Today’s Truth
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy. (Psalm 67:4)
Friend to Friend
I’m obsessed with gymnastics and figure skating. Obsessed. For two weeks, every four years. You know... like everyone else in America... when the Winter Olympics games come around. Pour me a bowl of Wheaties, hand me a flag with stars and stripes, and let’s get it on! Stick that landing! Land that triple salchow! You got this! USA! USA! USA!
And you can’t miss the opening ceremonies!
There’s just a beyond-ness to them! Bright colors. Epic music. Intricate costumes.
Athletes from every nation, coming together in harmony. The pride of each country celebrating their unique heritage, while at the same time vibrantly displaying the beauty of humanity that binds us all together.
Songs are sung, dances are danced, and joy rises to a climax as a well-traveled, flaming stick enters the arena. Eyes from all across the globe watch in wonder as the Olympic Torch ignites. The world melts together. One people. One celebration. A big ole’ global party.
And it feels right to love each other. To look beyond politics, religion, race, and culture. To honor each life as valuable. To see and celebrate a different kind of beautiful.
But voices of division yell loud as I watch the news.
Differences spark flames of contention in conversations on social media, and fear tells us to look straight ahead, stick to what we know, and stay with our own.
And it feels wrong to spew venom and wound each other. To allow chains of politics, religion, race, and culture to choke us into ungodly bondage that keeps us from His grace and perfect will. To keep us from living love - from reaching out - from coming together at the foot of the cross.
Psalm 67 calls for worship among all the nations. A prelude of sorts to the New Testament’s Great Commission, these verses invite all of humanity to gather around the Eternal Flame in praise. Red, brown, yellow, black and white. Vibrant beauty.
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
All the peoples.
One people.
One celebration.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
A big ole’ God party, celebrating the One who rides on the very clouds He spoke into existence. Our personal, loving Savior who heals the brokenhearted, cares for the widows and wounded, and rescues the orphaned and abandoned.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!
This is your invitation to a grand, global celebration. Sing a new song. A song of praise. Let it rise to the Maker of all the peoples - to the One who's got the whole world in His hands.
Extend your hands and expand your heart beyond division… beyond that which seeks to limit God’s love, grace, and power to save.
And worship wholeheartedly right where you are. I’m singing right beside you.
Let’s Pray
Holy Father, Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Bind me to Your grace and help me to love well. Give me eyes to see beyond differences, and courage to speak life.
In Jesus Ne'Eman.
Now It’s Your Turn
What’s one thing that divides your heart from those around you? What’s one the small step you could take today to move you forward?
Replies
Yes, I can attest to the news and others sending you smoke screens of territorial frightening events to keep one tide up tangled up in fear. I receive enormous amount of emails with “frightening” things that people pick up on, via Facebook or whatever the outlet they use. And I have yet to see anyone with a prayer behind it, a prayer of pulling down all this “fearful” stuff, they want you to catch hold of the band wagon and hitch a ride, but not so, I begin to rebuke the very gesture, the one that orchestrated, from beginning to the end, and yes I have deleted people from my page, that constantly send that to me. I would love to see after all the news of terrifying events and happenings, the chaotic of the world from one place to another, that someone that has a voice in the news arena around the world, would take the time and pray, pray over all the announcements that has come across the airwaves, begin to rebuke the wind as Jesus did, Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Is there a truly Spirit filled individual in the media? Is there anyone from all the outlets that is in the television setting that can do this?
What’s one thing that divides your heart from those around you? What’s one the small step you could take today to move you forward?
You know with the journey that God has me on, I am learning to hear and pray; and let God know, I am happy that His hands is on me, that we have a great relationship. And we have choices, and within our choice we must know when we have to move on, when we have to let go, in order to move on. Praise God.