Read: Psalm 100 (NIV)
1Shout for joy
to the Lord, all the earth. 2Worship
the Lord with gladness; come
before him with joyful songs. 3Know
that the Lord is God. It is he
who made us, and we are his; we
are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his
name. 5For the Lord
is good and his love endures forever; his
faithfulness continues through all generations.
Reflect:
My
husband Eddie and I were born and raised in the Philippines. Growing up, we
experienced the very festive Christmas season every year. Christmas trees go up
right after All Soul’s Day on November 2nd. Decorations are colorful
and abundant and Christmas lights and lanterns dominate the streets, gardens,
and gates of houses. People start playing yuletide music and can be heard from
house to house, in the supermarket speakers and shopping centers — some as
early as September. Children begin caroling on the front steps of houses in the
weeks prior to Christmas. Reunions and catching up with friends in a festive
atmosphere is always heartwarming. The family traditions like attending the
Christmas Eve service (Misa de Gallo) followed by the midnight feast (Noche
Buena) and the unwrapping of presents are the highlights of the celebration.
There is no snow, no pinecones, and no chestnuts roasted on an open fire, but
the feeling of Christmas is an unmistakable one.
It has been 20 years since Eddie and I spent Christmas in the
Philippines. Being away from your family, especially on Christmas, is hard.
There were times when Christmas carols would bring tears to our eyes. Every
year, there is the longing, the homesickness, the desire to be with family and
loved ones. It is not easy to praise and worship during these moments. But the
author of the book of Psalms, David, said in Psalm 100 to shout for joy to the
Lord and worship the Lord with gladness. These words apply to every moment of
our lives, in good times and bad. Our worship of God should never be grudging
or miserable. Praising God in the hard times doesn’t minimize or deny heaviness
of heart. Instead, it redirects our focus on who God is. He never changes. He
promised never to leave or abandon His children. “He is near to the
brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirits” (Psalm 34:18).
Act:
If
you are going through some difficult times today, don’t despair. Begin singing
praises to the Lord right now, and discover for yourself the peace, joy, and
victory that a praise-filled heart can bring!
Pray:
Father,
we thank You and praise You. You alone are God. You are the creator of
everything. You are good and Your love endures forever. I pray that we would
truly seek to serve You with gladness, as we give ourselves totally to You —
that we would indeed come before You every day with rejoicing no matter the
circumstance. I pray in Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
Eddie and Riza Fernandez
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