{{2015_05_06_t1.jpg}} {{2015_05_06_t2.jpg}} {{2015_05_06_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2015_05_06|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_vii|| Topics Collection vii ]] ======Praise is Adequate ...====== Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Sometimes praise is adequate. The bible shows us how to praise God. It is a good exercise. It is also a question: is praise really adequate? Is it just a lie? Would you praise people? {{2015_05_06.jpg }} **Praise as a victory ...** Recently, I was very very frustrated. I a burst of frustration you tend to ignore good things, and you tend to be focused on the things which do not work. But it is extremely difficult to turn around, in such a phase of frustration, and be happy. And should we be happy? Why should we be happy? When you are frustrated, you do not want to be happy. Or you want to be happy, but you see no way to happiness. And is does not make sense to use happiness as a kind of anesthetic, which stuns your true feelings. No, happiness has to be different. It has to be real! When you manage to work yourself from frustration to true happiness, I would call that a true victory. It is a victory over the forces of evil, since our full frustration is always an evil force - even if it is partly adequate due to the circumstances which are frustrating. And there are reasons for joy. The reason is the Lord himself. He is the eternal God and savior. With him being there, we do not have a reason to be completely frustrated. He has a way for us to go! {{ 2015_05_06_2.jpg}} **Song of Praise ...** 1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148) Indeed, God is to be praised. He IS wonderful. He IS good. And it is completely adequate for us to praise him. If we cannot praise him, since we do not see what is fantastic or if our heart does not feel happiness - it is not because he would not be great, but it is just our limited ability to see the reality as it is. But we can work on that and find a way to reality, to truth, to love and salvation. It is all in him. Yes, praise the Lord :-). (RWEP) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_vii|... more texts]]