The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.Ps. 147:6 Pastor Tom Anderson said the Bible says that the lord asks us to do things to Raise US up. God knows who He is and that He is the Almighty. He wants us to get out of ourselves and look to Others, Praise Him, And Meditate ON HIS WORD for our benefit. It raises OUR health and Joy!! God does it for US. He made us that way and gave us the handbook to know how to live well. He read some statistics that were very interesting. If you go to church....... Any Church (Buddhist, Shiite, Scientology, or Christ based) That you already have the advantage of living 7 years more than anyone else. If you have Accepted Christ as your savior and have said so ( people had to say for the study) You automatically have a 30% longer life than the average person not knowing Jesus! This came from a prominent University study. I didn't write the name down so I have forgotten already. (One of my handicaps.) He used this to point out that attending church is for your benefit. Salvation is to your benefit for not only living longer here but having a great place to spend eternity. Everything that the Bible tells you to do Is for The Benefit of HIS Creation!!!
I can take this one step further. This is a Law of the universe. If you watch the news shows like 20/20, 60 minutes etc. You will have seen a program about a Northern European group that moved their family to the Italian mountains. They are secluded and ate all the wrong foods and drank, smoked and several other things the U.S. says is harmful for us but they are extraordinarily healthy and happy. The news piece said that it came down to this community being in the mountains with fresh air to breathe and farming raising cattle and sheep and therefore getting a lot of exercise, that they all ate together as families and usually all met at the pub for dancing, playing and song.
Psalm 100 Says
Ps:100:1: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Ps:100:2: Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Ps:100:3: Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Ps:100:4: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Ps:100:5: For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
The Levitical laws never said not to eat fatty foods. One of the biggest fat offenders is Lamb, but He had his people eat it a lot! The poisons we breathe in our air do make a lot of difference in our health, but that too is addressed in the Bible. More statistics from the study, said kids laughed up to 400 times a day and adults only 15. I have to admit that its probably less for me and maybe you too. The study proves that Laughing produces hormones and antibodies against stress factors causing illness. Dr Bernie Siegel tried to get us to understand that 20 years or more ago! It also showed that singing together, raised endorphins and lessened depression. Dancing the same, and shouting too. All released some important substance from our brains promoting JOY, and Health.
Again my memory fails because I did not write down the facts on the transplanted family in Italy, All with the same last name, and all very healthy. I believe they had a church there on their hill and they showed these families all getting together to FELLOWSHIP with each other. All things mentioned above, laughing, singing, dancing, shouting and being together!
Pastor Anderson also said to look at the eastern religions that meditate and then realize that meditation was mentioned in the Bible Long before these religions were even begun. God specifically said to meditate on his word. HIS WORD. Why?? Maybe its because it helps you to know who you really are and Why we are here, and better yet..... Maybe its to make us healthier, so we can enjoy our old age!! My childhood Sunday school teacher passed away this past Christmas day due to a horific car accident at the great young age of 99 years! At the ripe age of 91 she chased down a much much younger man that stole her purse!! She Loves God with all her heart and He took her home the day we Celebrate His birthday! What a nice gift to go celebrate with HIM!! There is a Time for Everything if we take the time to do the things that God has asked us to do for HIM. You don't feel tired after being at a great game that you were shouting at, or you have a great feeling after coming home from a dance, marching in a parade or being at a concert. It is healing. God is healing, we just have to pay attention to HIS word. Meditate on it. My girlfriend called me last night to tell me that she was on another antidepressant and it wasn't helping. She wanted to know what I did to combat the depression when it comes. I told her I didn't take anything for it, that when I recognized it, I found the best CD I have compiled to lift me up and I play it until I am dancing in the middle of the floor and singing along. Then I know I busted satans back and destroyed his effort to rend me useless to God. I had to learn to do this by Hearing HIS Word and realizing that Praise also has the word RAISE in it and it will raise ME UP, to Praise Him!! I do get depressed and I have been sick for a long time, but it has taught me to be humble and to listen to others with love and understanding. I cannot be a judge of you when I haven't been sinless or perfect. I can only choose to learn to be the best person I can be. To Praise God and Thank Him and LOVE HIM with all my heart which means; I lighten up and laugh more and sing more and get together with others more. Its healing and its HIS instruction for My health and Yours! Get Re energized with God in Praise, shouts of Joy and song, then go do what you didn't have the energy to do!
