Inspire yourself! Praise God!

Fall, your beauty is here for such a short time, but memories linger on.

"An attitude of happiness in life is a matter of our will. Abraham Lincoln once stated that 'most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.'" Kenneth Osbeck  I can agree with that. Depending on how you perceive things, you can either be miserable or happy.

In Amazing Grace by Kenneth W. Osbeck, he took that statement in this direction: "Closely related to a Christian's happiness is the determination to live a life of praise to God. The goal of every believer should be the overflowing of praise, regardless of the circumstances."

Do I praise God enough? How much is enough? Is there a limit?  Andrew Melville, 1545-1622, said: "Praise is the best auxiliary to prayer. He who most bears in mind what has been done for him by God will be most emboldened to ask for fresh gifts from above." 

I'm so glad God gave somebody the ability to create a camera, and I can take pictures of lovely scenes!

"You don't learn to praise in a day, especially since you may have been complaining for years! New habits take time to develop. But you can begin today, and practice tomorrow, and the next day, until it becomes part of you." 

 Erwin W. Lutzer, 1941- .

"O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!" Charles Wesley, 1707-1788. This hymn is part of my Melody of Hymns. I always envisioned seeing a thousand people singing praise to God. But recently I read about the song when written, and the author's meaning was for him to have a thousand tongues! I like that too!

Osbeck continued: "Praise is our highest spiritual exercise. There is more said in the Scriptures about our praise life than even our times of prayer. In prayer it is possible to approach God out of selfish motives; in praise we worship Him for what He is Himself . . .One of the most important times to sing praise to God is when we feel imprisoned by the circumstances of life. Like the experience of Paul and Silas in the Roman prison, Acts 16:24-25, it is often uncanny how prayer and praise open the doors of our lives to new dimensions of opportunity and spiritual power."

I love the chorus of the hymn "I Will Praise Him." It's such a joy to sing it! Listen to the song (below) and feel the joy!

"I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

 Praise the Lamb for sinners slain; give Him glory, all ye people,

for His blood can wash away each stain." 

Margaret J. Harris, 19th century, I will Praise Him

So sing out friend in praise to God! He will be glorified and you will be refreshed and inspired!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4b_-_ifeec, Gaither Homecoming

I enjoyed this scene every fall from my kitchen window in MD.