11/24/11 PRAISE AWAITS YOU, O GOD

Key Verse: 65:1                                                Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

^“Praise awaits^[b] you, our God, in Zion;  to you our vows will be fulfilled.”

Dear Lord Heavenly Father, thank you for your graces and your guidance on our lives. You show us the best way to go. You show what to avoid and where to give our hearts and our energies. Thank you Lord, Jesus. I pray that you guide me and my family along the most fruitful path. Lord, I pray for the family of the student that they may receive your peace at  this time. May they come to Jesus. May the shooter come to Jesus. Lord, I pray that this Thanksgiving may be the most blessed. Help my kids be truly thankful to God for all they receive and may they be giving people. Please grant your word deeply in my heart. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

1. God blesses his people spiritually (1-5).

Verses 1-5 read, “ ¹ Praise awaits^[b] you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. ² You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. ³ When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgaveour transgressions. ⁴ Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. ⁵ You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,”

This is a national song of praise to God that also applies personally. In the psalms, praise and thanks are often expressed together (Ps 7:17; 35:18; 69:30; 100:4; 106:1). God’s people break into praise as they expect his presence to bless them. They are eager and ready to praise him. Why? We praise God for hearing the prayers of his people (2), forgiving our sins which overwhelmed us (3), bringing us near to him in intimate fellowship and filling our souls with his love, righteousness, peace, and joy (4), and for performing awesome deeds of righteousness to save his people (5). God has given his people in our time every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3). Let’s remember what he has done and give him praise and thanks today.

God hears my prayers. He hears my prayers that we can be a housechurch for NIU students and that we can grow as a 1:1 discipleship ministry. He hears my prayers that we can grow in the love of Jesus and a passion to serve Jesus. He is answering our prayers to revive our hearts. He answering our prayers that we may reach out to those around us and preach the Gospel to people around us.

I thank God for forgiving me of the sins that overwhelm me. I do fall into sin daily, but I am not stuck in my sins. I get out of them when I come to Jesus in repentance, faith and humility. He renews my heart with his love, truth and grace.

The following is an exerpt concerning some of the things I am thankful for. “ Despite anything that is going on among us, we can always give thanks to God. The number one reason I am thankful is that I am forgiven and growing in my relationship with Jesus. I am saved daily from despair, depression, fatalism, loneliness and anger. I am going to heaven based on faith in Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. ThekingdomofGodis growing across theUSAand the world. I have a small ministry and people whom I am disciplining. I have Christian friends and shepherds in my life who help me to grow spiritually. I have a ministry among the healthcare workers in the local hospital. Our family has a singing ministry. On a more practical level, I have my health (despite a few glitches). I am basically pain free. I have a clear life testimony in Jesus. I have 5 wonderful kids who are healthy, have faith, are good in school, trustworthy and respected among their peers, are gospel co-workers, who love me. I have a wonderful wife and an intact marriage. My parents love me. My sister respects me. I have friends from my high school days. I have the respect of my peers and “have a place in the city gate.” I have a job that gives good returns and benefits. A job that is clean, healthy and close to home. (4 minutes away.) I can retire when I am 70. (at least I can retire). I have a stable home with internet access. I got out of credit card debt. I live in a quiet, safe, wooded neighborhood. I have a nice park close by to walk my dog. I have a free gym. My life is so blessed. It is like God has poured his blessings upon me. Who am I and who is my family that I should be such a blessed man! It is only because of Jesus Christ and his Gospel that saves me from my sins daily and gives me clear life direction. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Praise the Lord”
2. God provides for his people materially (6-13).

Verses 6-13 read, “⁶ who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, ⁷ who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. ⁸ The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy .⁹ You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.¹⁰ You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. ¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. ¹² The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.
¹³ The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.”

We praise God, for he is the Creator of all things, including majestic mountains and roaring seas. Jesus revealed this power when he calmed theSea of Galilee. God can calm the turmoil of nations. His sunrises and sunsets bring forth songs of joy. God cares for the land and waters it to provide food for his people. Think about how precious are the streams of God. In the time of abundant harvest, let’s give praise and thanks to God.

I really thank God in nature. When I walk in the forest preserve with my dog, my heart become strangely calm. I can stare at the running water in a stream looking at the life below the surface. I really enjoy listening to the birds and seeing the squirrels jumping around. This is a lot better than any man made park. God is great. The best things in life are free.

God calms the storms of life. Sometime the storms of my life are a little too calm. I think he should stir them up  a little bit.

I thank God for giving us an abundant harvest in my home. We are able to stay ahead of the debt game and at least tread water. We have careers that are rewarding. to be able to plan to get new flooring and renovating our bathrooms is a miracle from God for most families. To be able to even think about a family vacation in the fall to the East coast is a miracle. To maintain two cars in running order is a miracle. We have an abundant harvest here. And we thank God for it.

Prayer: O God our Savior, praise and thanks to you for all you have done for me and your people.

One Word: Praise and thank God today