forever and always

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."  -- Psalm 146:1-2 KJV 

I understand now what God meant when He said, "Don't be afraid of their faces..." (Jer. 1:8). Whenever I'm singing during praise and worship, I'll glance out at the congregation and notice that some people either cross their arms or stare out into space. It can be intimidating and a little disheartening. I keep asking myself, "How can they stand there and not do anything? The Lord woke you up this morning, and you can't even clap a hand?" Psalm 150:6 says "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD," which means when our eyes open, our first thought should be "Good morning, Father!" not "I don't feel like getting up." We weren't made to live on this earth for ourselves and our own needs. We were made for His pleasure, to give Him all the glory and all the honor (Rev. 4:11). We are not to store up earthly gifts but heavenly gifts, and where our treasure is, so is our heart (Matt. 6:19-21). This is not our home and until we understand that concept, we'll continue to be lovers of ourselves. So I will look to the hills which come my help (Ps. 121:1). I will forever lift my hands and my voice, because I know I'm living to live again.