Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s spend today thanking God for who He is and what He is doing!

Today’s scripture, Psalm 100:1-5 (KJV), which says…
[1] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. [2] Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. [3] Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. [5] For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Consider…
In psychology, savoring the moment refers to intentionally focusing your attention on the positive aspects of an experience.

That makes me think of Psalms 34:8 (AMP) which says…
[8] O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Do you savor moments with our Savior?

While pondering that question personally, I hear Zarcadi Cortez singing…

I, I just need my one on one time with you, you.
With no, no interruptions I just want it to be me and you
I need a one on one
I just need a one on one, with you

I, I just need my one on one time with you, you.
I might be selfish, but I
I can’t just help it. When comes down to you

I’m down on knees waiting to hear from you, you.
I have so many questions that I need answers to, to
I’m just going to wait on you
I’ll sit right here and wait on you

Our Lord and Savior wants us to stay connected to Him. We know that because Jesus said in John 15:4-5 (ERV)…
[4] Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me. [5] “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything.

Notice Jesus used the present tence verb ‘stay’. That means, Jesus doesn’t want to be a drop in guest of ours. Indeed, Jesus wants to be our walking companion, who goes everywhere with us.

That thought makes me hear one of my mother’s favorite hymns, which says…

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

The first verse of that hymn says, ‘while the dew is still on the roses’.

That makes me think of the idiom to “Stop and smell the roses”, which means to relax; to take time out of one’s busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of life.

Allow me to sanctify the idiom and encourage you take time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of God! Appreciate who He is, and what He is doing right before your very eyes.

The songwriter Babyface said it best, although we’re singing it to God…

A summer love is beautiful
But it’s not enough
To satisfy emotions
That are shared between us

A winter love is cozy
But I need so much more
It just intensifies my wants
To have a love that endures

‘Cause every time I close my eyes
I think of you
And no matter what the season nears
I still love you
With all my heart
And I want to be with you
Wherever you are

I only think of you on two occasions
That’s day and night
I’d go for broke if I could be with you
Only you can make it right

An autumn love is special
At this time of the year
But when the leaves are gone
Does that love disappear

I never underestimate the new love of spring
But I’m glad to say in my heart
I know my love’s lasting

‘Cause every time I close my eyes
I think of you
And no matter what the season nears
I still love you
With all my heart
And I want to be with you
Wherever you are

I only think of you on two occasions
That’s day and night
I’d go for broke if I could be with you
Only you can make it right

How often do you think of God?

When I think of Babyface’s declaration that, ‘Only you can make it right’, I am inspired to read Psalms 63:3-8 (NLT), which says…
[3] Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! [4] I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. [5] You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. [6] I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. [7] Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. [8] I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

This passage makes me want to sing with Hezekiah Walker to the LORD…

You’re all I need
Every breath you breath through me
You’re all I need
Let Your rivers flow through me

You’re all I need
Every breath you breath through me
You’re all I need
Let Your rivers flow through me

You’re all I need
You’re all I need
You’re all I need
You’re all I need

While singing, ‘Let Your rivers flow through me’, I was reminded of John 7:37-39 (NLT) which said…
[37] On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” [39] (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Do God’s rivers of living water flow through you? Does the Holy Spirit live in you? Before you answer, read Romans 8:9 (NLT) which explains…
[9] But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

So the real question is, does the Holy Spirit control your life?

If your answer is yes, then you can testify with the Psalmist in Psalm 46:1 (KJV) that…
[1] God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Notice the Psalmist said ‘God IS’.

Lord have mercy, the Holy Spirit is adding another ringtone to my heavenly cellphone. Now whenever the world is trying to call me I hear James Cleveland singing…

God is
My protection
God is
My all and all

God is
My light in darkness, oh
God, God is, He
He is my all and all

God is
My joy in the time of sorrow
God, God is
My all and all

God is
My today and my tomorrow
God my God is
My all and all

God is the joy and the strength of my life
(God is) He removes all pain misery and strife
(God is) He promised to keep me
Never to leave me
He’ll never ever come short of His word
(God is) I’ve got to fast and pray
Stay in this narrow way
(God is) Keep my life clean every day
(God is) I want to go with Him when He comes back
I’ve come to far
And I’ll never turn back

God is
God is
God is
God is
God is my all and all

I don’t know about you, but I am thankful that GOD IS!

Speaking of ‘God Is’, I remember that God described Himself to Moses as ‘I AM’! (Exodus 3:14). And John 8:58 (NLT) says…
[58] Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!”

That means before you or your forefathers were born, our omnipresent Lord and Savior has always been.

While writing that, the track on my playlist skipped forward to…

You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You
I worship You
You are here, working in this place
I worship You
I worship You
You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You
I worship You
You are here, working in this place
I worship You
I worship You

You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

You are here, touching every heart
I worship You
I worship You
You are here, healing every heart
Healing every heart
Oh, I worship You
Jesus, I worship You
You’re turning lives around
You are here, oh, turning lives around
I worship You
I worship You
You mended every heart
You are here, and You are mending every heart
I worship You, yeah
I worship You

And You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Yeah You’re the way maker
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

And of course the tag, which says…
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working (come on)

Needless to say, I could go on and on gushing about who God is and what He is doing, but the Holy Spirit is saying let Psalms 118:1-4 (NLT) close us out. It says…
[1] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. [2] Let all Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” [3] Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” [4] Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

Today thank God for being GOOD alone (Luke 18:19), and good to you (Psalms 13:6)!

Today’s Song is…
God Is Good

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)