Monday, January 21, 2008

Praise the Lord anyway!

Back in the 70s, while everyone else was doing Disco, I was operating a Christian Bookstore and pastoring a church. A great deal of excitment was occurring in the Christian community... the Jesus People Movement, a growing house church movement, and Christian coffee-houses.
A very popular book at that time was called "Praise the Lord Anyway!" It was all about how bad things often happen to Christians. We live in the same tragedy prone world as anyone else. But God should be praised anyway.
From one perspective, it was kind of a pyschological thing -- kind of a "keep your chin up", "take your knocks", "stick it out" thing. But the basis for this idea is planted firmly in the Word. Job said, "I brought nothing into the world, and I'll take nothing out of the world, God be praised." David talked about praising God, even in the trials of life.
My point is, even when faced with life's more difficult trials, God is still the same no matter happens to us. Was He holy, kind, majestic, all mighty, and gracious before our crisis? Then He still is DURING our crisis, and AFTER our crisis.
So, Lord, I want to praise You anyway. My family has walked through the valley of the shadow of death recently, but You were with us. Thank You, Lord. I want to praise You for just being You. \O/

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