Lyrical Friday - 10,000 Reasons

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. Psalm 98:1-8 

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Happy Friday! 

What is a blessing?

Here are a few words that describe a blessing: approval, adoption, acceptance, espousal, support, backing, patronage, championship, backup, admiration, appreciation, reward, reinforcement, boon, good fortune, mercy, thanksgiving, grace, orison, petition, prayer,  benison. Are these not words that describe our relationship with the Lord? Has He not shown is approval of us? He has adopted us as sons and daughters. He has accepted us into His family, His works and Heaven. Espousal, reward, good fortune, mercy and grace are just at the surface of all the benefits He gives us. He is our patronage, backup, support, prayer and petition. We are made champions, victorious and more than conquers in Him. Are we not blessed? It is only right that we would bless Him and His holy name. 

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At times, blessing His name comes easy and rolls off our lips. But there will be dark times, where we can not even mutter a word, much less bless the Lord. I know the feeling. I have experienced that it is only in blessing the Lord that our battle will be won. We may not see immediate deliverance to our present troubles nor may our gloom be lifted right away but hope, strength and joy will arise in the midst of craziness. So continue blessing the Lord. Bless the Lord in your home, in your car, with a friend, in your congregation and anywhere else you may be found. No matter how far off you may be from the Lord, praise Him there. If your heart has hardened and you can't find it in you to bless His name, reach out to someone to cry out to God for you and with you. The Lord has been good, it may be that a change of perspective is what you need. Bless the Lord as you count your blessings. 

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10,000 Reasons, Matt Redman 

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The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
⁴⁷ It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Psalm 18:46-49
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Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:6-7
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Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:21-24
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I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
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By this I know that You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever. blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:11-13
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Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. Psalm 68:19, 26
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Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen. Psalm 89:52
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Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:1-6
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Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6
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Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:20-22
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Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. Psalm 104:1-4
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Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! Psalm 106:46-47
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The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord! Psalm 115:16-17
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Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Psalm 124:6-7 
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Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Psalm 134:1-2 
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Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle— My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. Psalm 144:1-2
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*Read and meditate on Psalm 104

speak encouragement

Anxiety in the heart causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25


A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11


Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement. 2 Chronicles 18:12


I want to challenge you today to speak encouragement. Enough with the lecturing, pointing a finger and rubbing it in that you were right- speak encouragement.

Tell someone how blessed you are to know them.
Thank someone today for being who they are in your life.
Compliment someone on their smile.
Commend someone on the great job they are doing.
Tell your family and friends that you love them.
Speak Encouragement.
Speak a kind word.
Speak thankfulness.
Speak in love, in mercy, in grace.

30 Hour Famine

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply,

‘Truly I tell you,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Hi beloved Friends.
Uth Nation (youth group I serve at) is joining with 30 Hour Famine and raising money to feed those starving and without hope. Our youth group will be feeding the kids in Haiti.

"Students around the world loving God and fighting hunger. It’s that simple. Every year, thousands of students unite to do the 30 Hour Famine. They learn about hunger - and then they do something about it. They raise funds. They experience hunger for themselves. Best of all? They help save lives."

The best part is that you can help!
Here are the easy to follow instructions:
1. Go to http://www.30hourfamine.org/
2. For more information before giving, go to the About (on the top left hand corner) or click here.
3. To make a donation of any amount go to Donate (on the top right hand corner) or click here.
    > click: Search for a student or group (Orange button) or click here.
    > Search me as : First name: Raquel // Last name: Rodriguez // group name: Uth Nation
4. Once you've clicked on my name a new page will open (this one) and on the bottom right hand corner it will say: Make a gift! <-----that's where you want to go.
5. From then on I'll let the Spirit of God lead you as you give, to the least of these.
    > A detailed description will be found on this page, explaining how each gift amount will bless these kids.

For the remainder of February and March we will be raising funds. It doesn't just stop there. 30 Hour Famine organizes exactly what its name is, a 30 hour fast. Our youth group will be hosting a lock-in at church for the kids in youth who have collected a minimum of $30. That night will include: educating the kids on famine/poverty/hunger, devotion time, games and more. We will be starving for food. So please, prayerfully consider joining this great cause.

Thank you for you help and spread the word!