PRAISE THE LORD!
Suggested Reading: Psalms 148-150
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Joppa is a major port on the west coast of Israel, as it was during Biblical times. It was here that the Apostle Peter fell into a trance and saw a sheet being lowered down from Heaven. On the sheet were all kinds of creatures (Acts 10:12). According to today's reading, all creatures great and small are to "Praise the Lord!" We non-Jews got in on the blessings of Abraham and Jesus as a result of what happened to Peter. Jonah departed from this port on a whale of a trip! (Jonah 1:3).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
In Psalm 148, the crown of God’s creation — men and women — are mentioned last for emphasis! Regardless of status, age or sex, everyone is urged to “Praise the Lord!” We who are believers in Jesus may want to consider a New Testament reading which expands our reason to “Praise the Lord!” (Philippians 2:8-11).
Psalm 149 moves us into another dimension of praise. We are to praise Him for Who He is! For the ancient Israelite, the celebration of praise was often accompanied by singing, playing musical instruments and dancing!!!
Just in case we failed to get King David’s message, he writes, here in the final hymn in this, the temple hymnbook from which Jesus would have sung, the word “Praise” 13 times in six short verses!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
I praise You, O God! I lift up Your name to honour and glorify You! You alone are worthy! I magnify You with the words of my mouth and with my body language also! Glory! Glory! Glory! You are great and greatly to be praised! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
After reading today’s Psalms, I’ve decided to join Norma-Jean, just the two of us for now, in singing the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” accompanied by her “Omnichord.” It’s an electronic instrument somewhat like the “Autoharp” that my mother played at home prayer meetings. We first heard this instrument in the church on Mt. Nebo, the mountain from which Moses viewed the promised land. A group of pilgrims from the Philippine Islands were singing praises to God, accompanied by an omnichord (let’s keep praying for the precious people in the Philippines who have suffered the death of many in the recent storm). I don’t think that I’ve ever heard more beautiful praise to God! Norma-Jean bought one of these instruments immediately upon our return to Canada. She has her omnichord (or Q chord) with her here in Israel where we are right now, along with 98 others. 100 people make a beautiful choir and tour group. There are two busses to carry us. Ron and Ann travel on one bus and Norma-Jean and I on the other. Tomorrow we’ll trade busses so that we get to know more of our extended family. With breakfast, lunch and dinner together, as well as evening gatherings, we get to know each other. God willing, I’ll do my blog each day from the Holy Land. I’ve asked Ron to take a pictures of the people travelling with us as we stop in various Bible locations. I hope to share these photos here on the blog over the next two weeks. We arrive, God willing, back in Canada on November 26th.
Yours to encourage us all to “PRAISE THE LORD!”
David
P.S. Here is a beautiful rendition of “The Doxology” I found on Youtube, sung during a wedding ceremony (click HERE). Why not take a moment to praise God and sing along with these young men?
It’s a good thing to “Praise the Lord”, to keep Him first and foremost in your mind, in your thoughts and in your heart, from the moment that you awake until you lay your head down at night. I find that troubles come quickly when we take our focus off our Lord and instead focus on our predicaments, whatever they might be. Music however is a tremendous tool to help us focus and a wonderful aid in helping us to praise His glorious name. The church I attend has marvelous musical talent; I just love praising His name in song with other Christians; it’s a very special time because it lends the Holy Spirit an opportunity to speak a word of encouragement to my heart and also provides an opportunity to glorify His name in praise. Indeed it is a good thing to praise His name and praise Him often throughout our day, that we might forever keep close to the heart of Jesus.
I am glad to hear that the group arrived safely in Israel, David! We will be praying for you as you journey the Holy land in the coming weeks. God Bless!
Amen Scott and thanks for this wonderful post and words that encourage all of us. Bless your day!
I am praying for your blessed trip. I look forward to your blogs especially during this trip.
Was the number of pilgrims intentional?
I just read that Google patented an electronic tattoo that works as a lie-detector and microphone that syncs to smartphones. The mark of the beast is not far away.
On the Monday 100 Street program David mentioned the song “Others” that he and Norma-Jean sing as their personal song. The words of that song is a great example of the way they live their lives serving others.
“Others, Lord, yes others
Let this my motto be
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee”
In the link below they are singing the song “Others” at building fundraiser at Pine Grove Church near Seeleys Bay, Ontario in September 2006. Only an amateur video recording, but the message is inspiring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbwW7Pnuyc
I look forward to reading the scriptures on your daily blog and reading the comments of my fellow bloggers. What a great way to start the day.
May God bless everyone on the trip to the Holy Land. I admire you David.
I will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continually be I my mouth
God keep all of you safe on your trip and meet the needs to all the survivors in the Philippians In Jesus name Amen
What an awesome assembly it must have been to hear the musical instruments and Christ leading and singing praise to our Heavenly Father!!! The nice thing about praise is that our focus is off our present circumstances and on our Creator. For that time, we have reprieve from self and turn our attention to the full glory and worship of the Holy Trinity. Lord, we ask You to remove anything in our lives that is taking the place that belongs to You. May we fill those moments with praise and thanksgiving. Have a great day, to all!
Amen David…well said.
Hi David
When I was young we our family use to sing that diagology in church
and that meant to me the end of the church that Sunday.
Now I am in another church am born again and understand what it really
is all about
God bless you David and your family
Lianne Hogg
Amen Lianne … I know exactly where you’re coming from! This praise means SO much more now!
Dear David and Norma jean be safe dear ones in Jesus arms God bless you all…R…
Dear Rev. David M., Norma- Jean, Anne, Ron, and Reynold .
So happy to know that you have made it safely to The Holy Land . Keeping you all in my prayers will actually ask my sisters and brothers in Christ tonight to keep you also under prayer watch as you go spreading the good news of OUR KING , OUR SAVIOUR , returning soon. God bless you all including all the followers in Christ.
PS. Yesterday I realised that I made a complete disaster with the wonderful , awesome word Alleluiah and you know I am still not sure I have it right and that is the trouble of being french and english .
Have a blessed day sisters and brothers in CHRIST.
xxxx Carole.
The praise that many of the commenters offer reminds me of the descriptions in Revelations of the praise offered all the time to God In heaven. I had not been able to imagine it until reading this blog for awhile. It is very pure. It is something I rarely do but it is obviously a great thing to God.
Take care of my mom (Cenny) and Aunt Pat – two of your 98 pilgrams:)
I am so glad, that You arrived in good spirit and health. I will pray every day for You guys, that the Lord will be with You, and reveal to everyone what He has in store for You at this Blessed time. I am also asking You, PLEASE pray for me in this Holy places, I have some difficult matters, that need to be resolved, but I am so helpless, in my mind I did everything what was possible to do to make it right, but there is a lack of response and understanding from the other side….I need LOADS of light, and I think patience too.
I admire You David, I want to be like You- THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! You are a true inspiration.
God Bless You
Teresa
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above you heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!! Amen!!!
Today’s picture of Joppa reminds us of our fabulous trip with you last year. We especially enjoyed the boat trip and service on the Sea of Galilee and of course the Garden Tomb.
We pray for your safe travels and look forward to the videos with John Hull and Moira.
Shalom,
Graham & Vivienne.
2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.
I am so glad, that You arrived in good spirit and health. I am looking forward to read your blogs from that Place. I will pray every day, that the Lord will reveal to each one of You, what He has in store for this holy time. Please pray for me too in these holy places, and everybody “left behind”.
I admire you David. I would like to be like You- THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! You are a true inspiration.
God bless you
Teresa
Pastor David, In your prayer on Wed. Nov. 13 .You said Jonah departed from the wonderful port picture on your blog, on a whale of a trip. (Jonah 1 : 3). On your 100 words, you mention the fact that You Norma Jean Ron and Ann and Reynold will be returning home on Nov. 26 – 13. Lets all pray for them to have God’s loving arms around everyone on that tour……………Elaine
Hi David,
I wish you and everyone who is going to Holy Land to have a safe and memorable journey. I will pray for all of you. One day I would love to travel to Holy Land with you. May God bless you and your ministry.
Dear David it was wonderful to see you on 100 Huntley yesterday. You are a tremendously powerful warm hearted speaker much like Billy Graham you are.
As you discribed your daily agenda in todays blog it made me feel a longing to return to Irael.
Our trip to Israel in 2011 with you and Norma-Jean is one of the most memorable trips of our lives. I believe God granted me the disires of my heart
which was to be baptised in the Jordon river. I rememder how it felt to know my position and salvation in heaven was secured. Words can not discridbe the Joy I
experienced at that moment. As Norma-Jean sat looking on, with all of our fellow
Christian family, you and Pastor Robert Martin baptised Jerry and I together.
May God bless and keep you all have a wonderful and safe time in Israel.
Hi Norma-Jean xxoo
Love and prayers
Marla and Jerry