“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!” –Psalm 100:1
This time of year, as we celebrate the last four teams in the NCAA Final Four… most of us are commiserating our broken Final Four brackets and office pool losses… while waiting for the ultimate jubilation of the Final Champion…
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 100 ESV
I love this time of year. The apex of the college basketball mountain has occurred. 68 of the top teams playing for one thing – The NCAA National Championship.
March Madness is like a basketball lover’s heaven. And this year, the four clear favorites have advanced to the Final Four and thus there are no Cinderella teams. No surprises. A tournament usually wide open but this year just the four highest seeds battling it out.
In the men’s tournament, we did see a few of the higher seeds fall in exciting upsets. Adding to the excitement, we have seen all but a handful of games come down to the wire, many won by last second heroics.
And after each victory, we watch the winning players dance in jubilation as they take another step toward the Final Four.
Victory…
Memories that will last a lifetime…
One Shining Moment.
With just celebrating Easter… we once again contemplated The Passion of Christ… we ultimately know that victory is at hand.
We recalled the triumphant entry into Jerusalem with clothing and palm leaves laid down before Him.
“Hosanna”
“If they don’t, the stones will cry out.”
We remembered the cleansing of the temple and His righteous indignation.
We recalled the many parables and Greatest Commandment.
We recalled the plot against and the betrayal of Jesus…
The Lord’s Supper…
Gethsemane…
The kiss…
Jesus’ arrest.
We remembered the trials, Peter’s denials, the beating, the mocking, the whip, the crown of thorns.
We can’t help but see in our mind’s eye – the Cross, the Blood, the Nails, the Crucifixion
The Death.
The Grave
The Stone…The Guard
The End
Or rather… The End of the Beginning
Three Days later
The Resurrection
The stone rolled away
The empty tomb
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”
“He’s Alive!”
Think and Pray: Let the celebration and jubilant dancing begin – He’s alive indeed! Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord All the Earth! Heavenly Father, I celebrate and remember all that You have done and thank You for the hope You have given me through Jesus Christ, Amen!
Marty Stubblefield is a husband, father, businessperson, youth coach, and former college basketball player. Having spent 34+ years in Banking, Bank Administration and State Government across the Southeast, he brings a different view of faith, life, and the struggles we face in the marketplace and our day-to-day lives. He has been married to Amy for 28 years, has three daughters, a son-in-law, grandson, and two Labradoodles. He blogs weekly at oldlazydog.com
