Hi
Some of us have the supernatural gift of being able to find fault with every and anything, without pausing to give thanks. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to shift our perspective a wee bit.
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.” Psalms 22:22 NLT
While serving in parish ministry, I often looked forward to the contemporary worship.
The music was great and the praise team was splendid; but the draw for me many Sundays was the time when we paused for share Joys & Concerns. While there were probably some of us lying in wait to hear other people’s business; it afforded the resurrection of an old tradition in a context that wasn’t always very loving or interested in each other.
In the service was a young man who ALWAYS had a testimony. I mean Always. Every single Sunday, he was at the ready, making up songs when he couldn’t think of what to say about his week. Nothing malicious, in fact he’d create a jig about the worship or the week that was and bring it back to praise. He got on many of our nerves. I remember that when he was absent for a while I realized how important his actions were.
For the young man embodied praise and hope fused together. He praised (shamed) us into counting our blessings. Sometimes, we just wanted to pretend we were spiritual orphans. His joie de vie was contagious and many were infected with a heart of thanksgiving. That’s what we’re invited to do today. To praise God in the sanctuary and tell of God’s goodness in the land of the living.
Worst case, we’ll annoy someone with our incessant praise; or someone will be drawn to learn more about our Living Giving and Loving God who provides blessings daily. Who knows, the person we infect with our praises; might be ourselves.
Praising God is contagious; let’s start an epidemic of praise!
Good morning In Christ’s love and grace . . .
