Psalm 100
New King James Version (NKJV)
A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Footnotes:
100:3 ^Following Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Qere, many Hebrew manuscripts, and Targum read we are His.
My Review
God's Word is so dynamic, reaching the heart and soul of man, revealed by the Holy Spirit into our lives."We have found the Word of God to be a living, vital force in our real, walking-around lives. It is our hope that the stories and experiences we and the Homecoming family of singers, writers, and musicians share will encourage and inspire you to take seriously the Bible's claim to be a light for your path, a shield from negative forces, a sharp sword when you feel attacked, sweet honey in your mouth, and a dependable guide for life's journey. Most of all, we hope a developing love for the Scriptures will lead you to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life." ―Bill & Gloria Gaither
The Gaither Homecoming Bible includes inspiring devotional articles by Bill, Gloria, and their friends. Included are 64 Gaither Homecoming contributors. I on-the-spot opened to this page and am including one for you here, followed by the next page side insert to give you an example. (Pages 878-880, Isaiah 52:10-53:12.) "No weapon forged against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and the righteousness is from Me," says the LORD. | ISAIAH 54:17
My prayer closet carpet was soaked and stained with mascara tears. We were having unusual financial challenges in our ministry, and the pressure was overwhelming. I had prayed until my knees ached, yet it seemed the heavens were brass and God was obviously vacationing in Maui, I finally sighed myself up off the floor, languishing into our bedroom.
The TV was on, and a minister I didn't particularly like was speaking. Even though I couldn't stand to watch him, I would occasionally check him out for a few minutes just to see how off he was. Suddenly, he stopped what he was saying and blurted out, "Father, I thank You for the privilege of praying every day that no weapon forged against me shall prosper!"
I froze in my tracks.
"Reba, that's the problem," the Voice whispered. "You have become a weapon forged against this man." He is praying Isaiah 54:17 every day, so I can't prosper you!"
The truth hit me right in the center of my soul.
"But, Father, I haven't spoken against him on a stage or television or written about him in a magazine. I haven't talked about him to anybody!" I cried. "Well, except I did mention how I felt about him to Dony once or twice, and come to think of it, I might have told Suzan Speer or maybe Judy ..."
Don't you hate it when you get busted? Of course, a lot of us women's idea of keeping a secret is to tell one person at a time!
I was standing there blubbering when Dony walked in, so I shared what I felt God was speaking to my heart. "Maybe you should call him and repent," Dony smiled.
"But I don't have a clue how to reach him," I pouted.
That moment, his ministry phone number scrolled across the bottom of the screen. I called and miraculously got him on the phone and began my pathetic attempt at apologizing.
Do you want to hear the worst part? He was so forgiving and nice!
"I was just listening to Dony and you sing this morning before the broadcast," he said. "You two just seem to get me fired up to minister! As a matter of fact, would you consider coming and sharing a platform with me?"
Isn't God hysterical?
Yes, we went and sang at one of his services. I quickly realized that he was, as my mama used to say, an acquired taste. He was so kind and gracious to us, and I began to realize that he would reach people I could never effectively touch. He spoke a spiritual language that communicated to a particular people; we are one nation, but many tribes.
Dony and I repented over any and everyone against whom our words had become weapons. We made some phone calls and wrote letters when it was appropriate. Basically, we plucked the weeds out of our garden so the good seed of words we had planted could blossom. We learned the power of agreement could work not only for us but against us. When we agreed in repentant prayer on negative words against others in the body of Christ, they returned multiplied to us.
Would you like to guess who Father used to bless us and heal our wounded finances?
Yep, it was that TV minister.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, ... so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I send it." ISAIAH 55:8-11
When God sends His Word―His commandments, His promises, His blessings, His warnings―it is always to prosper us. But God's definition and our definition of "prosper" couldn't be farther apart. We define "prosper" in earth terms; He defines it in eternal terms. Sometimes, just the fallout of what He's after in us brings with it the tangible, good things of earth because often integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness, and the like are valuable in many "earth enterprises." But be assured, those things are never the end result God is after. His Word will always prosper in the thing for which He sent it.
Even our propensity to disobedience is a gift of sorts―so that we would never be able to take credit for our so-called virtue, but come to Him for mercy, grace, joy, forgiveness, and, most important of all, the true love that is the deepest longing of the human―and the divine―heart.
Footnote example:
Isaiah 53:9
And they^ made His grave with the
wicked―
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Isaiah 53:11
He shall see the labor of His soul,^ and
be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous
Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities. ______________________________________________________________________________________
53:9 ^Literally he or He 53:11 ^Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate: Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read From the labor of His soul He shall see light.
The Holy Scriptures are placed within two columns a page in very readable type and spacing with footnotes at the bottom, as shown above. Insert text under Scripture is offset in different type upon a light-colored background. Page numbers and Scripture content are placed at the top. Chapter headings are in a cranberry color which sets off text content very nicely. Drawings of God's sky and landscape creations around us are portrayed in a light color behind inserts and tops of pages and are very soothing. The print is a soft-black shade on off-white paper and is crisp and easy to read.
Included in the front of the Bible is a presentation page, "From our Family to Yours ... Bill & Gloria Gaither," photo and overview of the Contributors, a section for Our Family Records: Husband's Family, Wife's Family, Our Children, Our Grandchildren; and Significant Events.
Contents:
• Hymns and Gospel Songs: Why We Need Them• Preface to the New King James Version
• Welcome to the Gaither Homecoming Bible
• Old Testament Books of the Holy Bible with page numbers
• New Testament Books of the Holy Bible with page numbers
• Index to Songs (75)
• Acknowledgments
• 60-Day Gaither Homecoming Bible Reading Plan
A two-month overview of the Scriptures, including Homecoming devotions for every day.
Features include:
• Inspirational and insightful Scripture devotions by the Gaithers and other Homecoming artists• Beloved hymns, gospel songs, and Gaither classics and the stories that inspired them
• Original, inspiring poems by Gloria Gaither (Do You Know I Love You?, page 1363)
• Quotes by greats of the faith reflecting on the importance of music in the life of believers
• Presentation section featuring photos of the Homecoming family
Do You Know I Love You?
©Gloria Gaither
Oh daughter, did you know how much
I loved you?
Through all the voices did you hear
me say
That you are my great heart's
dearly beloved?
When every road was gone, I was
the Way.
Through all the fires of hell I came to
find you.
Pursued you down the corridors
of time―
Though satan sold you cheap and
stole your virtue
I bought you with my life and you
are mine.
I love you with a love that has no limit;
You're flesh of my flesh, bone of
my bone.
I love you with a love that has
no limit―
I will not rest a moment till
you're home.
Oh, son, in your rebellion did you
hear me?
Hear my love song ringing in the night?
When acid tears of guilt burned hot to
blind you,
I was the soothing balm that gave
you sight
When fast and far you ran
pursuing pleasure,
I was the hound of heaven faster still―
I could not let you go because I
loved you,
Loved you all that time and love
you still.
I love you with a love that has
no limit;
You're flesh of my flesh, bone of
my bone.
I love you with a love that has
no limit―
I will not rest a moment till
you're home.
Book Description
The Gaither Homecoming Bible will make the Bible come alive for those seeking truth in the twenty-first century, even for those who think they already know it. For years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have reached millions of people across generations with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their music of joy, thanksgiving, and praise ushers people into the presence of God so that He can do His wondrous work in their lives. Featuring inspirational and insightful Scripture devotions by the Gaithers and other favorite Homecoming artists; articles on beloved hymns, gospel songs, and Gaither classics and the inspiration behind them; original poetry by Gloria Gaither to enlighten and inspire; and quotes by greats of the faith, reflecting on the importance of music in the life of believers, this beautiful Bible featuring the New King James Version® (NKJV) is one that readers will treasure for years to come.• special offer from Homecoming Magazine
• Bible study tools digital download
This hardcover Bible has a protective paper covering on it with endorsements on the front flyleaf and the names of the Homecoming contributors on the back flyleaf. The beautiful hardcover beneath is in deep forest green with gold lettering. GUARANTEED FOR LIFE. "Thomas Nelson guarantees the quality of this Bible. To learn about the care of your Bible, register for your lifetime guarantee, and receive free offers, visit our website today."
Thank you to BookSneeze for this beautiful Bible in exchange for this review of the Bible content in my own words.
