It’s TEBOW TIME!

If you are a sports fan, in particular an NFL fan, you are aware that this was Wildcard Sunday and that the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburg Steelers.  One of the heroes of the game was Tim Tebow, the much talked about and polarizing quarterback for the Broncos.  Right now if you were to Google “Tim Tebow,” you would find countless articles about him.  Go to Twitter and there will be thousands of tweets.  Facebook is filled with comments about Tim.  Go to Denver and you would find them partying all night!  Talk about excitement when the Broncos scored on an 80-yard pass play to Demaryius Thomas in overtime!  The stadium was rocking….and the reverberation is being heard all over the football world.

Tim has been talked about probably more than almost any football player, at least this year.  He has been dissected, scrutinized, praised, torn apart….you name it…it has been done to him.  Why?  Well, much has to do with his quarterbacking skills, but much of it has to do with his testimony for Jesus.  He unashamedly gives glory to God for what is done in his life.  He is not afraid to tell people that he lives for Jesus.  I commend him for his stance and that he sticks to what he believes.  His beliefs direct his life and he wants to make the world and those around him a better place.  For that, we can be thankful.

Tim is being praised for what he has done….all the miraculous 4^th quarter and overtime wins.  And, he rightly deserves this.  But, he will be the first one to tell you that the real praise in life goes to Jesus Christ.

So, let me say that is it fun to shout and cheer for our favorite teams and players.  Nothing wrong with that.  When I watch our Central Bible College Spartan basketball team play, I certainly do shout and cheer for our guys!

But, more importantly, I encourage you (and me) to daily “shout and cheer” for Jesus and what He has done and is doing in our lives and in those around us and in the world.  Our “shouting and cheering” for Jesus may not be like we are at a ball game!  But, our giving of praise to Him is what we should do.  We are to do this daily!

As we revisit Psalm 72 we read in the end of verse 15: “Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised.”

Psalm 199:164 “Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments.”

Revelation 4:11:  “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

There are many verses in the Bible that encourage us to praise the Lord continually.  So, along with cheering on our  sports heroes and others who do commendable deeds, let us purpose to praise the Lord daily!

It is Praise Time!

My mouth brims with praise!

Let’s visit Psalm 71:8 again: 

"My mouth is filled with your praise,
   declaring your splendor all day long." (NIV)

Commenting on this verse, Charles Spurgeon wrote:  “What a blessed mouthful!  A man never grows nauseated through the flavor of it be all day in his mouth.  God’s bread is always in our mouth, so should his praise be.  He fills us with good; let us be also filled with gratitude.  This would leave no room for murmuring or backbiting; therefore, may we well join with holy David in this sacred wish.”

“What a blessed mouthful! To that I say, “Amen!” or (Let it be!”)  

Listen to how The Message paraphrases Psalm 71:1-8:

I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.
   Do what you do so well:
      get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
   Put your ear to the ground and listen,
      give me space for salvation.
   Be a guest room where I can retreat;
      you said your door was always open!
   You're my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.

 ^4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
      from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
   You keep me going when times are tough—
      my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
   I've hung on you from the day of my birth,
      the day you took me from the cradle;
      I'll never run out of praise.
   Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
      but you take me in stride.
 ⁸ Just as each day brims with your beauty,
      my mouth brims with praise.

  

Look at Verse 8 again:  “Just as each day brims with your (God’s) beauty,  My mouth brims with praise.”

If we will just STOP and think about what God has done for us!  How He gives us breath each day!  Can we not use that breath to praise Him?  As you re-read Psalm 71:1-8 (above), think of all God has done for us…such as “You keep me going when times are tough—my bedrock, God, since my childhood.”

Then, think of what Jesus has done for us.

I’d like for you to click on this link and join me in thanking God for what He did in sending His Son Jesus to the earth.  You will want to do what is sung from 3:29 on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brVIlXlJRkQ

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Kristian Stanfill singing “Jesus Paid It All (from Passion ’06)

What's in your mouth?

¹ I will bless the LORD at all times;
         His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 ² My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
         The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

 ³ Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
         And let us exalt His name together.
       
 ⁴ I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
         And delivered me from all my fears.

                                         (Psalm 34:1-4)

When we meditate on the law of the Lord “day and night” (Psalm 1:2), we begin to establish some good habits.  Think:  so far today, have I thought about God’s Word?  For example, one way to do this is to “relate” the things that are happening around you in the natural world to the scriptures.

Often as I see the sun rising in the morning, I am reminded of the verse in Malachi 4:2 ” But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;”

As I think on this verse, I make it a prayer that the “Sun of Righteousness,” Jesus, will heal people I am praying for who have some physical, emotional, and spiritual need.  This reminds me to pray for them again, but also helps me to meditate more on Who Jesus is and what He can do.

As I train myself to meditate on the Word of God through-out the day and into the night, Psalm 34:1 becomes more of a reality!  “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

To be able to say this is a great testimony.  I am the first to admit that this is not always the case in my life (and mouth!).  First of all, this is an act of my will. “I will bless the Lord at all times.”  “I” am the one who chooses to do this.  “I” have control over what I say.

Remember:  God’s word says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)

Therefore, if I meditate on the Word, day and night, guess what is likely to come out of my mouth?  Blessing and praise. 

So, throughout the day, it is good to stop and ask myself:  "What's in my mouth?"