Thursday, June 18, 2020

Dear Trinity Baptist Church Family, Psalm 113:1-3 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.

Years ago a favorite song of Lin and I was “Hallelujah, Anyhow” sung by Lauren Talley. Often, this idea is desperately needed in the mind of the believer. Circumstances often would turn our heads away from praising God. But the believer should praise God anyhow. Here are some of the circumstances of my week: a dead battery in the van, a lost credit card, air conditioning broken in the SUV, a bathroom sink leaking, bills due, and the news is continually full of conflict. And I have it easy. I know people who have lost their loved one, one has a son dying of cancer, another has a child who is estranged, and some are overwhelmed with many sorrows. What’s a believer to do? “Hallelujah, Anyhow!”

Darryl taught us years ago that the message of the book of Job is that God’s people do not worship God because of circumstances, but rather in spite of the circumstances we worship God because of Who He is. Much is changing in our world. But God has not changed, nor has my obligation to worship Him … anyhow.

So lift up your head and let it be heard from your lips that God is good and you are His. You may have to sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” through tears – I have done that many times. But always know, believer, that God is pleased to hear the sacrifice of your praise. Hallelujah, anyhow!

Embracing Truth, Pastor