Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

If you're planning to attend Awakening in a couple of weeks, don't read this -- it'll spoil the fun! Or, read it, then skip my conference and learn from someone else on that day! ;-)
The title and theme of the conference I'll be leading comes from Psalm 107, where verse 2 commands, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" I've heard that phrase in church life for as long as I can remember, but I don't know that I really ever gave it much thought until the idea for this conference began brewing a few months ago. What does it mean to be redeemed? And how does one say so? These are some of the questions we'll be dealing with at Awakening. Today, I just want to share with you a couple of the lists I've gleaned from this passage so far. See, the general idea of the conference is that if God has redeemed you, then you have a responsibility (a joy and a delight) to declare that to others who need to hear that message of hope and victory through Him. So, I began searching the passage for two things: From what kinds of things has God redeemed His people? And, what has He done for them?

Just check this list out, all of these are found in Psalm 107. See how many of these you can identify with. God's people are redeemed from:

enemies
wandering
hunger
thirst
trouble
darkness
shadow of death
being downhearted
fallenness
distress
chains, gates, bars of iron
sin
affliction
destruction
depths
melting souls
reeling, staggering
their wits' end
storm-tossed seas
having been diminished and brought low
oppression
sorrow
poverty

It gets better! Check out what God's done for His people:

redeems
gathers
delivers
leads
satisfies
fills
saves
brings out of darkness
breaks chains, gates, and bars
sends His Word
heals
commands seas
brings out of distress
calms storms
guides to safety
takes power over rivers, wilderness, springs, dry ground, barrenness, famine, fields, plants, and vineyards
establishes dwelling places
yields a fruitful harvest
blesses
multiplies
sets the poor on high and increases their family
shuts up iniquity

Anybody wanna shout "Glory!"??? Friends, if God's been gracious to you, thank Him, tell others about it, proclaim His goodness. Who are we to keep silent about all His wonders?