Praise God

March 9, 2016

Opening Hymns:
580 Lead On, O King Eternal http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh580.sht

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 5:9-12
5:9 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.

5:10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.

5:11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

5:12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Message:
On this day the Israelites finally see God’s Promised Land. They have been traveling in the desert for 40 years. What must it have been like to eat their own crops instead of manna for the first time. Some of the children may not have had any food besides the manna that the Lord provided. This must have been a true celebration of the Passover.

Imagine what the Passover may have been like before they were brought to the Promised Land. They are hungry, thirsty, and eating and drinking only what God provides. We often times hear them grumbling about wanting to have stayed in Egypt. Were their hearts ever in the celebration of Passover?

When do we celebrate God’s saving grace? Do we celebrate after every challenge has been met? Can we still praise Him in the hard/challenging times too? Our God is great! He is with us in both our easy and tough times. Let us find the strength to praise him throughout our lives, in the good times and bad.

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being with us throughout our entire lives. Remind us of Your loving presence. Let us take comfort in knowing that You are always with us. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
Jesus Shall Reign http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh157.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God