our God is an awesome God
our God is an awesome God
our God is an awesome God
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Our <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>an</strong><br />
Awesome <strong>God</strong><br />
By Maria M<strong>an</strong>s<strong>our</strong><br />
Have you ever wondered about the winter’s cool<br />
silence <strong>an</strong>d keening winds making their own frosty<br />
music. Then spring, on the rebound from winter’s<br />
solemnity, sings in full throat with the sounds of a<br />
schoolyard at recess. The summer in all of its green<br />
lushness, you c<strong>an</strong> sometimes hear a no<strong>is</strong>y symphony<br />
of natural sounds making their way to heaven pra<strong>is</strong>ing<br />
the Lord. Then autumn comes combining the<br />
voices of m<strong>an</strong>y <strong>an</strong>imals in the cr<strong>is</strong>p breezes in the<br />
dry foliage, but from a sincere heart. In every place<br />
<strong>an</strong>d time, a gift of pra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>is</strong> offered to <strong>God</strong> the creator.<br />
Pra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>is</strong> a natural activity that <strong>is</strong>sues from a life<br />
filled with the love of <strong>God</strong>.<br />
Our King David had a heart <strong>an</strong>d mind full of the love<br />
of <strong>God</strong>. He wrote so m<strong>an</strong>y amazing psalms expressing<br />
h<strong>is</strong> relationship with <strong>God</strong> in m<strong>an</strong>y different situations<br />
that have been a guide in <strong>our</strong> daily lives. H<strong>is</strong><br />
pra<strong>is</strong>e confirms a deep relationship with <strong>God</strong> that <strong>is</strong><br />
h<strong>is</strong> weapon against Sat<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d h<strong>is</strong> army. I invite you<br />
to join in th<strong>is</strong> j<strong>our</strong>ney where King David <strong>is</strong> going to<br />
take us on a trip to the school of pra<strong>is</strong>e that <strong>is</strong> offered<br />
to <strong>our</strong> Lord the creator. Get ready, open y<strong>our</strong> mind<br />
<strong>an</strong>d heart to witness the <strong>awesome</strong>ness of <strong>God</strong> <strong>an</strong>d<br />
experience h<strong>is</strong> Love to us H<strong>is</strong> children.<br />
PSALM 18<br />
The heavens declare the glory of <strong>God</strong>; <strong>an</strong>d the firmament<br />
proclaims the work of H<strong>is</strong> h<strong>an</strong>ds. Day to day<br />
utters speech, <strong>an</strong>d night to night proclaims knowledge.<br />
There are no speeches or words, in which their<br />
voice <strong>is</strong> not heard. Their sound has gone out upon all<br />
the earth <strong>an</strong>d their words have reached to the ends<br />
of the world. In the sun He has set H<strong>is</strong> dwelling; <strong>an</strong>d<br />
it comes forth as a bridegroom out of h<strong>is</strong> chamber:<br />
it shall exult as a gi<strong>an</strong>t running h<strong>is</strong> c<strong>our</strong>se. Its going<br />
forth <strong>is</strong> from the extremity of heaven, <strong>an</strong>d its goal <strong>is</strong><br />
to the other end of heaven: <strong>an</strong>d nothing will be hidden<br />
from its heat.<br />
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The law of the Lord <strong>is</strong> pure, converting souls: the testimony<br />
of the Lord <strong>is</strong> faithful, instructing the babes.<br />
The ordin<strong>an</strong>ces of the Lord are straight, rejoicing<br />
the heart: the comm<strong>an</strong>dment of the Lord <strong>is</strong> a light,<br />
enlightening the eyes from afar. The fear of the Lord<br />
<strong>is</strong> pure, enduring forever <strong>an</strong>d ever: the judgments of<br />
the Lord are true, <strong>an</strong>d justified altogether. The desires<br />
of H<strong>is</strong> heart are chosen more th<strong>an</strong> gold <strong>an</strong>d precious<br />
stone, <strong>an</strong>d sweeter th<strong>an</strong> honey <strong>an</strong>d the honey<br />
comb. For Y<strong>our</strong> serv<strong>an</strong>t keeps them: <strong>an</strong>d in keeping<br />
them there <strong>is</strong> great reward.<br />
Who c<strong>an</strong> underst<strong>an</strong>d tr<strong>an</strong>sgressions? From my<br />
secret sins cle<strong>an</strong>se me, O Lord, <strong>an</strong>d from the attack<br />
of str<strong>an</strong>gers spare y<strong>our</strong> serv<strong>an</strong>t: if they do not have<br />
dominion over me, then I shall be blameless, <strong>an</strong>d I<br />
shall be cle<strong>an</strong>sed from great sin. All the sayings of<br />
my mouth, <strong>an</strong>d the meditation of my heart, shall be<br />
pleasing continually before you. O Lord; you are my<br />
helper, <strong>an</strong>d my Savior. ALLELUIA.<br />
King David contemplated on the glory of <strong>God</strong> that<br />
m<strong>an</strong>ifested in h<strong>is</strong> creations, <strong>an</strong>d the w<strong>is</strong>dom of the<br />
creature. For example, He meditates on the sun illuminating<br />
the whole world <strong>an</strong>d its warmness reaching<br />
to the end of the earth. As h<strong>is</strong> thoughts meditate<br />
deeper in the creation of <strong>God</strong>, the similarity between<br />
the sun <strong>an</strong>d the law of <strong>God</strong> becomes unique. The<br />
Law of <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> d<strong>is</strong>tinctive <strong>an</strong>d thorough illuminating<br />
the pass for us. It also testifies h<strong>is</strong> tender love <strong>an</strong>d<br />
knowledge that <strong>is</strong> sent to m<strong>an</strong>kind. When King David<br />
became familiar with the law of <strong>God</strong>, it helped him<br />
d<strong>is</strong>cover h<strong>is</strong> small inner sin, which <strong>an</strong>y hum<strong>an</strong> being<br />
might overlook if they don’t have th<strong>is</strong> light inside of<br />
them.<br />
With a prophesizing eye King David saw the ev<strong>an</strong>gel<strong>is</strong>m<br />
of the apostles that reached the end of the<br />
earth. Although they got tortured, persecuted, <strong>an</strong>d<br />
killed for spreading the word of <strong>God</strong>, they considered<br />
everything as rubb<strong>is</strong>h just to gain Chr<strong>is</strong>t the
Lord. Keeping the word of <strong>God</strong> <strong>an</strong>d was a beautiful<br />
pra<strong>is</strong>e that was offered to Chr<strong>is</strong>t the redeemer for h<strong>is</strong><br />
love <strong>an</strong>d mercy.<br />
Have you ever wondered from where does king David<br />
finds words to pra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>God</strong>? From <strong>an</strong> experienced<br />
heart King David testifies about the beauty of the<br />
words of <strong>God</strong>.<br />
As the word reaches the soul <strong>an</strong>d enters into the<br />
depths of the heart it cle<strong>an</strong>s it from every sin <strong>an</strong>d<br />
illuminated with the love of <strong>God</strong>. Then the Lords<br />
come <strong>an</strong>d dwell in <strong>our</strong> hearts <strong>an</strong>d ch<strong>an</strong>ge <strong>our</strong> nature<br />
to become pure <strong>an</strong>d holy. From here words of pra<strong>is</strong>e<br />
to <strong>God</strong> becomes a natural habit th<strong>an</strong>king him for H<strong>is</strong><br />
great mercy, “Y<strong>our</strong> word <strong>is</strong> a lamp to my feet <strong>an</strong>d a<br />
light to my path.”<br />
“The fear of the Lord <strong>is</strong> pure, enduring forever <strong>an</strong>d<br />
ever” Have you ever marveled at the me<strong>an</strong>ing of th<strong>is</strong><br />
verse, how c<strong>an</strong> fear be pure <strong>an</strong>d endures for ever?<br />
King David guided by the Holy Spirit puts a synonym<br />
to the law of <strong>God</strong> which <strong>is</strong> “fear”.<br />
Out of <strong>our</strong> love to <strong>God</strong> we fear him, knowing that h<strong>is</strong><br />
words are a guide for us in <strong>our</strong> lives. Those words are<br />
pure without blem<strong>is</strong>h or corruption that they endure<br />
for ever <strong>an</strong>d ever. In addition, we find peace <strong>an</strong>d<br />
pleasure in obeying h<strong>is</strong> comm<strong>an</strong>d<strong>an</strong>ts. As a result we<br />
say with King David: “Pra<strong>is</strong>e the LORD! Blessed <strong>is</strong> the<br />
m<strong>an</strong> who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in H<strong>is</strong><br />
comm<strong>an</strong>dments.” (Psalm 112:1)<br />
Have you felt unfair, judged by others <strong>an</strong>d that <strong>is</strong> the<br />
world <strong>is</strong> against you? Great news, for King David has<br />
assured us saying: “the judgments of the Lord are<br />
true, <strong>an</strong>d justified altogether.” Although King David<br />
was <strong>an</strong>ointed as a king in h<strong>is</strong> youth, the prom<strong>is</strong>e of<br />
<strong>God</strong> regarding h<strong>is</strong> reign was not fulfilled until years<br />
after in which he has suffered greatly from King Soul.<br />
What kept King David going in life was h<strong>is</strong> trust in<br />
the words of <strong>God</strong> <strong>an</strong>d h<strong>is</strong> prom<strong>is</strong>es, for <strong>our</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> a<br />
just Judge. For m<strong>an</strong>y generations the word of <strong>God</strong><br />
has given hope to m<strong>an</strong>y <strong>an</strong>d restored lives, “The<br />
LORD <strong>is</strong> my strength <strong>an</strong>d my song; he has become<br />
my salvation. He <strong>is</strong> my <strong>God</strong>, <strong>an</strong>d I will pra<strong>is</strong>e him, my<br />
father’s <strong>God</strong>, <strong>an</strong>d I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)<br />
I lift up my heart to <strong>God</strong> with King David saying: “The<br />
desires of H<strong>is</strong> heart are chosen more th<strong>an</strong> gold <strong>an</strong>d<br />
precious stone, <strong>an</strong>d sweeter th<strong>an</strong> honey <strong>an</strong>d the<br />
honey comb.” After reading the Bible, <strong>an</strong>d seeing the<br />
w<strong>is</strong>dom <strong>an</strong>d justice of <strong>our</strong> <strong>God</strong> nothing else sat<strong>is</strong>fies<br />
us. The world <strong>an</strong>d all its desires becomes nothing<br />
against the truth, ordin<strong>an</strong>ces, <strong>an</strong>d justice of <strong>our</strong> Lord.<br />
Therefore, <strong>our</strong> hearts then pra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>God</strong> day <strong>an</strong>d night<br />
th<strong>an</strong>king him for h<strong>is</strong> great mercy.<br />
Therefore my brethren, lets us all keep the comm<strong>an</strong>d<strong>an</strong>t<br />
of <strong>God</strong> daily in <strong>our</strong> hearts <strong>an</strong>d mind. In keeping<br />
H<strong>is</strong> words there will be a protection against evil, it<br />
will lift up <strong>our</strong> spirit, <strong>an</strong>d gr<strong>an</strong>t us peace. For <strong>God</strong> has<br />
prepared a daily m<strong>an</strong>ual for us in <strong>our</strong> life to guide us.<br />
Then, all h<strong>is</strong> creation testified about its ordin<strong>an</strong>ces<br />
<strong>an</strong>d justice. So let us also left <strong>our</strong> heart <strong>an</strong>d unite<br />
with <strong>our</strong> heavenly church to pra<strong>is</strong>e <strong>our</strong> lord the<br />
Greater. For Truly <strong>our</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>awesome</strong> <strong>God</strong>.<br />
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