The Blessed Hope

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Everyone, and everything, was made to glorify God! The very life we have is an exclamation of His greatness! However, not everyone acknowledges their Creator. In their stubborn sinfulness, many meander around in life from birth to death and fail to willfully acknowledge the Lord or humbly submit their lives to Him. Some even blame God for the suffering and sorrow of this life. A choice has to be made!
Today, willingly, I acknowledge my Creator and Lord! I shout out His name in joyful celebration! Gladly, I serve Him!  There is no other way of life for me! I was made to worship Him and bring glory to His Holy Name! I would not be here if it weren't for Him! I didn't make myself and I didn't make the world around me. I simply get to live this life and I have the opportunity to submit to the One who gave it to me. I choose to submit my life into His gracious and merciful hands. He is my Father! As one of His sheep, I find provision in His pasture and protection in His fold. I thank Him for His daily care, His forgiveness of my past, His presence with me now, the promise of life everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations! God is good!!! God, in His goodness, gave origin to life, purpose to life, and the certain prospect of everlasting life. His mercy has allowed each of us to get up this morning and try again. Yesterday is gone! Today is here. Live today to glory Him. His truth endures to all generations. His Person is eternal, His Word is TRUE, His presence is faithful, and those who cast their lot with Him will live forever. Yes, life's circumstances can prescribe a bitter pill of suffering and sorrow. In those moments, we can lose our way. Jeremiah the prophet felt that sting. In the Old Testament book of Lamentations he expresses his utter heartbreak over the pain and suffering that accompanied the Babylonian invasion of the Holy City Jerusalem in late 586 or early 585 B.C. “He has filled me with bitterness and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink. He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:15-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Regardless of the muck and mess in this world, there remains the blessed hope for every child of God. Jesus will return and all things will be made new. Live your life today in light of the life that is coming. Shout joyful praises!!!