His Love Endures Forever!

"You are my God, and I will give You thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." - Psalm 118:28-29 (NIV)

"Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! For He is good, He is above all things. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! Sing praise, sing praise! With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! For the life that's been reborn, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! Sing praise, sing praise! Sing praise, sing praise! Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong, forever God is with us, forever! Forever! (Chris Tomlin - "Forever").

I absolutely love this song. It makes my heart sing and brings me joy. It brings me into worship with my Lord. The words and the music do exactly what this verse says to do - exalt God and give Him thanks for His love.

Until recently, I was always uncomfortable when I would visit a church where some in the congregation would lift their arms and hands high in the air while they sang, clap along to the music and sway to the beat. I thought it was wrong. I thought the Bible specifically spoke against it. We just didn't do that in the church I was raised in. We sang the same hymns every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday evening. Now, please don't get me wrong, I really like some of the old hymns but we just didn't sing them with any passion. So I've always assumed that was the way it should be.

Until I started going to Central. Now I'm one of those people who used to make me uncomfortable. I'm the one with my hands and arms in the air, worshipping my Savior. I never realized, until the last few years, that I feel closest to God when I'm worshipping Him with songs filled with passion and that speak directly to my heart. I can't help but stand with arms outstretched, giving myself over to God and allowing myself to be filled with His presence and His love. I realize this isn't for everyone and I'm not saying other ways of worship are wrong. I'm just saying that, for me, give me some contemporary Christian music and a great message and I'm filled up. During the week, I listen to KLOVE online or on the radio in my vehicle, just to keep my heart full. When I'm feeling down or things aren't going very well, it's the music that reminds me that God loves me and how good He is to me.

His love is deeper than I can ever imagine; so deep, in fact, that He sent His Son to earth to die for  my sins. I can't fathom loving someone else enough, ever, to sacrifice one of my children or grandchildren for. Yet, God did that for me. He continues to love me, showers me with His grace and mercy, forgives me of my sins. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!!!

"To love God is the greatest of virtues; to be loved by God is the greatest of blessings." - Author Unknown

Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Beloved Son for my sins. A love like that is hard to imagine but that is the way You love me. Your love for me is limitless, deep, strong and eternal. I can never earn it; all I have to do is accept it. It is a gift from You. I accept Your love today and ask that You help me to share it with every person I come into contact with. I praise and exalt Your name and Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.