Walking in the Truth
A contemporary Christian song
Link from You Tube: The late Rich Mullins performing a live version of Sing Your Praise to the Lord.Today's Scriptural Truth
"I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Psalm 122:1 (A Psalm of David)Today's Devotional Thoughts
I returned to church on SUN 4/10, after a 4-week hiatus, following my hip replacement on TUE 4/15.It felt good . . . It felt very, very good.
I don't know what your experience with worship is, but I will tell you mine. It is an attitude that has developed over the years, & I'd like to think that it is a sign of spiritual maturity.
I love the hymns, yes, even the old standards. I love the liturgy, yes, even the familiar cadence that harkens back to p.5 & p.15 in TLH. [You may need to have your dad or mom explain that archaic reference to you.]
The scripture speaks to me in ways that it never did when I was younger. I can sit through most sermons without getting drowsy. Prayers on behalf of others are very meaningful. The Holy Sacrament is something I treasure. [Can't honestly say that I always treasured it in my younger days, especially those interminably long communion services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Service, New Year's Eve.]
Even the pastor's closing benediction is something that I take personally, as if God's blessing is being spoken directly to me.
Last Sunday's worship was especially meaningful to me, since it was my first Sunday worship at my home congregation since SUN 3/13 [although I have this nagging feeling that I went to church someplace else on that SUN]. People welcomed me back, sincerely I think. I got to visit with people that I especially wanted to visit with. And Grant Schmidt, executive vice-president of Orphan Grain Train, was installed, having become "reactivated" on the active roster of commissioned ministers of the LCMS. I liked that a lot, too.
It is my hope & prayer that you are able to worship regularly. Naturally, as a life-long, hopelessly biased, LCMS Lutheran, I'd love to have you regularly worshipping at an LCMS church, but I can even admit that I genuinely appreciate contemporary worship services AND worshipping at other denominations.
Today's Prayer *
This was our closing hymn on SUN 4/10. I don't mind telling you that I had to stop singing briefly during the last stanza, because I got a little emotional. **St. 1 "Thine the Amen Thine the praise Alleluias angels raise
Thine the everlasting head Thine the breaking of the bread
Thine the glory Thine the story Thine the harvest then the cup
Thine the vineyard then the cup is lifted up lifted up."
St. 2 "Thine the life eternally Thine the promise let there be
Thine the vision Thine the tree All the earth on bended knee
Gone the nailing gone the railing Gone the pleading gone the cry
Gone the sighing gone the dying what was loss lifted high."
St. 3 "Thine the truly Thine the yes Thine the table we the guest
Thine the mercy all from Thee Thine the glory yet to be
Then the ringing and the singing Then the end of all the war
Thine the living Thine the loving ever-more ever-more."
St. 4 "Thine the kingdom Thine the prize Thine the wonder full surprise
Thine the banquet then the praise Then the justice of Thy ways
Thine the glory Thine the story Then the welcome to the least
Then the wonder all increasing at They feast at Thy feast."
St. 5 "Thine the glory in the night No more dying only light
Thine the river Thine the tree Then the Lamb eternally
Then the holy holy holy Celebration jubilee
Thine the splendor Thine the brightness only Thee only Thee."
* Source: "Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise," Lutheran Service Book, #680.
** I'm actually quite an emotional guy. If you don't believe me, you can ask my wife or the people I worked with at Lutheran High.
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