Posts with the tag “praise”

Years ago, we went to a festival in the park. There were artists, food vendors and music. As I strolled around, I came across some eye catching artwork depicting the Garden of Eden and Creation. Flowing through the garden was this peaceful, welcoming river. As I stared at the painting, I could imagine sitting peacefully there listening to the water flowing. “A river watering the garden flowed from...  Read More

Sharon was fed up! She asked Michael several times not to track the dirt in the house when he came home from work. Especially on her new floors. What did he do when he came in? He never stopped for a moment to take off his shoes and clumped through the house leaving a trail of mud. She exploded and gave him a piece of her mind. She then stormed out of the house fuming and by the time she got to th...  Read More

Sometimes we heap great praise on people who do great things. It’s giving honor and praise to a person who has accomplished something extraordinary, like developing a new cure for cancer or doing some great feat like athletics. Our praise can go to such heights that we place the person far beyond any others, almost “putting someone on a pedestal” or exalting him or her.“Exalt”, a word that isn’t u...  Read More

“Hallelujah” is an exclamation of worship or a call to praise. It comes from a Hebrew phrase that means “Praise the Lord.” It’s a joyful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. Honestly, a Hallelujah should be on our lips every day for all the Lord has done and is doing for us. But sometimes it’s hard to find your Hallelujah or even remember you had it.Have you ever gotten up in the morning ...  Read More

Have you ever been so sad and confused over something that you found it hard to move forward another day? Some of us may feel that way because of the issues COVID-19 has brought. Some of us may feel that way because we’ve had a defining life event that was so hurtful. Some of us may identify because we’ve lost something or someone so suddenly.Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the da...  Read More

Yes, it’s that time again. You are invited to a praise party today. The time: right now. The dress: whatever you have on. Please bring your worship, your best praise dance moves and a bag of shouts of Hallelujah! BYOM (Bring Your Own Music).It’s time for us to send the enemy packing. Just because we have trials and situations to deal with doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down and let him ...  Read More

Do you need an encounter with God today? Do you want to push away the troubles and demands of life, and take a break? Or do you just need a touch from Him today? Now is the time. Drop whatever you are doing, and let’s call upon the Lord to be present right where you are—in your car, in your room, as you are walking, wherever you are.Empty your thoughts and quiet your mind. It may take a moment, bu...  Read More

Throughout the Old and New Testament, you’ll find many references to fire and the altar. God was the Fire in the burning bush and the Fire that led the Israelites at night to the Promised Land. Fire from heaven consumed altars laden with offerings to the Lord for sin. Tongues of fire came down from heaven upon Jesus’ followers when the Holy Spirit descended after His resurrection.Noah built the fi...  Read More

Yesterday, we talked about our need to get moving if we want to see change and the move of the Lord in our lives. We have to break out of our comfort zones and awaken the fire we have down in our bones for Jesus. In that fire and passion for Him, we will find a joy and peace that will overcome every crazy twist and turn of life.Does your soul burn for Jesus or has your faith and passion been reduc...  Read More

There’s a great program on television that just returned called 911 Lone Star. The new episode is about a disaster that hits Austin. A dormant volcano erupts and causes great damage and injury all over the town. Unfortunately, a paramedic trying to save a young man dies from flying debris from the volcano. The fire house is devastated. And what song is played as they deal with their grief? Hallelu...  Read More

It’s been a while since we’ve had a praise day and today is as good as any. Now some of you may be thinking, “I really don’t feel like I have it in me today.” That’s exactly the time you should just throw off whatever your problems or worries are, and enter into a time of worship. When we praise the Lord, blessings come down and our spirits are lifted. Breakthroughs happen, we can see our situatio...  Read More

It’s time to focus and block out all the negative voices that tell us what we can’t do. This is the year of “can do.” We’ve been whipsawed, spun around and put on a never ending roller coaster, but it’s time to shake it all off. We are no longer at the whim of every theory, opinion, or untruth. Our eyes are laser focused on Jesus, the lifter of our heads.Dig deep, my friends, and dust off your con...  Read More

Have you noticed how creation sings the praise of God? Today, for example, it snowed. I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty falling down around us.  Within a short time, the snow had covered the porch and the yard like a beautiful blanket. The wonderful thing about snow is that it gets so quiet, as though nature is saying, “Take a moment and enjoy the beauty of the Lord.”I watched with joy as m...  Read More

We are entering the holiday season facing a pandemic out of control and political confusion, it’s easy to focus on our trials and lose sight of the One who can save us. Praise God, Jesus taught us how to pray. He taught us to approach the throne of God with these simple words, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” These words alone are a mighty prayer that can shake t...  Read More

Praise and worship were the first actions taken when Jesus was born. Imagine how the Israelites felt. They had waited for hundreds of years. It took fourteen generations from Abraham to the birth of the Messiah. They waited for Immanuel, “God with us.”This tiny baby would save His people from sin, a heavy burden placed on the shoulders of a child. The night Jesus was born, the stars were shining s...  Read More

Why do we send Christmas cards each year? Most of us send cards because that’s tradition, and some of us send cards because someone sent us one. The Christmas card was actually invented by a very wealthy Englisman who was too busy to reach out to all of his family and friends. So he developed a postcard with just a few words to wish them a merry Christmas. Somehow the idea caught on and the Hall b...  Read More

When Jesus was born, the earth rejoiced! Hope had come to save us. He would be that bridge between the old covenant and the new covenant. He would be the link between the past and the present, between the present and the future. He would be the glue that would seal us and our relationship to the Lord. He would be the peace between God and sinners. The Prince of Peace!This is the season when we cel...  Read More

Our first week of Advent is coming to a close. Our focus for this week has been Hope, and Hope has a name. That name is so powerful, that it can heal, save and give eternal life. That name can break chains and demolish walls. And we have full access to that name.As we close out this week, let’s remember why we are hopeful and in whom we put our trust and faith. His birth is the best promise ever f...  Read More

The world Jesus was born into wasn’t too different from ours. There was a crisis and a meltdown, both politically and socially. There were revolutionary ideas and great divisions among the people. The Roman Empire ruled over the Jews at this time, and the Jews wanted a Messiah to come and bring order to the chaos.God didn’t send an army of angels to take over, nor did He send a full grown Jesus to...  Read More

Our Unite 714 prayer this week is one of praise. When we give the Lord the highest glory, the highest praise, heaven’s doors open wide for blessings and answers to our prayers flow down upon us. Do you realize the power that is in your praise and prayers? Miracles and breakthroughs are so possible, even to the cure of a disease which causes a pandemic. Give the Father your highest praise this week...  Read More

It’s that time again! It’s time to get out our praise shoes and put on our praise songs. It’s time to raise a Hallelujah and lift up the name of Jesus. Yes, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Yes, there’s still political unrest. Yes, there is still division in our nation. Yes, we are COVID fatigued. Yes, our finances are stretched. There is no better time to bring on the praise and thanksgiving.O...  Read More

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. What a special holiday when we come together with our families for a Thanksgiving meal and a great time of bonding. This year may be different, though, because of COVID-19 restrictions. Travel may be out of the question and gathering with family and friends could be unwise. Very tough decisions may be necessary in order to keep our loved ones and ourselves ...  Read More

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