Thoughts for the Day

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Psalm 100, otherwise known as the 'Jubilate Deo', is a song of joy and of gratitude for all that God gives to us. It has been paraphrased into modern language over the years and is the basis of hymns like 'All people that on earth do dwell' and the lovely modern hymn 'Jubilate everybody'. It's also a call to worship, or to put it another way, "Get up, lift your attention from the weekend jobs - leave the garden, the washing, and the housework - and go to church, to worship God!

If you are at work this Sunday and cannot go to church, then set aside a few minutes to thank God for all that He gives you. Take a moment to "Count your blessings", not your woes, and as the old chorus says "name them one by one". Or how about singing a hymn that you know as you get dressed - even if not all the words come to mind? Hymns like: All things bright and beautiful; or 'Give me joy in my heart' with its chorus of 'Sing Hosanna!'.

So make today a Jubilate Day, noticing God's gifts, as you go about your life - it might be your friends and family, your work or hobbies, nature and all its bounty, or the creativity of human beings. Yes, there are negative things in our lives, but today we sing a song of joy and gratitude to God.

Heavenly Father,
all too often we bring to You our problems,
and spend time in intercession
asking for your help.
May we lift our eyes from these
to express thanksgiving and praise,
for all that You give us,
and especially for the saving work
of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.