You know, sometimes it's just about Praising God!
Introduction
(Read once to be introduced to the series. After that skip this to go right to the good stuff!)
Welcome to my Devotions Series. This series features devotions based on the Scriptures of the Common Lectionary. The series is being prepared for eventual print publication.
By going to my Main Article List you can also find the complete collection posted on Gather, including the additional readings not posted to any groups. New Scriptures selections will be posted every Monday through Thursday to my main page and to my groups.
The series is also posted and regularly updated on my official blog every Monday, with the entire selections for the following Sunday: http://www.cedwardsellner.blogspot.com/
You can find a host of additional information, online resources and links to my other work there. This includes a cross-referenced Archive that lists the various Sundays, but then also lists all currently published Devotions by their sequence in Scripture as well as a Topical Index.
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Each Scripture is also hyperlinked to the online Bible at Bible Gateway in the NIV version I used in preparing the series.
As I mentioned this series is being prepared for print publication, so I of course would welcome any and all feedback, either through Gather, or directly to cedwardsellner@aol.com
Lectionary Series Year A: Fifth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 146 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
Praise God!
You know, sometimes it's just about Praising God!
This Psalm is one of the aptly named "Praise Psalms" and is truly an uncomplicated little piece of Scripture.
There aren't any politics here, any complicated social issues or historical contexts to unravel to dig down into the truth. There aren't any veiled meanings or complex portents to piece together.
Nope, it's really just about Praising God.
And sometimes that's just what it needs to be about.
Perhaps one of the fastest growing settings and themes of worship these days is the "Praise Service", worship dominated by music, specifically Praise Music, which is contemporary, upbeat and inspirational music which usually involves a band, projected lyrics and the entire worshipping body singing, raising their hands in the air and Praising God.
It's a wonderful experience and one you should try if you haven't! If your Church doesn't offer a Praise Service, find one that does and take one Sunday to go. Then come back and convince your Church to start their own! Many of the Churches I've known who've started Praise Services have sometimes ended up attracting a whole new congregation to attend it.
I love those services because they are uplifting, and uncomplicated. I always end up coming out of them feeling better about God, life and my own connection to the Divine.
These kinds of services, like this kind of Psalm are good, because we need to remind ourselves that sometimes we just need to come before God with no other intention other than to thank God, Praise God and Worship with all our hearts, minds and souls.
That's not ALL it should be about mind you. We still need those times we ask the tough questions, the times we wrestle with controversy, the times we are challenged and the times we're given reminders of what we should be about. But if we get too caught up in the heavy stuff, we sometimes forget the simplest and most profound joy of simply worshipping and praising our God.
So, while there will be times for all the above, make sure you make some time to just Praise him!
For the complete listing of our Devotions, see our Devotions Archive


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