Coffee With The Lord

I’ve run a few marathons (26.2 miles) and a lot of 10Ks (6.2 miles). Let me tell you you something… If you have not “put in the miles” ahead of time – in training in preparation for the road race – if you have not “hardened your legs” to the distance, when the day of the race comes the distance and the road will tell you whether or not you’ve adequately trained! How do I know that? I’ve experienced the pain, the frustration, the disappointment of not being able to finish!

The lesson? Put in the miles! Don’t let anything stand in the way of adequate training! Get up early, prioritize your training schedule, do whatever you have to in order to finish strong!

Thought of that this morning as I read these words from 1 Timothy 4 (Apostle Paul’s challenge to young Timothy…)

“Train to be godly! For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and also for the life to come!” (from 1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Gotta tell you, I desperately want to be able to say what Apostle Paul did as he approached the finish line of his “life course”…

“I have fought a good fight! I have finished the race! I have kept the faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day – and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Somehow I think Apostle Paul had run a road race or two! Listen… I WANT TO FINISH STRONG! Don’t you?

Psalm 150… Part of my Bible reading this morning. Last of the Psalms in the Bible. If I were to give it a title, this would be it… “Praise! In the words of Nike… Just do it!”

My advice? When you read this Psalm allow it to create a picture in your mind … a sound in your imagination. (Depending on your personal musical tastes and preferences, that picture will be different – that’s OK! That’s expected!) In fact, my former students who have taken the course Bible Study from me will understand… In fact they will be grinning right now, because I do a wild and crazy thing in class to visualize the kind of worship experience I sometimes visualize as I read this Psalm… Exuberant! Wild! Loud! Uninhibited! God-exalting! Christ-honoring!

So, here’s the psalm for your reading… (Now be sure to let it create a mental picture in your mind – a sound in your imagination!)

“Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary!

Praise Him in His mighty heavens!

Praise Him for His mighty deeds!

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

Praise Him with tambourine and dance!

Praise Him with strings and pipe!

Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

(You…) Praise the Lord!”

Now your picture may have been of a symphony… or it may have been of wild, exciting improvisation – a jazz or rock musical expression… or it may have been of a group of children just “cutting loose” in praise to God with pans, spoons, whistles, whatever – a “rhythms band!” Once more… In the words of Nike… “Praise! Just do it!”

One of the neat things that sometimes happens during “coffee with the Lord” is that my Bible reading often reminds me of old gospel songs I learned and sang as a boy. Not everyone who reads my posts has had the privilege of singing some of those old great songs… others have, and being reminded of them prompts a flood of fond memories.

So this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read these words from Psalm 148 (please pay particular attention to what I’ve placed in capital letters…)

“PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD FROM THE HEAVENS; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

“PRAISE THE LORD FROM THE EARTH, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

“PRAISE THE LORD!”

All of this brought to mind the “echo” of an old gospel song written years ago by Fanny Crosby, the blind oracle of gospel songs…

“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory!

Strength and honor give to His holy Name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,

In His arms He carries them all day long.

“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.

He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,

Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.

Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,

Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!

Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever!

Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!

Christ is coming! over the world victorious,

Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

Refrain:

“Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;

Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”

That’s right… Let’s do it today! Heaven and earth praise Him – Let’s you and I praise Him!