Whatever Are We Doing?
In writing an academic essay, I often must delete points whenever my students use slang, like when they “go out on a limb to try something new” in regard to punctuation. You see, my students are “creatures of habit” and will continually do what they have always done and never try anything new (especially when there’s risk of a lower grade involved). Therefore, I attempt to take away their fear. I offer extra points when they do try new pieces of punctuation unique to them.
When we meet together in class before they make their final essay revisions and submit their essays, I always remind them of my offer of extra points. Usually I say something like this: “What punctuation do you wish you could try that you do not normally attempt because of fear of using it wrong? Lay that fear down. In this class, you have the opportunity to try new things without the fear of something as small as a ( ; ) or a ( — ) or a ( : ) or a ( [ ] ) or a ( . . . ) or any other punctuation causing you to fear failure. You must not fear trying something new in this course, while you are here with me. Your final essay drafts are soon due. I trust you! So, try something new within this essay, and as you do, let it stand out boldly by highlighting it. Yes. Highlight the entire sentence, so that your instructor will not miss your bravery.”
Then we share class time reviewing some of the unfamiliar tools of punctuation, their functions, and a few examples where they could be put to use.
- What is God calling us to do?
- Why are we holding back and instead not doing that which we know Almighty God has led us to do?
In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah wrote under God’s direction so much truth that is applicable to life, and today, we read a passage that applies to God’s calling on our lives and our response.
Let’s read together the Word of God.
“Enlarge the place of your tent;
(Isaiah 54: 2 NASB)
Stretch out the curtains of your
dwellings, do not spare them;
Lengthen your ropes
And strengthen your pegs.”
We fear failure, but how can we fail if we obey God’s will?
- We cannot fail when we obey!
We fear rejection, but how can we ever be rejected by God as His child when He comes one day to bring us home?
- We will not be rejected by God for He is forevermore faithful!
We fear ridicule, but how can we ever be dejected through the world’s ridicule?
- We proclaim with authority the Gospel message of the King of kings when we proclaim the truth found within God’s Word!
Earlier today, while sharing the dark with God and listening to the “praise & worship” channel on Pandora, a melody came playing into my earbuds, and though it is one we know, let us slow down to really see the truth of the lyrics sung.
“If you’re still alive and breathing, (You) Praise the LORD!”
It is a command and not a suggestion for our very breath should give us pause to stop running and start praising Jehovah Jireh who continually provides for all of our needs—even our next breath!
“Don’t stop dancing and dreaming;”
Worship of God requires movement of our bodies and our brains and our hearts and our whole self. We must move; We must share the Good News of God with those who surround us, dreaming of heaven filled with the faces of those we know and love here on earth. Let us stop “dancing around the topic” of salvation & let’s begin dancing in worship to our LORD, thanking Him for another day to witness & proclaim: “God is Amazingly Good, too Good to not experience intimately!”
“There’s still good news worth repeating.”
The Gospel message never grows outdated, old, or needs revising. The TRUTH is the TRUTH and has always been the TRUTH and will forever be the TRUTH—God’s Message of Salvation!
“So, lift your head and keep singing:”
Look up child of God; See God’s goodness surrounding us; Twirl and Dance, for our God’s mercy and grace is new—every morning we get to live!
“Praise the LORD!”
RIGHT NOW. THIS SECOND. DURING THE NEXT MINUTES. FOR SURE, THIS HOUR. TODAY. TOMORROW. THIS WEEK. THIS MONTH. THIS YEAR. FOR THE NEXT DECADE OF TIME. UNTIL OUR LAST DAY OF LIFE!
“Alive & Breathing” by Matt Maher
So, in closing, I desire to share that oftentimes, several of my students become brave within their final drafts and elect to use pieces of punctuation that is unique to them. When they do, some of my students are timid in their bravery. I know; timid and bravery do not usually run together, but within a student’s work they do. Here’s how. Oftentimes, students will be brave and use a semi-colon, YES, THAT DREADED SEMI-COLON!!! Then they will highlight the semi-colon; they are too unsure if they have used it correctly, so they color small. Then there are those students who in BRAVERY step out and use a dash—causing me (their reader) to pay attention to what comes AFTER THEIR DASH!
We were born—a physical birth.
Someone proclaimed the Gospel message to us.
Probably, several somebodies over a passage of time.
Then one day, Jesus said something like this to our heart: “Here I stand, knocking. Will you allow me to come into your heart?”
We said: “Yes, Lord, come in and save me; today, I am giving you my heart, my soul, and my life.”
That’s our most important birth—Our Spiritual Birth!
But did we—really?
Did we give God our whole heart, our entire soul, and our every single moment of our life?
If we are truthful, right here, we will see the small answer that shouts with enormous magnitude—NO!
- Praise the LORD, right now, we have another second to breathe.
- Praise the LORD, right now, we have another minute to live.
- Praise the LORD, right now, we have another day to proclaim God’s Goodness.
- Praise the LORD, if the Lord tarries His coming for us, we will have another full day to share our testimony.
Whatever Are We Doing IF WE ARE NOT PRAISING & PROCLAIMING GOD TO THE WORLD OF PEOPLE SURROUNDING US?
- Who must we praise?
That’s so easy. ALMIGHTY GOD!
- How must we praise the LORD?
That’s so easily answered. HOWEVER OUR LORD LEADS!
- Why must we give praise to GOD?
Well, that too is an easy answer. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WE PRAISE GOD!
- What must we recall as we lift our hands high and praise the KING?
Child of God, we know that answer, and it’s never stopped being true. WE MUST PRAISE GOD FOR SAVING OUR SOUL & FOR PROVIDING US THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW HIM THROUGH HIS SON JESUS!
- Whenever & Wherever will be give our Most Glorious Father Praise?
FOREVERMORE!
FOR ALL TIME!
UNTIL OUR FINAL BREATH!
EVERLASTING & ETERNALLY!
BEGINNING RIGHT NOW—TODAY—THIS VERY SECOND!
MAY WE NEVER STOP!
“Praise the LORD, all nations;
(Psalm 117: 1-2 NASB)
Sing His praises, all peoples!
For His mercy toward us is great,
And the truth of the LORD
is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!”