June 2, 2023

Ezra 3:10-13 (HCSB)
Temple Foundation Completed 10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph,  holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed.  11 They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.”  Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid. 12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this house,  but many others shouted joyfully. 13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the  weeping,  because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

Andrew Ivey
 As you experience God working through you to accomplish His purposes and minister to others, your heart overflows. It overflows with joy, with gratitude, with thanksgiving, and with worship. There is nothing like walking with God and being used by Him. You may want to shout and raise your hands, or you may want to lay prone on the floor and weep. In this passage, we see a variety as the people worship with trumpets, cymbals, singing, shouting, and weeping. They had so much to celebrate. We, too, have so much to celebrate. God is using our church to reach White House, TN and beyond. Don’t take it for granted. Draw near to Him, surrender to Him, and worship Him for all He is doing, in and through you and our church. Remember, “God inhabits the praise of His people.” Ps.22:3