Praise the Lord!

I received three "verse of the day" emails this week that were particularly meaningful to me.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV) -- We all need to get along and continue to love each other as God loves us, and at the same time, without compromising, living unto God in holiness, revering His Holy Name.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV) -- I talked to a friend today about happiness that God wants us to have. "Didn't Christ die so that we can be forgiven and that we can be happy?" Yes, but the happiness, or more accurately, joy, that God wants us to have is not the same happiness that the world offers. It is an eternal joy, knowing that we have been forgiven and are no longer in enmity with God because of our sins, and because it is eternal, it can only be found in Him.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! (Psalm 105:1 NKJV) -- Definitely give all thanks and all praise and all glory to the Lord who makes His deeds known among the peoples. Not just His people, but all people. His hand is upon all things, and He will receive all the glory. What an invitation to share in proclaiming His works to all the world! For those who have seen the glory of the Lord and the power of His hands in all things, what else can we do but praise Him? Lord you are good and faithful and just! Praise the Lord!