Category: From Our President

By Cody Carden

By John O’Malley

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

Recently, I received an invitation to an Unbirthday party of McKenna, a friend. Alice in Wonderland was the theme. You could come dressed as anyone from the story. The invitation was playfully presented. The date and time were clear.

My wife and I were not able to attend. However, I did arrange for a FaceTime call. When I called, I had a video feed of the event. People were dressed in costume. Laughter and chattering were heard. I saw that all who responded to the invitation were participating in the joy. Yet, I was only a distant observer.

I spoke to “Alice” and sang the “Merry Unbirthday” song to her. We spoke for a moment, and McKenna was back to the party. I continued on with my evening, five hundred miles away.

In verse four, we read of the believers’ invitation to God’s house. He calls us to the gates and courts of the Lord. The gates are the entry point to His house. The courts are the place between the gates and His dwelling place.

The invitation of this psalm speaks not only of where we are to come. It tells us what we are to wear and what we are to do upon arrival. We are to come wearing garments of thanksgiving and of praise. When we arrive, we are to express words of thankfulness directly to Him. We are then to bless His name.

The invitation of our Host must be heeded. He asked us to come to His presence, whether it is in personal or public worship, wearing thanksgiving and praise. He asks us to arrive and be thankful. He asks us to bless His name.

Today, as you stand in His courts, look around you and reflect on Him. I urge you to reflect on His grace. He applied grace to your life when you believed in Him. None deserved His salvation. As you stand in His courts to praise Him, remember His goodness to you. He meets your every need. He always does what is best for us. Lastly, in this moment of intentional reflection, rejoice in His glory. When you rejoice in His glory, you remove yourself from the spotlight of attention to take credit for your talents and skills. You place Him in the spotlight, and you give Him the attention and praise for everything.

Reader, today I urge you to praise Him. Let thankfulness and praise be confirmed with the words you speak and the attitude you display. Then, you should bless His name. The idea behind the English word “bless” is to bow and praise Him.

For my friend McKenna’s party, we were to wear what was asked. We were to come and celebrate her birth and life. We were to come dressed to celebrate. The believer’s invitation to God’s presence is no different. Psalm 100:4 says we are to arrive in His presence with thanksgiving and praise. When in His presence, we must express thankfulness and blessing.

Do you give greater attention to an invitation to a party than you do to God’s presence? How often do you come to His presence in the way His invitation asked?

Today, accept His invitation to “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Wherever you are right now, why not just say aloud to God, “I know You are here and I am thankful I am not alone. Thank You for Your presence.”

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“…and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

As a boy, we lived in Colorado, a state in the western mountain region of the United States. Sheepherders lived in the community where we lived. We could both see and sometimes smell these animals. On more than one occasion, we had sheep wandering through our land. While these wandering sheep were on our land, they did not belong there. They were not ours.

We learned from living there that shepherds know their sheep. Most shepherds where we lived used a numbered and colored tag that was pierced in their sheep’s ear. This system allowed any shepherd who found a wandering sheep to easily identify the owner of the sheep and the pasture to which the sheep belonged.

When the psalmist says we are “the sheep of his pasture,” he identifies two relationships. He points to the relationship the sheep have with God; we are His possession. The second relationship is one of protection. He says we are in His pasture.

In the Psalms, you will find the relationships of possession and protection mentioned. The familiar passage of Psalm 23 identifies these relationships. Look at these three passages as well.

“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice” (Psalm 95:7).

“Thou leadest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalm 77:20).

“But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock” (Psalm 78:52).

God wants me to know I am His, and He protects me. Delightfully, I am not a wandering and aimless sheep without a Shepherd. I am His sheep. I am in His pasture. He will go to great lengths to provide, protect, and pamper His sheep. As my owner, He drives away the wolves, worries, and wicked thieves.

Fellow sheep, mind not the discomforts of this life. Recall this truth: we are “the sheep of his pasture.” There will be no lonely moments of listless wandering. Yes, there will be panicked moments of wondering how will He provide and protect. However, if you are His sheep, His provision and protection will come. These assurances come with our relationship to the Shepherd.

Will you pause right now and reflect on God’s provision in your life? Today, will you share this with someone who needs to hear it?

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“…we are his people…” (Psalm 100:3)

The psalmist paints a picture for us that is overwhelming. Consider the powerful message in these four words. “…we are his people…”

The psalmist reminds us of God’s interaction with man: “we.” Sinful men tainted by the garden experience in Eden, having been barred from fellowship with God, now have access to Him. No longer outsiders, by faith in His Son, we now stand inside the garden of fellowship with Him. God’s interaction with people made us “we.”

The psalmist reminds us of God’s interest in Man: “are.” God’s interest in man did not stop in the Old Testament and New Testament days. God’s interest is ongoing. We “are” His people. Not was. Not will be. We are, right now, His people. God is interested in His children.

The psalmist reminds us of God’s investment in man: “his” God made the ultimate investment in us. He invested Jesus. When God gave His Son to die for us, He showed what investment He was willing to make. What an investment He made to make us His own. We are His possession.

The psalmist reminds us of God’s inheritance in man: “people.” God chose us for His inheritance. He proclaims in His Word that He is not ashamed to claim ownership of us (Hebrews 2:11). The children of God belong to Him.

Shall we fear anything? Shall we be discouraged by any foe? Shall any condition bring despair? I call you to attention. We are His people.

Will I ever be left alone? Will I ever be forsaken? Will I ever be out of His reach? Will I ever be out of His care? I call you to remember His Word. We are His people.

As you walk through your day, will you let this thought echo in your mind and heart? You are His.

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves…” (Psalm 100:3).

Made in China. Made in Taiwan. Made in Japan. Made in Malaysia.

These are all common tags we see on the products we purchase. The tag reminds us of a distant land we may have only heard about. The tag may remind us of a global economy. The tag may even evoke strong feelings of national pride and seemingly unanswerable questions about trade practices.

On some products we purchase we also find a tag that reads, “Inspected by #4.” These tags make me smile. I wonder, “Who is number four? Is there more than one number four? Is number four a station? Who really made what I am wearing?”

Dear Reader, our verse for today sends one clear message. Believers carry a tag. It is a tag that designates our Maker. We carry God’s tag. The tag reads, “Made by God.” The psalmist describes our tag: “… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.”

My entire existence is affected by this verse. This truth affects my worship and work for God. This precept brings me to the realization I did not bring myself into existence; He did. I did not make me; God made me. I read this phrase, and it brings comfort to my soul, conviction to my service, and compassion as I work with others. David’s words in the 139th Psalm say that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The tag on every person’s life is the same: “Made by God.” We do not make our own way in this life. We may try to make a name for ourselves, but we carry His tag.

When someone accepts the payment for salvation paid by Jesus, we bear another mark on our tag. It is the designation that we were bought with a price. Paul wrote that we are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus purchased us with His defeat of death, hell, and the grave. His purchase of me means I am His. I am to put God in the spotlight of my life, or in other words, glorify Him. By faith in Him alone, the tag on my heart says “Purchased.” I am His.

This analogy is simple. It conveys one clear truth. Our lives are not our own; therefore, bring Him glory.

The believer wears the tag “Made and Purchased by God.” Is God pleased with your actions, your attitudes, and your activities?

I want you to find someone today and tell them, “God made me.” Then ask them, “Did you know He paid the price for you to go to heaven?”

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“Know ye that the Lord he is God…” (Psalms 100:3).

Advertisers spend millions trying to get us to know their product name and its benefits. They bombard our lives in print, radio, and television. When we might forget the name and benefit of their product, advertisers erect billboards. Even if we do not see the billboards, advertisers produce bumper stickers. All of their efforts are to help us remember their product and how it will change our lives.

The psalmist, in our focus verse today, puts up a billboard on the highways of the followers of Christ. The psalmist speaks of something everyone must know. He does not speak of knowing the name of another product. He is speaking of knowing something in the spiritual realm.

The psalmist says, “Know ye that the Lord he is God.” We should know He is God when difficulties arise that shake the very structure of our lives. We should remember He is God when we become overwhelmed. We should know He is God when in the midst of distress. Simply, we should know He is God.

Remind yourself. He is God. Not, He was God. The God of all Creation is your God. What should you fear?

Yet, life is filled with fears. Our tragedies and challenges seem to cast a shadow on our confidence. We easily lose sight of God. Our view of our distresses may be shortsighted. We can only see a short portion of our journey. However, God sees the entire path of our life. He knows what is beyond us. He sees the beauty when we see the ashes. He sees the hope when we see our hurt. He sees what is best when we see what is worst.

Dear reader, it is time to notice the billboards God erects on the path of our lives. This verse is like a highway sign. God’s highway sign reads: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…” I read this and know I am never alone. God is never without specific and keen awareness of my situation. Have you considered that Creation is a billboard to remind us He is God? Calvary is a billboard to remind us He is God. His compassion is a billboard to remind us He is God.

No matter where you go today, find the billboard He left in your path. You may hear it in a song. You may hear it in a sermon. But wherever you see it, believe this: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…”

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

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By John O’Malley

“… come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).

Have you received an invitation to a place you would really like to go? The invitation brings joy. Your level of anticipation increases. Your desire to go to such a place excites you.

Certainly, you would share the news with your friends. It is likely you would bring something with you to honor the host of the event. If it were a party to which you were invited, you would bring a gift. Your gift is a way of expressing your appreciation for the invitation, the inclusion in the event, and the interest they had in you.

In our focus verse today, we see the divine invitation to come to the very presence of God. His invitation should make our hearts race. The anticipation should be overwhelming. The joy should be difficult to contain.

The very Lord of Glory has taken an interest in us. He desires our presence. He has issued to us an invitation. He wants to include us.

Your mind races. What can I bring to He who has everything? He owns cattle on a thousand hills. The earth is His footstool. What could I give Him as a servant of the Lord? What is it that He desires?

Dear Reader, what can we bring? Our gracious Host suggested we bring one thing. He wants to hear us sing.

What is that I hear you say? “Singing? That is so simple. Certainly, I can find something more special than that!” God would like us to come to Him with singing.

Consider this, God has angels who can sing before Him, but He asks for my song. God can choose any singer from any era that ever lived, but He wants to hear His children’s song.

God’s request for me to come before His presence with singing reminds me of seeing a mother and father at a school performance as they await their five-year-old child’s performance. The parents lean forward as their child’s voice joins a chorus of voices. The parents whisper to each other, “I can hear her! Just listen to her angelic voice! It is beautiful.” Truthfully, the child’s voice is mediocre. Her voice struggles with the tune. Her pitch is off, and harmony is absent. Yet, her parents beam with joy. Their little darling is singing. The young girl looks out and sees the pleasure of her parents. Their pleasure in her causes her to sing with more enthusiasm as she realizes her song pleases her mother and father.

Reading this phrase indicates to me that God, like the five-year-old girl’s parents, must enjoy when we come to our place of worship with singing. You may despise the sound of your voice, but He does not. He loves to hear you sing. Like the five-year-old girl’s parents were pleased, our singing pleases our Father.

You say, “What song shall I sing?” The song choice is yours. Even now, choose a song you will sing to Him. Your quality of voice is not the point. Your song is what He wants to hear.

Go to His presence right now. Lift up a song to Him. Remember, He desires us to come into His presence with singing. Bring Him His gift today.

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“Serve the Lord with gladness…” (Psalm 100:2).

I have been in homes where there were servants in abundance. I met servants who prepared the food and managed hospitality in the home. I met servants who cared for household tasks from cutting the grass, to washing the laundry, to managing the repairs of the automobiles of the owner.

In those encounters with servants, it was rare to see a servant overcome with gladness in their work. While some were glad for the income, others were satisfied with the lodging and meals. Others, I recall, loved the stability of work but did not like the position of serving. These same servants would be happy doing something else if the pay were better.

Most people in the western world would consider being a servant demeaning. To most, being a servant sounds menial. They find it degrading and unfulfilling. Some would think that serving others diminishes their self-worth.

The psalmist opens the second verse with a phrase that appears to be oxymoronic. He calls those who are commanded to make a joyful noise to now serve. He tells them to serve the Lord with gladness. How can one serve with gladness? It seems to go against the grain.

The follower of Christ is called to serve the Lord. He or she must serve the Lord with a specific disposition or mindset. The psalmist says they are to serve Him with gladness.

What does gladness in a servant look like? Gladness is the joy of a mother when she is with her child. It is the delight of a prisoner upon being freed. Gladness is the feeling associated with singing your favorite song before the Lord in public or private worship.

Proverbs 10:1 helps me learn the meaning of gladness. The writer of Proverbs presents a contrast using the parent-child relationship. The son that is wise makes his father glad; but if a son is foolish, he brings a heaviness to his mother. What a beautiful picture is given here for us! Gladness is the absence of heaviness of the spirit.

I would like you to consider yourself as a servant of the Lord. Ask yourself these questions: What is my spirit or attitude when I serve the Lord at my house? Do I display the maternal joy mentioned above as I serve the Lord by meeting the needs of my children and spouse? Do I have the liberty and delight of a prisoner released from their confines when I serve the Lord in my house? Does the song of my heart find its expression in signing? Do I have such gladness in my service? Have I lost delight in my service to the Lord and others—even among my own family?

I want you to extend your vision beyond your heart and home. This extended look is to see whom you could encourage to serve the Lord with gladness. There could be people in your place of worship that may have lost their gladness in serving. You may be able to help them find their gladness in service.

When your fellow servants of the church come into view, what do you see? How many are there who appear to be serving the Lord with gladness? When the servants of the Lord lose their gladness, they display an image opposite of this proposition in Scripture. We are to serve the Lord with gladness.

When you see those who teach in Sunday School, do you see gladness? When you see ushers and greeters, do you see gladness? When you see choir members and soloists, do you see gladness? When you see the church staff, do you see gladness? If the gladness can evaporate out of your life, you know it can do the same in the lives of others.

Now, I do not want you walking around the church with a gladness meter measuring the levels of gladness in every servant’s heart! What I want you to do is if you see a servant without gladness, pray for them. Then, serve alongside them and exhibit gladness. You will discover that gladness is contagious.

Dear Reader, are you a glad servant? Does gladness arise first when you are faced with a situation to serve? Does gladness show on the outside? Your lips may send one message, but does the attitude of your heart express the Bible’s message of gladness?

Today, take an opportunity to intentionally serve the Lord with gladness. Find someone in your home, at work, or in church on whom you can practice serving the Lord with gladness.

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

By John O’Malley

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” (Psalm 100:1).

Have you ever been to a large stadium to watch a sporting event? My son and I were given tickets to an NFL game. The crowd that gathered to watch the game numbered over 65,000 people. People from all over the country assembled. The nation watched by television that Monday night. Many wanted to see this battle of the quarterbacks. The crowd could not be silent; everybody had something to say. The noise in that stadium was, at times, deafening.

The psalmist in our text verse today speaks of all the lands of the earth making a joyful noise. Imagine this planet is a stadium. In each section of the stadium, nations are assigned seats. Now, over the loudspeakers, a call is issued for each nation on earth to proclaim its joy for the Lord of Glory. Like in the Olympics, the roll call of nations would begin—each nation longing for the moment when their nation’s name is called. What exuberance! What exaltation! What enthusiasm!

In the Olympics, each participating country sends a delegation to represent them. Have you seen the nations that only send a single athlete? The cheers for that single athlete cannot compare to a nation that sent dozens of athletes to participate. Similarly, in our imagined stadium, the cries from some nations are not as loud as others of the same size. Why not? Why are some nations louder than others? Why is it that there are so few to make a joyful noise from some countries?

Oh, I say, my friend, it is we, the believers, who should have gone to the nations and told them of our great Saviour! We should have thought of our command and commission more than the comforts and conveniences of this life. The command will be issued one day, my friend—a command for all the lands of the earth to bow their knees. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

The celebration of the Saviour from all nations will be splendid. Oh, may we take the challenge from Scripture and go to the people of the world and tell them of His great love. Oh, let us commit once again to the task of getting the gospel to every creature!

Today, purpose in your heart that in the next twenty-four hours, you will share the gospel’s message with someone. Your witness may be their last opportunity to hear. Will you do this?

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.