PRAISE REVOLUTION: WARFARE

Have you ever wondered why God commands and desires our PRAISE? Is it because He has as ego problem? Is He insecure? Does He need our PRAISE? The answer to all these questions is emphatically NO. God does not need our PRAISE. Scripture records that there are creatures in heaven that do nothing but WORSHIP Him day and night (Revelation 4:8)

Why then has God ordained our PRAISE? Psalm 8:2 gives us the answer: "because of our enemies." Some people feel they have done the Lord a great service if they spend thirty minutes WORSHIPING Him. The fact is we do not do Him a favour; we do ourselves a favour and the devil great damage. God has not ordained PRAISE because He needs it, but because we need to PRAISE Him.

Ezekiel refers to Lucifer as "the anointed cherub" (Eziekiel 28:13-14). Lucifer was called to lead all of heaven in WORSHIP to the most high God ... but he fell because of PRIDE (Isaiah 14:12-15). Because of a prideful heart, Satan fell from heaven, lost his heavenly anointing and was cast to the earth. (Ezekiel 28:16-18).

The wonderful thing God did was to take what Satan was originally anointed to do and allow us, the body of Christ, to use it as a weapon of warfare to destroy the enemy's plans. Psalm 8:2 says that God has ordained PRAISE because of our enemy, to silence the avenger. The word silence is the Hebrew word "shabath" which means "to cause to fail, to repose, suffer to be lacking, to put down, take away."

As we PRAISE the Lord, we cause the enemy to fail. As we lift our voices to God, we defeat the power of Satan that would bring us into bondage. As we enter into WORSHIP, we begin to take back what the enemy has stolen from us.

When you understand this, SPIRITUAL WARFARE is no longer drudgery. That's why Paul could say, "Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). It is a good fight when you know your enemy is fleeing in terror. We are not running from our enemy; instead we have him on the run. we are not in a defensive position waiting for him to attack. Rather we take the offensive and go after his kingdom aggressively. We are God's commandoes who go in behind the lines rescuing those that are held captive. We use spiritual weapons of war to blow up his communications facilities and destroy his method of operation.

Paul said that "the weapons of our WARFARE are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of stronghold" (2 Corinthians 10:9). PRAISE and WORSHIP play an important role in all this because God has ordained our PRAISE to silence him. It is time for the church to arise in this hour and PRAISE the Lord with all it's might. We must become uninhibited in our PRAISE, even as children are (Psalm 8:2 says - "out of the mouth of babes"). Then our weapon of WARFARE - PRAISE - will be unleashed on the powers of darkness and result in their demise and destruction.
(an extract from - Silencing The Enemy by Robert Gay)



PRAISE - THE VICTORY YOU HAVE IN GOD OVER YOUR ENEMIES
Psalm 27:3 - Praise Him when an army comes against you
2Samuel 22:30 - Praise Him when you can overtake an entire troop
2 Chronicles 20:17 - Praise Him when He fights on your behalf
2 Chronicles 20:21 - Praise Him when you can defeat an overwhelming
Romans 8:31 - Praise Him when God is for you and no one can stand against you
Psalm 7:6 - Praise Him when your enemies rage against you
Psalm 27:2-5 - Praise Him when your enemies come against you
Psalm 25:19 - when your enemies are many and are very cruel
Psalm 38: 19 - Praise Him when your enemies are multiplied and very strong
Psalm69:4 - Praise Him when your enemies hate you without cause ...
Psalm 102:8 - Praise Him when your enemies speak against your all day long
Lamentation 3:52 -Praise Him when your enemies hunt you down without cause
1 Samuel 2:1 - Praise Him when you can smile at your enemies becuae of His salvation
Psalm 18:1-3 - Praise Him when you are delivered from your enemies
Psalm 9:3 - Praise Him when your enemies fall and perish at His presence
Psalm 18:3, 48 - Praise Him when you call on the Lord and are saved from your enemies
Ps 23:5 - Praise Him when He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies
Psalm 25:2 - Praise Him when He will not allow your enemies to triump over you
Psalm 27:6 - Praise Him when He lifts your head above your enemies
Psalm 27:11 - Praise Him when He leads you on a smooth path in the face of your enemies
Psalm 41:2 - Praise Him when He stands against the will of your enemies
Psalm 119:98 - Praise Him when He makes you wiser than your enemies through His Word
Psalm 143:9 - Praise Him when He is a shelter from your enemies
Micah 7:8 - Praise Him when He lifts you and gives you light in the face of your enemies
2 Kings 17:39 - Praise Him when He delivers your from the hand of all your enemies
Zephaniah 3:14-15 - Praise Him when He turns back your enemies
Psalm 66:3 - Praise Him when His great power cause your enemies to cringe

PRAISE THE LORD!

PRAISE REVOLUTION: TRIALS

TRIALS ENABLE PEOPLE TO RISE

ABOVE RELIGION TO GOD

Brother Andrew

God uses trials in our lives to refine, beautify, and strengthen us.. In our natural state our personalities resemble unrefined gold. The heat of our difficult circumstances melts the gold and brings to the surface the dross in our characters - the pride and unbelief, the unloving attitudes, the self -will.
PRAISING God brings our hearts in line with His intentions, so that He can work in us more freely. It opens us to His will, so that we can cooperate with Him in His plan to remove the impurities.
Yet, instead of PRAISING, we so easily complain and resist His working. By our complaints and resistance we stir the scum back into our personalities. This may necessitate the heat of continued chastening to accomplish what God wants to do in us. It may delay His answers to our prayers for both ourselves and our loved ones. In contrast, PRAISE and THANKSGIVING can serve as catalysts, speeding up the refining process in our lives.

God uses trials to perfect FAITH as well as character. Again and again trials bring us to the end of our human resources, so that we allow to meet our needs and satisfy our longings. Trials rip away the filmsy fabric of our self-sufficiency. This allows God to weave into our hearts His strength, love, and wisdom. Trials exercise our FAITH, developing strong confidence that says, "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ's suuficiency - Philippians 4:13]
With God no probelm in our personalities or circumstances is impossibile or even difficult. Our troubles never surprise Him. They never catch Him off guard, causing Him to wring His hands and wonder what to do. As we repeatedly focus on God's sufficiency in difficult situations, we develop a steady trust in Him.

CHOOSING GOD'S PERSPECTIVE
PRAISE helps us to stand back from our difficulties and fix our attention on our infinite, loving God. It helps us measure our probelms look like molehills rather than mountains. In the light of God's sovereign kindness and wise purposes, we see them as stepping-stones rather than stumbling blocks, as opportunities rather than obstacles. They are raw materialsfor God's miracles and the prelude to greater obedience.
As our perspective changes, our feelings often shift from negative to positive. But even if they are slow to respond, we can continue to give thanks with our minds and wills. We can choose to rejoice thatGod is our source of wise guidance and overcoming power though we still feel angry or confused about our circumstances.
OVERCOMING CONTRARY INCLINATIONS
God has given us His WORD to reassure our hearts. Through it He reminds us of His loving goodness, which always plans for our best, of His wisdom, which never makes a mistake, and of His power, which can make something glorious our of the sorriest fragments of our lives.
God has also given us His Spirit, who energizes us to obey His command to give thanks. As we choose to thank Him simply because we want to obey and please Him, we switch on His power by faith. we give Him opportunity to work in us, making us both willing and able to give sincere thanks in spite of contrary feelings.
By natural temperament we may differ from one another in the time that elapses between event and our choice to give thanks, of between that choice and our upsurge of joy. As we can shorten our periods of inner resistance or adjustment. This is growth. Growth does not mean that we have no struggles, but that we more quickly resolve our inner conflicts.

WELCOMING TRIALS AS FRIENDS
Through THANKSGIVING and PRAISE we obey God's command, "When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!" (James 1:2 - Phillips). James reminds us that trials come to test our FAITH. They develop us so that we will in no way be deficient. In view of these tremendous benefits, we are to welcome trials as friends. The KJV says that we should count it all JOY when we "fall into" many trials.
The attitude of accepting trials with JOY was a principle with the Apostle Paul. He refused to lose heart when afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. He accepted these troubles as opportunities to manifest the life of Jesus to other people (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).

USING EVERYTHING FOR GOOD
We serve a God Who can cause all things to work together for good, both for ourselves and others (Romans 8:28). He can produce beauty out of ashes, power out of weakness, growth out of failure, triump out of distress. As we give THANKS and PRAISE regardless of what happens, we align ourselves with God and His purposes. This prepares us to colabour with Him in using for good the worst happens to us in a fallen world.
(an extract from: PRAISE - A Door To God's Presence by Warren & Ruth Myers)

May this awesome song inspires you to bring PRAISE in your situations .... have a victorious week. TPWC.

PRAISE REVOLUTION: UNCONDITIONALLY

Why do we praise God? Do we desire to honor Him and make Him glad? Or do we feel that praise puts God under obligation to grant the earthly longings we bring to Him in prayer? Will God do whatever we ask simply because we praise Him?

God is not a heavenly vending machine into which we insert the coin of praise, press the right button, and get whatever we want. Nor is praise is a magical incantation that forces God to fulfill our wishes. Many of us would not consciously try to manipulate God. But when we praise Him in the midst of a trial, we can be tempted to secretly bargain with Him, feeling in some recess of our heart, "I'm praising You, Lord. Now You owe it to me to work out this situation the way I want."

TRUSTING REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS

True praise imposes no condition on God. It chooses to believe Him regardless of the situation and it's outcome. It accepts the circumstances He has permitted, without insisting that He change them. Such praise begins with the attitude that says, "Father, I'm going to keep trusting You even though everything is dark and confusing." As we continue to praise, we reach the place where we can say, " Father, thank You that You are working in me to beautify my character. Don't remove this problem until You've done all You want to do through it, in me and in others. Use it to prepare me for the furture You have in mind for me. Change me in any way You see fit."

One major purpose of trials is to strengthen our faith and transform our attitudes. Therefore choosing an attitude of trust and praise sometimes ends a trial with surprising speed. But even if it does not, we find ourselves enriched and strengthen to endure.

Daniel 3 tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow to the golden image of king Nebuchadnezzar. Hoping to dissuade them of their folly, the king said in a rage, "What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" They replied, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are bot going to serve you.r gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Daniel 3:15, 17-18). Infuriated, the king had the three you men cast into the blazing furnace.

We all know the outcome of these three Hebrew children's faith. Their miraculaous deliverance has inspired faith down through the centuries.

DEMOSTRATING OUR TRUST

Through praise each of us can demostrate trust in God to work in the present as He has in past centuries. In the final chapters of Genesis we see how God brought far-reaching benefits through all the events that had happended to Joseph - the cruel betrayal by his brothers, the agonies of his soul, the slavery, the false accusations, the long years of imprisonment, and the forgetfulness of the butler he had befriended, that resulted with the extra years of confinement.

We read in Psalm 105 that God Himself had sent Joseph to Egypt, intending to bring good out of his trials (Psalm 105:17). He used them to prepare this youth to be prime minister of the greatest nation on earth. Through Joseph's trials, God arranged to have him in the right place atthe right time to save the lives of hundreds of thousands during a severe famine. Joseph's long years of suffering resulted in his own life being saved, as well as his entire family,and through it, the ancestors of Jesus.

Joseph showed his confidence in God's loving sovereignty in Genesis 50. When his brothers feared retribution, Joseph told them "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid" (Genesis 50:20-21). As we offer praise, we show that we believe that Joseph's God is alive and at work today, even in the bleakest circumstances.

Through praise we follow the example of Paul and Silas in their painful imprisonment at Philippi. There in the inner prison, with their feet fastened in stocks, they were praying and singing at midnight. Suddenly God miraculously released them thorugh an earthquake (Acts 16). Or we emulate Paul when he later rejoiced in the Lord though imprisoned for years. He was confident that his suffering was accomplishing God's purposes and therefore his own deepest desires.

GOD DOES NOT PROMISE TO MAKE OUR TROUBLES VANISH AND OUR WISHES COME TRUE IF WE PRAISE HIM. BUT PRAISE OFTEN RELEASES THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF CHRIST IN BOTH OUR CHARACTER AND OUR SITUATIONS.

A MAJOR STRESS REDUCER

Praise and thanksgiving do not insulate us from probelms and pressures. But as we couple them with honest prayer, they do serve as a major stress reducer. They help release us from the self-imposed stresses of our negative attitudes, opening our hearts to the soothing power of God's peace, which surpasses all understanding. And they do more than soothe. They also infuse us with vitality. God's Word says, "Strength and joy are in His place ... the joy of the Lord is your strength" (1 Chronicles 16:27, Nehemiah 8:10). Praise and thanksgiving usher us into God's presence, where we can partake of His joy and quietly absorb strength, strength for our every need - spiritual, emotional or physical.

Our UNCONDITIONAL PRAISE deepens our trust and joy in God. It increases our spiritual impact on people. These and other benefits come not as our due for praising the Lord but simply as added reasons to praise Him for His undeserved favor. They come not because we manipulate God to do what we want, but because we center our thoughts and expectations in Him.

Our motive in genuine praise is to bring joy and glory to God. we are here to do His will, not to obligate Him to do ours.

(An extract from Praise - A Door To God's Presence by Warren & Ruth Myers)

PRAISE REVOLUTION: ASK

SHOW ME YOUR GLORY

Exodus 33:18

There's a key to becoming a fountain of praise. It's simple, really, although we often have a hard time remembering it. We come up with formulas and techniques, strategies that we think will get us closer to the heart of God. Perhaps we want some special insight that will be the key to understanding His nature and praising Him more deeply. If only we had that missing piece of information, we imagine we would be spiritual giant we intend to be. It all must be amusing to God. But if we look into His Word, we'll realize the simple key to knowing Him: ASK

Think about that. Is there anyone in the Bible who ever asked with a sincere heart to know God deeply and was turned down? No. We can see it here with Moses - "Show me Your glory" - and we can see it repeatedly throughout Scripture. David was man after God's own heart, and according to the Word, he found it (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 16:13). Jeremiah and others promised that whoever seeks Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). People came looking for Jesus, and He obliged them. An Ethiopian came looking for God in Jerusalem, and God sent Philip (Acts 8:26-36). A Roman was looking for God in Joppa, and God sent Peter (Acts 10). Those who look for God- with an open, sincere heart, of course - find Him. If we want to praise Him for who He is, all we need to do is ASK: "Lord, who are You?"

That will transform a life. It isn't strategy or a secret, just a request. It's request that God honors - always. And it's a whole lot simpler than some of the tricks we try when we want to see God. If we really want see Him for the purpose of praising Him, He's there for the asking.

Even a glimpse of glory will utterly transform a life. Moses came down from the mountain so radiant that it scared his friends. Nothing will change a perspective so much as a vision of the eternal God. And nothing can achieve that glimpse other than a sincere request. So ASK. Make that your prayer today, and many days to come. "Lord, show me Your glory." (An extract from Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

Be blessed with this awesome song by Jesus Culture - Show Me Your Glory. TPWC \0/

PRAISE REVOLUTION: SUFFERING

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,

if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory
Romans 8:16-18

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,

so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed

1Peter 4:13

Perhaps you thought that yesterday's prayer would lead you to unimaginable esctasy in the presence of God. Maybe it will. But until it does, don't be surprised by trials in the interim. A fundamental truth of getting-to-know-God process is that some aspects of Him can only be revealed in pain. And one thing we will learn eventually is this: God shows up in our suffering in ways that He otherwise would not.

Doesn't it make sense that if we are to know the mercy of God, we are going to have come face-to-face with our sin first? Or that if He is to be our Healer, there must first be some sickness? Or that if He is to be our Rescuer, we must be in some sort of trouble from which we need rescuing? Or that if we are to understand His compassionate comfort, we must have some kind of hardship that makes His comfort understandable? There are quite a few attributes of God that we simply cannot see unless we're in trouble or hurting or desperate. So don't be surprised if, when He shows you His glory, He shows it to you in a difficult context. That's where glory is best viewed.

Are you suffering? Be faithful and worship. Are you persecuted? Be faithful and worship. Are you in pain? Be faithful and worship. Just like Paul and Silas in the depths of a Philippian prison (Acts 16), just like Jehoshapat surrounded by hostile armies (2 Chronicles 20), be faithful. Don't be surprised at the trial you are suffering. It may be the answer to yesterday's prayer to see God's glory. Praise Him anyway. Painful praise is often the most profound kind of praise there is.

Our response whether in good times or bad, whether is ease or difficulty, whether in fruitfulness or barrenness, is to worship. It is never inapproriate. God is worthy at all times and in all places.
(an exract from: Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

PRAISE REVOLUTION: CHOICE

I Will Bless The Lord At All Times

His Praise Shall Always Be In My Mouth

Psalm 34:1

CHOICE: Everyone of them, in a sense is a test. Why? Because they reveal our desires. As worshipers, our choices have profound spiritual results: often our taste for obedience is exposed and our deepest loves come to the surface in the choices we make.

What would happen if we decided to let every thought and every breath BLESS GOD? Imagine the result if His name were affectionately on our lips as we lay down at night, as we turned over in our sleep, as we awoke in the morning and as we went about our daily business. Would such a perspective radically change our hearts? Probably. Would it change our world? It's likely. Anytime (both good or bad times) in the Bible someone gives himself to worship, God does amazing things through that person. blessings abound. God's work is done. He is honored.

What prevents us from such a pervasive sense of His worth? Are our schedules just too busy? Or is it deeper than that? Perhaps it's a suspicion that He hasn't been as good to us as Scripture declares that He is. Or maybe it's a subtle resentment that He has not paved our path with gold and has allowed us to taste the bitter trials of life.

Whatever reasons we can come up with, we should ask ourselves if a worship-filled heart is worth sacrificing to the gods of busyness, apathy, and dissapointmnet. If we really got a glimpse of God, we would never be too busy, we would never be too apathetic; and we would never be dissapointed with His will for us. We would understand that underlying everything we go through and everything responsibility we're given is the LOVING HAND OF GOD who is leading us closer to Him. The end result is a greater blessing than any earthbound human can possibly imagine.

WHAT WERE KING DAVID'S REASONS FOR MAKING HIS CHOICE TO BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES? May the reading of Psalm 34 enlightens us:
1) He will deliver us from fear (Psalm 34:4)
2) He will save us out of our troubles (Psalm 34:6)
3) He will guard and deliver us (Psalm 34:9)
4) He will listen when we talk to Him (Psaml 34:15)
5) He will redeem us (Psalm 34:22)
But we must do our part. we can appropriate His blessings when we:
6) Seek Him (Psalm 34:4 & 10)
7) Cry out to Him (Psalm 34:6 & 17)
8) Trust Him (Psalm 34;8)
9) Fear Him (Psalm 34:7 & 9)
10) Refrain from lying (Psalm 34:13)
11) Turn from evil to do good and seek peace (Psalm 34:14)
12) Serve Him (Psalm 34:22)

We usually find it easy to PRAISE God in good times, when everything seems to be going our ways, but hard to boast in the Lord when our circumstances are difficult.We can see in king David's life as a passionate WORSHIPER is not always smooth ... in context, Psalm 34 reveals that king David was prepared to PRAISE God even when he was in fear for his life, had gone down to Gath where he had been forced to play the part of a madman (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Therefore, Psalm 34 was king David's testimony of God's goodness inviting others to BLESS, to BOAST, to MAGNIFY, to EXTOL and to EXALT THE LORD .... AT ALL TIMES!

Let us revolutionize our PRAISE. Make that CHOICE to BLESS the LORD AT ALL TIMES!

TPWC

PRAISE REVOLUTION: SACRIFICE

Let Us Continually Offer To God

A Sacrifice Of Praise ...

For With Such Sacrifices God Is Pleased
Hebrews 13:15-16

Do you want to pleased God? As a believer, of course you do. Not only has He put His Spirit into you to prompt such desires, it was your created purpose from the beginning. We often get it backwards, thinking that God exisits for our pleasure; but when we read the Bible, we get a different picture: We exist for His. As created beings who exist for His pleasure, redeemed by His blood and filled with His Spirit, a desire to satisfy Him comes naturally. Of course we want to please Him.

Many Christians at this point get caught on an endless merry-go-round: lots of movement with no real progress. we stress and strain, desperately seeking His will that we might do it and please Him. We may feel like we're jumping through hoops just to try to get His attention, doing all sorts of gymnastics to hit the perfect landing and make Him applaud. All the while, He is pleased with His Son, who happens to reside in us; and He is pleased with believers who can fulfill the instructions of this simple passage.

The writer of Hebrews tells us clearly how to please God. Earlier, he told us that it is impossible to please Him without FAITH (Hebrews 11:6). Now he gives us some more specifics. For instance, God is pleased with a SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. The verse even spells that out for us: It's the fruit of lips that confess His name (Hebrews 13:15). And - a significant "and," to be sure - "do not forget to do good and to share with others" (Hebrews 13:16). These are things that please God.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT PLEASES THE LORD SO MUCH AS PRAISE - anonymous

If you have been stressing about making your Father happy, stop the gymnastics. Jesus pleased Him, and Jesus is our life. God is satisfied by our FAITH in Him. But if you want your behavior to thrill His heart, start here. This will revolutionize your life. Let your lips PRAISE Him, confessing His name with JOY. And do good to others. God is pleased with such SACRIFICES. Do this. and He'll be pleased with yours!
(an extract from: Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)
P.S. For more on The Sacrifice of Praise - Please check TPWC's blog post dated 14 & 21 August 2010
Blessed Week - TPWC

PRAISE REVOLUTION: READ

May My Lips Overflow With Praise,

For You Teach Me Your Decrees

Psalm 119:171

PRAISE will revolutinize your life! There's no doubt about it. It will reorient your thinking, taking your mind off of yourself and placing it firmly on GOD, where it belongs. Rehearsing His mercies will open your eyes to them, and confessing His name as the source behind all your blessings will magnify your blessings enormously. PRAISE is a radical step in a life-changing direction.

The problem many believers have with that is where to start. How do you PRAISE Him? Where do you begin? What if you're discouraged and depressed, and your eyes can hardly see the blessings He's given, much less prompt your mouth to PRAISE Him for them? What if you hardly know Who He is and can barely come up with words to say? The psalmist gives us the answer: Begin in His WORD.

Very practically, here's a good way to learn to PRAISE the Lord. Begin reading. Open your Bible to any page in any section - it doesn't matter where, although Psalms or the New Testament ase good places to start. Begin reading a passage. When you get to a verse that speaks of God's faithfulness, PRAISE Him for His faithfulness. Think of ways He's been faithful to you. When the WORD speaks of His sacrifice or His love or His promises, PRAISE Him for His sacrifice, love or promises. As often as His WORD reveals some aspect of His character or His works, thank Him for that character and those works. Voice your gratitude for the way He is and the things He does. Before long, you will be an endless fountain of PRAISE.

MAN'S CHIEF WORK IS THE PRAISE OF GOD

- AUGUSTINE -

Can you think of a better use for your life than being an endless fountain of PRAISE? God uses such fountains mightily. He changes hearts and redeems souls for just such purposes. You might have always thought that He is focused on your behavior - and certainly He cares about it - but behavior begins in the HEART. PRAISE reorient the HEART. Focus there, and let your fountain flow.
(an extract from Worship The King - by Chris Tiegreen)

THANKSGIVING, PRAISE & WORSHIP REVOLUTION: DAILY

Every Day I Will Praise You

And Extol Your Name

For Ever And Ever

Psalm 145:2

As we step into the New Year, what would be our thanksgiving, praise and worship to our King be like? Is it a Sunday ritual or a frenzied emotion that we can put on and take off? Is it limited to one style of music or a particular church?

God seeks those whose worship emantes from deep within. He desires legitimate praise and integrity between heart and mouth. He wants to be the One we treasure most. Most of all, He wants you. Yes all of you! If you don't have a daily time of thanksgiving, praise and worship, make one.

Let us establish genuine praise of the Father, the Son and the Spirit as a daily experience. Psalm 145 is a good place to start. It mentions the urge to praise and worship our King daily. And it is glorious in it's sweeping praise of the Lord, so there's no shortage of material in it by which our mouth can honor Him, if for some reason praise is hard to come by. Read it daily - slowly, thoughtfully, worshipfully. Don't let it become a stale routine, only a treasured habit. The exaltation of the King is always to be treasured.

Again and again in the Bible we find people thanking and praising the Lord and instructing others to do the same:

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving ... Praise the Lord! ... Praise Him, O servants of the Lord ... You who revere the Lord, Bless the Lord ... In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus ... Through Him letus continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God!

God places great importance on thanksgiving, praise and worship. Withholding thanksgiving, praise and worship is an injustice toward God. we owe Him everything, and it is only right that we give thanks to Him and ascribe to Him "the glory due to His Name." (Psalm 29:2). For these reasons and many others, thanksgiving, praise and worship is not a mere obligation. It is our greatest privilges a schildren of the living God. It should rank high in our priorities!

If you don't have a daily time of thanksgiving, praise and worship, make one. Put them even higher on your list of priorities than making prayer request to God. Let them be the springboard into your request and your study of the Word. Stop now, if you can, and give thanks, praise and worship Him for at least one of His benefits. It you have ever needed a dramatic change, daily, heartfelt thanskgiving, praise and worship will bring it about.
(an extract from Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

Blessed New Year 2011

TPWC

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - WORSHIP

For To Us A Child Is Born

To Us A Son Is Given

And The Government Will Be On His Shoulders

And He Will Be Called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is a time of joy and giving. Christians all over the world commemorate this occasion because "God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ ..."

In our celebration, we proclaim the Good News with carols on the streets and we expressed the loved of God to the world with our gifts to the needy and the orphans. In the midst of all these activities, do you know that the Spirit of Christmas is WORSHIP? All those who came to meet Jesus at the manger WORSHIPPED ...

The Wisemen
"Where is the one who has been born king of Jews? we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:2)
"On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh " (Matthew 2:11 - note: worship before gifts)

The Angels
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appreared with angel praising God saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men ..." (Luke 2:13)

The Shepherds
"The shepherds returned, glorifying God for all the things they had heard and seen ..." (Luke 2:20)

Simeon The Godly Man
"... Simeon, who was a righteous and devout ...took Him in his arms and praised God ..." (Luke 2:25-33)

The Prophetess Anna
" ... she gave thanks to God ..." (Luke 2:36-38)

As we celebrate this year's Christmas, let us reserve the best gift for our Lord - WORSHIP.

EMMANUEL - God Is With US

Christmas Blessings
TPWC

THE HALLELUJAH LIVING

"But You are holy,

O You Who dwell in [the holy place where]

the praises of Israel [are offered]"
Psalms 22:3 (Amplified Bible)

We learnt from the last two posts - The Hallelujah Factor - that the word "HALLELUJAH" means PRAISE THE LORD! The Hebrew Word "Hallal" means 'to boast, to brag on, to laud, to make a show even to the point of being clamorously foolish or mad' before the Lord. And "JAH" is simply the shortened name of GOD which means YAWEH. So when we say "HALLELUJAH" we ought to response in extreme excitement, exuberance and exultation.

It seemed foolish for the Istraelites to march around Jericho, and shout their PRAISES to see those walls fall down. But they shouted anyway, and down the walls came (Joshua 6:20). It seems ridiculous for king Jehoshaphat to have the singers and praisers lead the way singing and praising in the face of three great armies. But God was pleased, and brought them great victory and deliverance that day (2 Chronicles 20:22). It was a peculiar thing for Paul and Silas to be praising God at midnight in that filthy old jail, but God responded and sent the earthquake and freedom (Acts 16:25-26). Therefore, I believe God will meet you if you will say "HALLELUJAH" everytime you walk through the "fire or flood"!

There is certainly nothing magical about the word HALLELUJAH or PRAISING THE LORD. But God does respond to faith. Shouting HALLELUJAH or PRAISING HIM especially in difficult circumstances or situations actually show our genuine faith in His loving provision.

"I will bless the Lord at ALL time

His PRAISE shall continually be in my mouth"

Psalm 34:1

PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW!
1) Do you feel the joy of the Lord in your soul? PRAISE THE LORD! Or do you feel blank in side or even worst, do you feel depressed? PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW! It is "the sacrifice of praise to God continually" you are commanded to offer (Hebrews 13:15). "The sacrifice of praise" means PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW, especially when you don't feel like it!

2) Are all your children or family saved? PRAISE THE LORD! Or are some still wandering in sin? PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW! God promises you that, by believing, ALL your household will be saved (Acts 16:31). PRAISING the Lord for their salvation in advance of seeing them in the fold is evidence that you truly believe!

3) Are all your bills paid up to date? PRAISE THE LORD! Or are you plagued by financial problems? PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW! PRAISE activates God's promise to supply ALL your needs accordning the Philippians 4:19.

4) Is the weather good, and to your liking? PRAISE THE LORD! Or is it unpleasant weather? PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW! "This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will REJOICE and be gad in it" (Psalms 118:24).

PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW! Why? "We know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Don't miss God's plan by PRAISING the Lord only for things you label "blessings." His command: " In EVERYTHING give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
(An extract from: There's Dynamite In Praise by Don Gossett)

Try it ... we can shout HALLELUJAH right in the face of adversity, illness, discouragement and needs. It may seems foolish like the Israelites but there is POWER IN PRAISE!

Last but not least, I would like to share this Youtube Video :CHRISTMAS FOOD COURT FLASH MOB. I am quite sure many of us would have would have seen it (must see if you haven't). When I first saw it, this interesting thought came to my mind - releasing His PRAISE in the market place. Think about it, God will inhabit in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3)

HALLELUJAH!
TPWC \0/\0/\0/

THE HALLELUJAH FACTOR - PART 2

We observed in the previous post that the premier word for praise, HALLELUJAH, was used twenty-four times in the Old Testament. Now we reach the New Testament to discover that it is used even more sparingly. Yet the usages are worthy of study for we have unveiled in them more of the mysteries of this amazing word. All the HALLELUJAHs in the New Testament are found in Revelation 19.

1) HISTORICAL SETTING
a) In Revelation 17 - The Woman On The Beast
John was shown a woman, a prostitute, sitting on a scarlet beast. Regardless of one's persuasion as to the meaning of the Revelation, there is rather common agreement that this symbolizes a world system in which religious and political powers have joined hands. They have one purpose, to make war against the Lamb. Of course, the Lamb will overcome them because He is none other than the Lord of lords and King of kings.

b) Revelation 18 - The Fall Of Babylon
This chapter recorded the total destruction of the total world system, "Babylon." Her productivity is terminated, and the merchants of the earth weep over fall. God's judgement is total and sudden. This is the background against which are sounded the four HALLELUJAHs of Revelation in chapter 19.

2) THE HALLELUJAH OF REDEMPTION CROWNED (Revelation 19:1-2)
"After this ...," John writes, "I heard what sounded like the roar of great multitude in heaven shouting." It was after the vision of the total destruction of the world system that this sound issued from heaven. Evidently the shouts from heaven are in response to what has taken place on earth. Their shout is, "HALLELUJAH! Salvation, and glory, and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgements."
God has revealed His glory, and thearm of His power has been mighty. His justice has been displayed upon the earth. He Who initiated the redemption of His people will bring it to consummation. No wonder that heaven should join in one great HALLELUJAH! It matters not what history looks like from the current and visible viewpoint. It is the ultimate state of affairs which matters most. And here we win because He won! HALLELUJAH!

3) HALLELUJAH OF RETRIBUTION COMPLETE (Revlation 19:3)
Any system of justice deals with both retribution and reward. The revenge upon the harlot. The saints have been avenged. The judge of the of the earth will not allow one injustice to go unpunished. His system of retribution is geared to His sovereignty. All will equalized in the end. When the hosts of heaven see the world system gets what is coming to her, they shout with joy, "HALLELUJAH!"

4) THE HALLELUJAH OF THE REIGN CONFIRMED (Revelation 19:4-5)
The scene somewhat changes and the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures (Revelation 4) are seen to fall down and worship God, seated on a throne, with the exclamation, "Amen, HALLELUJAH!" With fresh revelation of the Almighty God, there is a new sense of His Rulership. This is familiar territory. We are back where we began. The fact God reigns elicits from earth and heaven a loud shout of praise. And to give agrement withtheir shout a voice issues from the throne saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear Him, both small and great! (verse 5)

5) THE HALLELUJAH OF RELATIONSHIP CONSUMMATED (Revelation 19:6)
Now, more loudly than ever, they shout from heaven, "like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunders" (Verse 6). We come here to the final "HALLELUJAH" of the Bible. One consummate HALLELUJAH is reserved for the great coming event of history when the bride and groom will be joined in eternal union at the marriage of the Lamb. God reigns! We are to rejoice and be glad and give Him all the glory. Surely HALLELUJAH is in order at prospects such as these
(The Hallelujah Factor by Jack R. Taylor)

6) THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS
Let us join the angels with this chorus:

7) WHY HALLELUJAH?
We have not exhausted, by any means, the deep mysteries of the premier word for praise, but we may now have an idea about why we use it. HALLELUJAH looks in all directions: It looks backward to salvation commenced and forward to salvation crowned. It looks upward to God enthroned and downward to the devil enchained. It looks inward to fear diminshed and faith established. It looks outward to righteousness and readiness.
Let us shout it loud, "HALLELUJAH! - WORTHY IS THE LAMB!"

THE HALLELUJAH FACTOR - PART 1

The word most often used for PRAISE is "HALLELUJAH" which means "PRAISE GOD" and it comes from two Hebrew words, "Hallal" and "JAH". "Hallal" forms the first part meaning 'to boast, to brag on, to laud, to make a show even to the point of being clamorously foolish or mad' before the Lord. And the second word 'JAH' is simply the shortened name of GOD which means YAWEH.

So when we say "HALLELUJAH" we ought to response in extreme excitement, exuberance and exultation. I cannot help making an observation at this point. With the two Hebrew words "Hallal" and "JAH". All that is needed to make it complete is the letter "u". It takes a person like "you" to make the word "HALLELUJAH" a spontaneous response of PRAISE and WORSHIP!

But why HALLELUJAH? Why do we use it? What are we expressing about life, about man, about history, and about God? How does the saying of it affect us? Why is it vital in corporate worship and private worship. None of these questions may be answered in a complete sense this side of heaven, but I believe there are implications in the use of the terms in the Scriptures.

The word HALLELUJAH is used only twenty-four times, all of them in the Psalms and occurring between Psalm 104 and 150. (Psalms 104:35, 105:45, 106:1,48, 111:1,112:1, 113:1,9, 115:18, 116:19, 117:2, 135:1,3,21, 146:1,10, 147:1,20, 148:1,14, 149:1,9 and 150:1,6).

It is further interesting and revealing to note the follow:

- Two Psalms begin with HALLELUJAH (Psalms 111 and 112)

- Five Psalms end with HALLELUJAH (Psalms 104, 105, 115, 116, 117)

- Eight Psalms begin with and end with HALLELUJAH (Psalms 106, 113, 135, 146 to 105)

- Only one Psalm (Psalm 135) contains HALLELUJAH within it (verse 3)

A careful examination of the glorious truths contained within the framework of these twenty-four usages of HALLELUJAH may give us helpful clues toward answering the question, "why HALLELUJAH?

1) IT HAS THE RING OF PURPOSE AND PROVIDENCE

a) God's Purpose In Creation

* Psalm 104 - God controlling the waters, the grass, the beast, the birds, the moon, the sun, the sea creatures, the earth, and the mountains

* Psalm 105 and 106 - Contain references to the manner in which God used His control of elements in the lives of His people.

* Psalm 135 and 147 - God again is witnessed having His way in the heavens, earth, and in the seas.

* Psalm 148 - Is a vital roll call of creation. Everything is commanded to praise the Lord and respons to His beckoning seems to be a reason for HALLEUJAH

b) God's Purpose As It Relates To Israel

* Psalm 105 - The descendants of Abraham and Jacon are called upon to remember the wonders, miracles, judgements (verses 5 - 6) and God's covenant dealings with His people (verses 43 - 45)

* Psalm 106 - Beginning and ending is a HALLELIJAH, is a digest of Israel, their deliverance, their backsliding, their murmurings, their idol worship, their wasting in sin, and God's disciplinary actions. Then the cry at the end of the Psalm, "Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations thatwe may give thanks to Your Name and glory in Your praise. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from verlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, 'Amen!' HALLELIJAH!" (verse 47 - 48)

* Psalm 112 - The purpose of God is extended to anyone who "fears the Lord and delights in His commands" (verse 1)

* Psalm 113 - HALLELUJAHS flank the good news that God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, seating them among princes. The barren woman He makes a happy mother.

* Psalm 135 - God's dealing with Israel are extolled, especially the havoc He wrought on Egypt by His signs and wonders (verse 8 - 9). In their behal He had struck down nations and kings and gave their land as an inheritance to His people, Israel (verse 8 - 12).

* Psalm 146 - God remains faithful to His purposes. He upholds the cause of the oppressed ... sets the prisoners free ... gives sight to the blind ... lifts up those who are bowed down, love the righteous ... sustains the fatherless and the widow, but frustrates the ways of the wicked"(verse 7 - 9).

2) IT HAS THE RING OF POWER AND SOVEREIGNTY

Through this series of Psalms there is a constant sounding of God's mighty and limitless abilities (see Psalm 104:1, 106:2, 111:2-3, 115:1,18, 135:15-18). HALLELUJAH seems to be the only response that is reasonable in the light of God's greatnes. The crecendos rises in the later Psalms to climax in Psalm 150 with: "Praise Him for His acts of power, praise Him for His surpassing greatness." (verse 2)

3) IT HAS THE RING OF PERMANENCE

HALLELUJAH is inescapably eternal! When we say, sing it, or shout it we are lining up with eternity. Listen to the ring of etenity in these Psalms:

* Psalm 104:31 - "May the glory of the Lord endure forever."

* Psalm 115: 5-10 - "His righteousness endures forever ... He remembers His covenant forever ...the works of His hands are faithful and just, all His precepts are trustworthy, steadfast ... done in faithfulness and uprightness ..."

* Psalm 113:2) - "Let the name of the Lord be praised both now and forever more."

* Psalm 115:18 - "It is we who extol the Lord both now and forevermore."

* Psalm 117:2 - "For great is His love towards us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever."

* Psalm 135:13 - ""Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, through all generations."

* Psalm 146:10 - "The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations."

Have you noticed how many words speak of eternity in the environment of HALLELUJAH? It brings us to breathe the air of heaven, accords the greatness due God's name, and affords us a view of God as He is and things as they are.

Ten times in the last five Psalms HALLELUJAH resounds. Ultimately everything in creation is ordered to praise the Lord. All elements, plant and animal life and kings of the earth, all musical instruments, and "everything thatahs breath" is to praise the Lord! The final, triumphant note is appropriately ... HALLELUJAH!

(An extract from: The Hallelujah Factor by Jack R. Taylor)

THE UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPERS - PART 2

Unstoppable worshipers will never quit when it comes to adoring God. Faced with opposition, danger or even death they just keep going. We're told of worshipers in the early church who, more than simply enduring, actually rejoiced "because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41).

We continue to share more "UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPERS" from the Bible:

1) THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN (Daniel 3)
Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego were sentenced to the fiery furnace when they refused to bow down the the golden image erected by King Nebuchadnezza. In fact they were given a second chance to consider the king's command. They made it absolutely clear that they would not compromise and maintained their covenant relationship with the God of Israel and refused to bow down and worship anyone other than YAWEH. As unquenchable worshipers, their response to the king were consistent even to the point facing death
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego replied, 'O Nebuchadnezza, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.' " (Daniel 3:16-18)

2) DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN (Daniel 6)
Daniel was thrown into the lions' den by jealous people who trapped him by making it illegal for him to worship God. They convinced king Darius to make it mandatory for all his subjects to worship him for the next 30 days and anyone caught worshiping anyone else must be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Daniel 6:6-9)
Daniel of course remained true to his God and since he made no attempt to hide this, he was caught praying and worshiping God and was thrown into the lions'den.

We read in Daniel 6:23, "And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him because he had trusted in his God." The word "trusted" was translated that the UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPER "trust continually". The fact thatthelions immediately devoured Daniel's accusers in the morning proves they had been hungry all night long.

3)JOB (Job 1)
When tripped of everything, the first thing he did was to fall down to the ground and worshiped. In Job case it was more unreasonable than the three Hebrew children and Daniel, he did nothing wrong; in fact God consider him righteous!
"Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell to the ground and worshiped."(Job 1:20)


Like to share a youtube posted by one of our reader brother Gregory who bought and read the book: The Unquenchable Worshiper by Matt Redman. What will quench your passion and fire to be an unstoppable worshiper? Check it out:

Be a true worshiper! - TPWC

THE UNSTOPPABLE WORSHIPERS - PART 1

Charles Wesley
The year was 1744, and hymn writer Charles Wesley was in Leeds, holding a prayer meeting in an upstairs room. Suddenly there's a creak in the floorboards, followed by a massive crack, and the whole floor collapses. All 100 people crashed right through the ceiling into the room below. The place was in chaos - some were screaming, some were crying, some just sat in shock. But as the dust settled, Wesley, wounded and lying in a heap, cried out, "Fear not! The Lord is with us; our lives are all safe." And then he broke out into the Doxology, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." Perhaps a bizarred choice of song, considering what's just happened. But there's the point - while everyone else was still licking their wounds, the heart of this unstoppable worshiper was responding with unshakeable praise.

Unstoppable worshipers will never quit when it comes to adoring God. Faced with opposition, danger or even death they just keep going. We're told of worshipers in the early church who, more than simply enduring, actually rejoiced "because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41).

King David
True worship often meets with opposition. Take the life of king David. His first triump was a powerful public act of unstoppable worship. The giant Goliath had put fear into all Israel, and the whole nation was afraid to stand up against him for the honour of God's name. Then in came David - too small for a suit of armour, and as Saul told him, still only a boy. Yet this passionate lover of God can't stand to see the armies of the Living God made a fool of, and he walked out onto the battlefield so that "the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46). Goliath despised him (verse 42), but, anointed by God and driven by passion for the Lord, king David overcame. The worship of God wins the day!

Rachel Scott
The story of Rachel Scott, a teenage victim of Columbine High School (USA) tragedy. It's another powerful tale of unstoppable worship. On 20 April 1999, two bitter twisted students entered the gounds of the school with guns and explosives, planning to wreak havoc. One of the grudges they were bearing was against Christians, and when they found Rachel Scott that grude was made very clear. The killers shot her twice in the legs and once in the upper body. As she struggled to crawl away to safety, they pulled her up by the hair, and asked, "Do you believe in God?" They thought they'd won the battle; expecting her to back down from her faith with whimpering "no". But this bleeding, unstoppable bravely affirmed, "You know I do." Furious with that answer they yelled, "Then go be with Him" and shot her right through the head."

Imagine the heart of God in that moment, as one of His precious worshipers threw her life on the line for His glory. In a gruesome moment of decision, she chose His honour over her survival. And if it affects us so much, imagine what effect it must have on the heart of Jesus.

Stephen of Acts
The story of Stephen's stoning in Acts 7 sheds some more light on this. He puts his life on the line, proclaiming Jesus to cold hearts that don't want to hear, and rebuked them for their religious pride. But just before they stone him to death, God allows Stephen an amazing depth of revelation - perhaps to help this first Christian martyr stay strong to the end. Stephen was allowed a glimpse of heaven's throne room, and saw Jesus 'standing' at the right hand of God. The odd thing here is that Jesus was standing. every other time in the New Testament we read of Jesus at the right hand of God, He's sitting down. So why is He standing now? Smith Wigglesworth's explanation: though usually seated at the right hand of God, this time Jesus gets to His feet to honour and spur Stephen on in his courageous act of worship!

The unstoppable worshiper lets nothing hinder them in their quest to glorify God. Whatever "goliaths" come their way, they walk out onto that worship battlefield and take their chances. They do not shrink back in times of trouble, but instead raise a spirited psalm of trust, obedient and praise!
(an extract from: The Unquencable Worshiper by Matt Redman)

THE UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPER

Bible is full of Unquenchable Worshipers - people who refused to be dampened, discouraged or distracted in their quest to glorify God.

1) The Prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3)
His heart attitude was to make a choice to respond to God's worth, no matter how bleak a season he found himself in :
"Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop falls and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

2) Paul & Silas (Acts 16)
Sitting in their jail cell you would have forgiven them if they weren't in the mood for singing. They'd been unjustly arrested, beaten, severely flogged, and thrown into the deepest part of prison, with their feet in stocks. Yet, somehow, refusing to let their souls be dampened, Paul & Silas found it in themselves with everything they had left to sing out praise and worship to God. (We all know the result .... the glory of God fell, there was an earthquake, prisoners were set free and salvation came upon the jailer & his family.)
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken." (Acts 16:24-25)

Most of us don't own a fig trees and haven't been in prison for being a Christian, but the principal is the same for us as it was for Habakkuk and Paul & Silas - we can always find a reason to praise/worship. Situations change for better and for worse, but God's worth never change!

3) Fanny Crosby (www.nyise.org/fanny)
This unquenchable worshiper was borned blind who has written 9,000 hymns of praise. Some of her hymns: To God Be The Glory, Blessed Assurance, Close To Thee and many more ...
When about six weeks old she was taken sick and her eyes grew weaker. The lack of knowledge and skill of the doctor then could not save her eye sight. As she grew older she was told that she would never see the faces of her friends, the flowers of the fields, the blue skies. Soon she learned what other children possessed, but she made up her mind to store away a little jewel in her heart which she called "CONTENT"

Those thousand of songs were simply the result of a fire that burned in her heart for Jesus and could not be put out. Someone once asked her, "Fanny, do you wish you had not been binded?" She replied, in typical style, "Well, the good thing about being blind is that the very face I'll see will be the face of Jesus."

Many might have chosen the path of compliants and bitterness as their response to God, but she chose the path of contentment and praise. The choice between these two paths faces us each day, with every situation that's thrown our way. Complaints and bitterness dampens and eventually destroys love for God. It eats away at the statement "God is love" and tells us He is not faithful. But contentment does the opposite: it fuels the heart with endless reasons to praise God.

An extract from: The Unquenchable Worshiper by Matt redman plus Fanny Crosby's Story.