The Daily + Midweek Updates
Good morning, Immanuel. We are often slow to praise God, so let's remind ourselves to praise Him and remember all the reasons He is worthy of it!
“Praise the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 146:1).
Where does praise come from? Most of the time, it’s a response to something that brings us joy. I praise the beauty of my wife or the efforts of my children. We burst forth in praise when a musician plays a magnificent solo, or an athlete makes a highlight play. And in each of these instances, we don’t even really decide to praise–we just respond.
But our hearts don’t react to God nearly so naturally or joyfully. Because of our sinful natures, praising God often feels unnatural. This is why we need the words of Psalm 146:1 so much:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Who is the psalmist talking to? Himself! He is reminding himself, commanding himself, to do what is absolutely right but doesn’t come naturally. But this isn’t a mantra or a gritting-his-teeth force-of-will thing. He goes on to remind himself why God is worthy of praise: he is our helper, he is creator, he is just, he is generous, he is merciful, he is a rescuer, he cares for the lowly, and he will reign forever.
We need this example because our hearts are slow to praise God. First, remind yourself to praise. Then, remember all the reasons God is worthy of praise. Then, you will be ready to respond in praise.
CELEBRATING SUNDAY…
Sunday Worship: This past Sunday, Pastor Sam preached good news to us from Psalm 8. You can check it out here!
ON THE HORIZON…
No Wed. Night Gathering: We are taking a summer break and will meet again mid-August! In the meantime, check out our community groups page to stay connected.
Next Steps: If you want to learn more about Immanuel membership, our Next Steps Seminar is for you! Our next class will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Immanuel Cafe. RSVP here!
MEMBER MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT…
“As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (Psalm 16:3).
Yard Sale: Our very own Kendall Clayton is happy to invite you to a summer yard sale on Saturday, August 10th, from 9 am to 1 pm in the Immanuel gym! All proceeds will go towards our Tenth Generation fund. If you have items to donate or would like to volunteer for setup, please reach out to Kendall Clayton at kendallwolk3@yahoo.com. Please spread the word to help, and also come out to shop on Saturday!