Pause

Think of this for a moment: We are all foreigners in the kingdom of God. No one is native to the place where God reigns; we are all invited and, by grace, we are made citizens.

We do well to keep this in mind as we encounter every person along our way. Each of them is no more "the other" to God than we are.

This inclusive God invites you again today to stand in the Presence, to dwell in God's land.

Listen

O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered 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

Think

I love singing to my favorite songs in the car. When a song comes on the radio, I cannot resist. I turn it up and sing at the top of my lungs. I am not the best singer, which can make it awkward when other people are with me. Usually, if they know the words, they will start to sing along with me.

Today’s psalm tells us that the whole earth and everyone in it is called to sing and tell what God has done in our lives. We sing at the top of our lungs so that everyone can hear how God saves us every day.

Sometimes talking about God is awkward because our friends don’t always know the words to the song we are singing. There are people in the world who haven’t heard of God’s love, or don’t understand why we sing. We keep singing because we love what God is doing in our lives; it is our favorite song. We sing so that others might learn the words and join in.

Brenda Thompson

Pray

Lord, teach me the words to your song. Give me courage to sing and show your love to others even when it is uncomfortable and awkward. Amen.

Go

Travel through this day
Knowing there is no confining
The love of God,
And no borders to cross
Between you and God's presence.

Pray that your life might also be
So open
That God's love in you knows
No barriers,
Providing free passage for others.