Rejoice!

Cry Holy by Sonicflood
Songwriters: Byrd, Carey Marcus; Heil, Rick; Thompson, Andrew

Every sun and moon and star
All declaring who You are
We fall silent in amazement
Every word and deed of man
Every sea and grain of sand
All creation speaks
And now we sing to proclaim Your majesty

Let the earth rejoice
Singing with one voice
Let the people cry
Holy holy Lord
Every creature sing
Praises to the King
All creation cry
Holy is the Lord

Every song sung on the earth
Will never capture all your worth
We fall silent in amazement
Let every humble heart now see
The beauty of Your majesty
All creation speaks
And now we sing to the King above all kings

Let the earth rejoice
Singing with one voice
Let the people cry
Holy holy Lord
Every creature sing
Praises to the King
All creation cry
Holy is the Lord

All creation claims your majesty
Holy is your name in all the earth
All creation claims your majesty
And now we sing

Let the earth rejoice
Singing with one voice
Let the people cry
Holy holy Lord
Every creature sing
Praises to the King
All creation cry
Holy is the Lord

Why should we rejoice and praise God?
Because God made us, each and every one of us. He made this world we live in, the food we eat and the water we drink. He made us the kind of people we are...He made us the unique people we are.

He looks after us when we're ill, comforts us when we're sad, lifts us up when we fall, rejoices with us when we're happy. We can rely on Him no matter what we have to face in life. He's the only true friend we will ever need and ever have.

And if that's not enough...
Without God we would not exist and that alone is reason enough to praise God!

What Is Today?

Today is Pentecost, but do you know what Pentecost is all about?

Here is a definition of Pentecost:
Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter.
Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world.
The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that is the way Christians understand God.

What does the bible say about Pentecost?

Acts 2:1-4 & 17-21
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
" In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

So what should we do this Pentecost?

Here is a beautiful version of the popular chorus "Spirit of the Living God" which invites the Holy Spirit to enter into our lives anew, to rekindle our love for God, and reaffirm His love for us. This is what we should do this Pentecost.

Please listen to the chorus and ask God to renew His presence in your life today.

The Book

How many "How To..." or "... for Dummies" manuals have you used over the last while?

Whenever we're tackling a new task or trying to work out to the best way to tackle a new job we all tend to find a helpful reference manual to guide us through the steps to succeed.

But what about life? Do you use a reference manual for that?

The following is an extract from the best Life manual ever written...
"Study this Book of Instruction continually. mediate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do"

So what book is the above referring too? It's the Bible. The above is taken from the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 8. Within the Bible you will find directions/guidance for all situations you will face in your life - Follow the instructions in the Bible and I guarantee you'll experience the full extent of God's love and support.

Michael W Smith's song entitled "Ancient Words" is all about the Bible and reinforces the message I was trying to give to you - that the answers to all we face can be found in God's book, the Bible. I personally find the words of the chorus very encouraging and very reassuring:

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

No matter whether you have never read the Bible before or whether you've read studied it before, I hope and pray that as you watch and listen to the following video, you are encouraged to open God's word.

Ancient Words (by Michael W Smith)

Holy words long preserved

for our walk in this world,

They resound with God's own heart

Oh, let the Ancient words impart.

Words of Life, words of Hope

Give us strength, help us cope

In this world, where e'er we roam

Ancient words will guide us Home.

Ancient words ever true

Changing me, and changing you.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our Faith

Handed down to this age.

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world.

They resound with God's own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Get reading now!

Find out more about Michael W Smith at: http://www.michaelwsmith.com/