From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Barbara Warren" <bjw18@csufresno.edu>
Subject: Lord's Day Greetings
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2000 9:20 AM

"Praise the LORD!
 Praise, O servants of the LORD.
 From the rising of the sun to its setting
 The name of the LORD is to be praised."  Psalm 113:1 & 3

In part, Webster defines praise as -- the offering of grateful homage in
words or song, as an act of worship.
A synonym for grateful is thankful.  Thankful describes an appreciative
attitude for what one has received.
Therefore we praise the LORD with gratefulness, with thankfulness because of
His great gift to us; life instead of death.  His life!  His eternal life!

Scripture enjoins (directs; charges) us to praise the LORD.  The Psalmist,
especially, sets an example for us in praising and worshipping our LORD.
Here are a few verses...

In song and with insturment:
"Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
 Declare His deeds among the people."   Psalm 9:11
"Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
 Sing to Him a new song;
 Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
 Sing out the honor of His name;
 Make His praise glorious."  Psalm 33:2-3

All are to praise our LORD:
"Let the people praise You, O God;
 Let all the peoples praise You."  Psalm 67:3 & 5
"Sing to the LORD a new song,
 And His praise from the ends of the earth..."
 Let them give glory to the Lord,
 And declare His praise..."  Isaish 42:10 & 12

Praise is to be continual:
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  Hebrews 13:15

Why?  Just look at 1 Peter 2:9-10!
"... you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now
the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people!  How can we not continually praise and worship our God and Savior?!

Let us heed the exhortation of the Apostle Paul as he writes,
"...Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melodly in your heart to the LORD,
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our
LORD Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 5:18-20

Psalm 150 eloquently expresses the heart of one who joyfully, reverently,
thankfully is praising the LORD.
"Praise the Lord!
 Praise God in His sanctuary;
 Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
 Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
 Praise Him with the lute and harp!
 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
 Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
 Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
 Praise the LORD!