sincerely sing, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," then we shall see Him!
Prayer: Almighty God, open our hearts that we might bring acceptable praises to you. Fill our hearts with joy filled gratitude and hear our voices as we rejoice in Your glory. Amen.
Today's readings are Psalm 96 and 147:1-11; Deuteronomy 1:1-18; Romans 9:1-18; Matthew 23:27-39; Psalm 132 & 134.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
This is one of those days on which the words of the Psalms are the best words for us to reflect on. "Sing to the Lord a new song," says Psalm 96. We struggle and even argue about the songs we sing to the Lord. They may have been composed in the 16th Century, the 18th Century or the 21st Century. If they show the feelings of our heart and our gratitude to the Lord then they are appropriate. "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad .... Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.... Let all creation rejoice before the Lord...."
In Psalm 147 it says, "Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp." I think the harp may have been the guitar of it's day!
In the Gospel lesson today Jesus warns of the presence and the dangers of hypocrisy. Perhaps we think about hypocrisy on some larger scale, but the hypocrisy that Jesus is concerned about starts small. It's not the grand acts of hollow puffery played out before the world. It's the way in which we relate to God in the privacy of our hearts. It starts with the sincerity through which we praise the Lord! It all begins in our heart.
When our song - old or new, classical, traditional, contemporary, rock or blue grass - reflects the joy that we feel in our hearts so that we bring a sincere song of gratitude to the Lord, then we are truly praising the Lord. That's what the words of David call us to do. That's what the words of Jesus call us to do. He tells us that when we can sincerely sing, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," then we shall see Him!
Prayer: Almighty God, open our hearts that we might bring acceptable praises to you. Fill our hearts with joy filled gratitude and hear our voices as we rejoice in Your glory. Amen.
Today's readings are Psalm 96 and 147:1-11; Deuteronomy 1:1-18; Romans 9:1-18; Matthew 23:27-39; Psalm 132 & 134.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
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