Coffee With The Lord

I’m one of those students of Scripture who takes the language of Scripture very seriously (especially the “original language” in which it was inspired and written) – the “verbal inspiration” of Scripture! But I gotta tell you, sometimes it helps to paraphrase the message of Scripture (and I mean by that, with devotional integrity seek to put it in your “own words!”

I did that today with one of the “Hymns of Praise” (Psalms 146-150) – they all begin and end with “Praise the Lord!” So here goes – my paraphrase of Psalm 150, the last of the “Hymns of Praise” and the last of the entire “Psalter!”

“Com’on Praise the Lord! – Ya’all praise Him! It doesn’t matter where – do it in church or anywhere else in His glorious creation! Think about all the awesome things He has done and praise Him! How great He is will blow your mind! Grab an instrument and praise Him! Pound a drum! blow a whistle! Make some noise! He gave you the breath you’re breathing – use it to praise Him! That’s right – just do it! He deserves it! I’m gonna praise the Lord! Will you join me?” Bartel’s feeble attempt at a “personal paraphrase”

Over the years I’ve heard a lot of “GRACE STORIES” – wonderful testimonies about how God transformed a life through faith in Jesus Christ! They run the gambit too… all the way from the guy who was a murderer, thief, and mobster who encountered God and experienced forgiveness and became a Gospel preacher… All they way to the “good Sunday school kid, raised in a Christian family, who one day in Church became aware of His sin, asked the Lord forgive him and now fifty years later is still faithfully serving the Lord (a person kept from a life of sin)… and everything in between! Both extremes – and everything in between – are miraculous and wonderful!!

All of those wonderful “GRACE STORIES” came to mind as I read Apostle Paul’s testimony this today… (In fact, if the truth were told, His story is all of our stories who know the Lord – a testimony in microcosm… Here it is…

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life!.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.!” (1 Timothy 1:12–17 NIV)

Hey, you can have a “GRACE STORY!” … You got one? Thank God for it! Share it! And end up making verse 17 your personal expression of praise!

Here I am in my office this morning with my Bible enjoying “coffee with the Lord” and another “Hymn of Praise” (this morning Psalm 148) … It starts with “PRAISE THE LORD!” (Verse 1) and ends with “PRAISE THE LORD!” (Verse 14) Each of the “Hymns of Praise” (Psalm 146-150) start and end that way! What a challenge the Psalmist gives us to simply “DO IT!” – “PRAISE THE LORD!”

You should read this Psalm for yourself today… All creation is viewed as “Praising the Lord” – I mean EVERYTHING!! Think about it… look out of the widow – take a walk – EVERYTHING VIEWED AS PRAISING THE LORD! – Nothing excepted!! Then EVERYONE viewed as PRAISING THE LORD (the only sad exception would be where the human will is involved and someone refuses to “PRAISE THE LORD!” … And let me say, what a tragedy!)

What a mind-boggling picture! Here’s just a taste of it:

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…. [Com’on YOU] PRAISE THE LORD!”(From Psalm 148 ESV)