Hallelujah Anyhow!

In a world where each corner holds some potential danger. In a society where just going to work can end in total tragedy. In a community where drugs run rampant and hope is fleeting. It is essential that Christians look past the circumstance and cling to the cross. James encourages us to just count each trial as a learning experience. Count each tribulation as a stepping stone.. Count every troublesome occurance as Joy.... Rejoicing in the midst of our suffering. Praising God in the midst of our pain. Oh somebody ought to be willing to shout this morning "Hallelujah Any How!"

Hallelujah is the highest form of exhortation or praise. It is a proclamation of confidence to the one who sits high but has the ability to see down low. And we shout it because we recognize that even though it may appear that our burdens are overbearing - we shout victoriously because we understand that God is Awesome, God is Mighty, God is wonderful and he can do anything but fail. So we can each shout - Hallelujah Any How.

There are many things that may occur in life that causes you to be knocked about a bit. There are many situations that make it hard for us to be certain that God is in control. But these seeds of doubts are simply tools that Satan has put into play to cause the children of God to turn away from the master. However, when we just take the time to contemplate on the goodness of Our God. When we allow our minds to matriculate on everything that he has done - everything he is doing - and oh everything he is going to do - Our Souls ought to be crying out in the midst of our trials "Hallelujah Any How!"

Trials and tribulations are a part of life. You might as well prepare yourself to deal with it. Christianity is not a shield from hardships. Being saved is not a get out of trouble free pass. Knowing God will not keep tragedy from knocking on your door. Throughout the word of God we find that we should expect them to come. Mark 13:12 tells us we will be betrayed. Luke 11:49 tells us some will be persecuted and slain. John 15:20 tells us that Jesus himself endured ridicule and we should expect no less. - 2 Corinthians 4: beginning at the 8th verse we are told we endure trials because we are Christians - why you may ask - well trials and tribulations - problems and perplexities - circumstances and situations are our living testimony that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. The command that God has given us is not to praise Him because of but to praise Him in spite of! Hallelujah Any How!

Praise - giving honor and approval. A form of laudation. A joyful tribute rendered to the God that has done it before and will certainly do it again. Praise is rendered by believers because they understand that the word has promised weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning - Hallelujah anyhow. Praise is offered up by those who have a personal relationship and not a part time acquaintance to God. Allowing us to endure difficulties because we know that trouble don’t last always - Hallelujah any how. Praise is given because we in this Christian journey are Standing on the promises of God! Hallelujah Any How! The doxology we sing every Sunday morning is based upon the knowledge that God is deserving of our praise - Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Every blessing that comes our way is a derivative of God’s love. Praise him all creatures here below. - The psalmist David penned Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord. But not only things under the heavens praise him - the song says Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise is a mandate by God for each of us to render honor and glory. We do so with gladness and thanksgiving for His manifold mercies and goodness - so we Praise Him - Son - and Holy Ghost. In other words Hallelujah any how.

When we feel weak and desperate we can praise Him because Exodus 15:2 say the Lord is my strength and my salvation. Hallelujah any how. When troubles arise we have no need to fear and we praise him because we know - no weapons formed against us will prosper - Hallelujah any how. When our situation seems hot - and it appears we have entered into a fiery furnace we can praise God because the same God of Shadrach Meshak and Abednigo will quench the fiery darts thrown our way. Hallelujah any how. So why should we feel discouraged when problems come our way. Why would we be fearful of the shadows or the unknown. Since we have a friend in Jesus - why should our heart feel lonely because we are living a life to acquire our heavenly home. We don’t have to worry about sickness and disease because Jesus is our portion. We don’t have to be concerned about mishaps because a constant friend is he. He knows what we need when we need it because his eye is on the sparrow = so most definitely he is watching over us. So in the midst of our trial we can shout Hallelujah any how.