This is a pic from last week of my balcony at my apartment in Houston. In the fifteen years we have lived in Houston, it snowed lightly once. Until this winter! It has snowed twice and last week remained in the 20″s for a couple of days. Global cooling is happening in Houston!

We have a few more posts from Revelation coming. But for this morning, let’s look to the Psalms!

Psalms 146

The last 5 Psalms, 146-150, all begin and end with three words: PRAISE THE LORD. These Psalms challenge me to FOCUS on the glory and greatness of God. Seems simple, but turning every aspect of my wandering, fleeting, A.D.D. mind over to uninterrupted meditative absorption of the fullness of God is not easy. But let’s give a try anyway!

“Praise the Lord, oh my soul.” Not just mouthing or speaking praise but calling out praise from my innermost being…from deep inside me…from my soul where my deepest thoughts, feelings, dreams, fears, angers and weaknesses reside. Praise the Lord from the soul; the place where I’m completely vulnerable, laid bare and exposed. Praise the Lord from my soul where I have nothing tangible to give God except what He has already given me: simple love for Him, a simple heart for Him, a simple desire to serve Him. I have nothing to give except a soul that has been covered with the blood of Jesus. But I guess that’s the point. It has nothing to do with what I can give but all about Praising the Lord. Funny how I turned it back to myself and considered what I can bring. I guess it’s my nature.  …. Turn your thoughts toward Him – He gives and brings everything!!! God, v5 you are my help; you are my hope; v6 you give me faith; v7-10, you give food to me; you set me free; you open my eyes; you raise me up; you love me; you protect, you support, you reign forever. There is nothing in this psalm about what I do or what I bring or anything about me. My response is simply PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”