“And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” 2 Chr 29:27

I recall as a child coming into my grandparents’ home and hearing my grandmother singing or humming different hymns from the ole’ church hymnal. Depending on the tune, I could tell a lot about her attitude or her mood at the time. She seemed to always have a mindfulness for the Lord. Our scripture passage reminds us that songs are a part of our presenting and praise to the Lord. The passage follows a time when the children of Israel had been captives in a strange land. For years in their captivity, there was not a song and sacrifice in the temple. The Levite priests were dispersed, and the temple was unkempt, the lamps unlit and the altar was unused. There was not a song in the temple. The temple was silent, dark, and overgrown with thorns and weeds. To the strangers’ eye who pass by, the temple appeared intact, but “the song of Lord” had long gone and the people were slaves in a foreign land. Yet that all changed when they returned to the homeland, to the presence of the Lord and the temple was restored. In the presence of the Lord “the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also.” The time had come for refreshing, renewal, and the children of Israel were restored in the presence of the Lord. Friend, are there times when it seems you are a captive in a foreign land? Your heart is overgrown with the cares of the world? The incense of prayer no longer burns as before. By all appearances, the ordinances of a religious life are well preserved, but inwardly “the song of the Lord” has died out of your heart and the lamp of your life is covered in darkness. My friend, there is a song that awaits you. God yearns to receive, restore, and forgive. Be refresh and renewed in the Lord. “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Hear the Father say, “return to Me, and I will return to you” (Mal 3;7). Father, thank You that You will never leave us nor forsake us and that You are with us to the end. By Your presence, hear my cry and restore Your song to my heart. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.” Isa 40:31

At every turn in life, we can see people on the go, busy, seemingly tirelessly going from one activity to the next. The world is filled with hyperactivity and all around us, people suffer from hyperactivate fatigue. At the end of the day, they find themselves running short on the things that are most needed – proper diet, exercise, and rest. The same can be said about spiritual fatigue. It takes strength, and lots of it, to minister in kingdom work fervently and effectively. Our scripture passage reminds us that God is the source our strength. Our strength is renewed in His presence. The one who ministers unto the Lord, who daily pours themselves out in service to His kingdom agenda, must come to Him to “renew their strength.” Exhausted of yesterday’s resources, the child of God must return to the Lord each day to be refilled and renewed with His supply and sufficiency for today’s work. For those who are tired and weary, at the brink of faint and despair, the Lord is gracious and merciful to “they that wait upon the Lord.” He “gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6), to those who “wait upon the Lord.” My friend, come into His presence, sit with Him, know Him, and there you will find His strength. By His strength you will be renewed and “shall mount up with wings as eagles…run, and not be weary…walk, and not faint.” Father, thank You for Your promise and grace to renew my strength. You are my strength and very present hope that I may ”not be weary…and not faint.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.  

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Matt 20:1

I pray you were blessed with an awesome worship and endued with power as you gathered with your local church on this past Lord’s Day. I pray you continue to walk in His presence, walk worthy of His praise and bring glory to His Name. Why can’t everyday be like the Lord’s Day? Why aren’t there more days like the Lord’s Day were God’s people gather for common purpose and freely give Him praise without worldly pressures? The world we live in is a whirlwind of activities, pursued with so many agendas, and pressed with so much ambition that it bids our attention at every turn. Our scripture passage illustrates the nature of God and the heart of God for His people. Early each day, while the day is still fresh with the morning dew, the morning dawn is yet to break, and the dreams of the night have yet to fade, the Master comes to call. Early in the morning, the Master’s call can be heard by those who will come unto Him and labor with Him for the souls of men. The Father seeks those who will employ themselves to work in His vineyard. Those who will join Him for His kingdom work. Vineyard workers put their hands to the plow to clear the way, prepare the soil, sow the seed, root out the weeds, water the seedlings, and gather the harvest that the Father’s storehouse might be filled. The Father’s vineyard is the whole earth. “The earth is the Lord’s…the world, and they that dwell therein” (Ps 24:1). My friend, hear the Master’s call and go out into your day doing the Father’s will, tending to His work, that all you do is for His glory, knowing that you “shall receive a reward” (1 Cor 3:14) for your labor. The Father is not slack in His business but seeks those who will hear Him early in the morning to walk in Presence, work in His vineyard, and “have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Father, thank You for Your morning call, before the day is busy by the things of this world. Guide me in the way and lead me by Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Your word of truth. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.