Tag Archives: the book of Psalms

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2, KJV)

It is a sad day, indeed, when we — for reasons I cannot begin to fathom — stop singing.

We sing as children, and love it.  In fact, who among us doesn’t remember the songs we learned and used to sing as children?

We hear birds sing, and love it.  In fact, their melodies are particularly welcome in the early Spring, when we yearn for any sign of warmer weather.

Most of us are fans of other people’s singing; but God has given each one of us a voice, and He delights in hearing our voices in song.  You needn’t sing like Adele.  You needn’t sound like Sinatra.  

What to sing?  Sing of His faithfulness.  Sing of His love.  Sing of His greatness, His mercy, and His care of us.

Just sing. It is music to our heavenly Father.  – Luther

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“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2, KJV)

Most of us take note when we’ve been attended to by a waiter in a restaurant, or a clerk in a retail store, who rendered service with gladness.  It arrests our attention; it lifts our spirit; it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.  

Is there gladness in your service?

As you approach your tasks today — working as for the Lord — will you bring gladness to the task?

Will your interaction with others today — serving each as you would Jesus — transform the ordinary into the extraordinary because of your attitude?  – Luther

REMINDER: Daily Encouragement will be on its customary Sunday break tomorrow.  Lord willing, see you again on Monday!

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“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.” (Psalm 33:20-22, NLT)

We esteem the privilege of having a wide variety of options from which to choose.

The psalmist in today’s scripture declares his allegiance to only one Lord; only one God; only one Savior.  We would do well to narrow our “essential list” as the psalmist did, and make our Lord the sole subject of our focus. Who else has been our help and our shield? Who else loves us with an unyielding love?  Who else is worthy of our unconditional, unalloyed, and unyielding allegiance? 

One, solitary, choice — if it is the correct choice — is all we shall ever need.  – Luther

Note: Have a great day in worship on Sunday. Daily encouragement will return, Lord willing, on Monday!

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