*
Why Should we Praise God and Thank
Him?
* The
Lord Our Shepherd (Psalm 23)
* Sing Psalms in the Praise of God
- A Prayer of Thanksgiving (Psalm
138)
- A Hymn of Praise (Psalm 145)
- A Hymn in Praise of God the
Saviour (Psalm146)
* Living
Witnesses
-
Witnesses of December 2001
-
An outstanding witness
(from Sr.Stephy{CFMSS})
*
Newspaper clipping (from TIMES OF
INDIA-Faridabad Plus)
We, lowly humans, created
in the likeness of God, should always thank and praise the
Almighty God, the Heavenly Father, our Creator, our Protector,
our Defender, who even gave His own Son, His only Son, to
this world for us sinners, to be crucified due to His love
for us to provide forgiveness of our sins, to show us His
way to salvation through His Son so that we may obtain eternal
life in Heaven with Him.
Like
a Father, he cares for us and provides for all our needs even
before we ask in His name in faith. He has our lives in His
hands, every breath we take, every second we live is given
to us by Him and all that we have belongs to Him. He keeps
us from all diseases & illnesses, protects us from all
accidents & natural calamities etc. and gives us our daily
food, both for our body and for our soul through His Word.
He has given us parents on this earth to take care of us,
to guide us, to help us and to teach us the ways of the Lord,
and to feel the love of God through them. Besides, he has
given us many brothers and sisters, relatives and friends
to rely upon and to provide us love, care and help in our
needs through Him.
For
all these things and more, why should we not thank Him and
Praise Him? Why should we not call upon His name and glorify
Him and His works amidst others, so that they too may understand
the power, love and mercy of the true God, so that their faith
in Him may become stronger and so that they too may obtain
salvation and may inherit eternal life.
Jesus said, "If anyone declares
publicly that he belongs to me, I will do the same for him before
my Father in heaven. But if anyone rejects me publicly, I will
reject him before my Father in heaven."
(St.Matthew 10:32-33)
This way if we through glorifying His Holy name may bring others in
His faith, then we will receive a reward for it in Heaven and
our sins may also be forgiven. Each soul is precious for God,
and He does not want that anyone should go astray, away from
Him, from His love, care and protection. He is waiting for us.
He is waiting for you with His hands wide open, inviting you
out of His limitless and unconditional love, to come to Him
and have the share of the eternal joy and peace in his Kingdom,
to obtain eternal life with Him. To make this understand, Jesus
told a parable of the Lost Sheep. Here it is -
Jesus said, "Suppose one of you
has a hundred sheep and loses one of them - what does he do?
He leaves the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and goes
looking for the one that got lost until he finds it. When he
finds it, he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and
carries it back home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours
together and says to them, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.
Let us celebrate!'
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable
people who do not need to repent."
(St. Luke 15:4-7)
The
Lord Our Shepherd (Psalm 23):
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything
I need. He lets me rest in fields of green
grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh
water. He gives me new strength. He guides me
in the right paths, as he has promised. Even if
I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid,
Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff
protect me. You prepare a banquet for me,
where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me
as an honoured guest and fill my cup to the brim.
I know that your goodness and love will be with
me all my life; and your house will be my home
as long as I live."
A Prayer
of Thanksgiving (Psalm 138):
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I sing praise to you before
the gods.
I face your Holy Temple, bow down, and praise
your name because of your constant love and faithfulness, because
you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.
You answered me when I called to you; with
your strength you strengthened me. All the kings in the world
will praise you, Lord, because they have heard your promises.
They will sing about what you have done and about your great
glory. Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly,
and the proud cannot hide from you.
When I am surrendered by troubles, you keep
me safe. You oppose my angry enemies and save me by your power.
You will do everything you have promised;
Lord, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have
begun.
A
Hymn of Praise (Psalm 145):
"I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king; I
will thank you for ever and ever. Everyday I will thank you;
I will praise you forever and ever.
The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;
his greatness is beyond understanding.
What you have done will be praised from one
generation to the next; they will proclaim your mighty acts.
They will speak of your glory and majesty, and I will meditate
on your wonderful deeds. People will speak of your mighty deeds,
and I will proclaim your greatness. They will tell about al
your goodness and sing about your kindness.
The Lord is loving and merciful, slow to
become angry and full of constant love. He is good to everyone
and has compassion on all he made.
All your creatures, Lord, will praise you,
and all your people will give you thanks. They will speak of
the glory of your royal power and tell of your might, so that
everyone will know your mighty deeds and the glorious majesty
of your Kingdom. Your rule is eternal, and you are king forever.
The Lord is faithful to his promises, and
he is merciful in all his acts. He helps those who are in trouble;
he lifts those who have fallen.
All living things look hopefully to you,
and you give them food when they need it. You give them enough
and satisfy the needs of all.
The Lord is righteous in all he does, merciful
in all his acts. He is near to those who call to him, who call
to him with sincerity. He supplies the needs of those who honour
him; he hears their cries and saves them. He protects everyone
who loves him, but he will destroy the wicked.
I will always praise the Lord; let all his
creatures praise his Holy Name for ever."
In
Praise of God the Saviour (Psalm146):
"Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, my soul! I will praise him as long as I
live; I will sing to my God all my life.
Don't put your trust in human leaders; no
human being can save you. When they die, they return to the
dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.
Happy is the man who has the God of Jacob
to help him and who depends on the Lord his God, the
Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them.
He always keeps his promises; he judges in favour of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free and gives sight
to the blind. He lifts those who have fallen; he loves his righteous
people. He protects the strangers who live in our land; he helps
widows and orphans, but takes the wicked to their ruin.
The Lord is king forever. You God, O Zion,
will reign for all time.
Praise the Lord!"
LIVING WITNESSES OF INCREDIBLE
MIRACLES HAPPENING IN
JEEVAN DHAM
Witnesses
taken from 'Divya Jyoti' Newsletter:
Witness Index Page
A Report from the TIMES
OF INDIA-
Faridabad Plus Section