Posts Categorized: praise

Thankful Thursdays: We Have Such a Cloud of Witnesses

How did I go from complete isolation, to this cloud of witnesses cheering me on to the mark God has set before me? Some of you were already there, but my depression became blinders to the help you offered. To my newer friends, or strangers who plant seeds in my life as we pass each other in our journeys, thank you for listening and acting on the Holy Spirit’s counsel. My life is changed because of you!

You all matter so much! Don’t think for a split second that I don’t see you. More importantly, God knows your kindnesses to me! Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me. Do you think that I could withstand the onslaught of this storm alone? Do you think that the living room full of people the day my son died was just a tiny blip on the radar? The effect of their presence is still with me. There are many days, when the darkness draws tighter around me, but God brings your hug, your card, your touch to the forefront of my mind and reminds me that I am not alone!

Today I am thank you for YOU! For your love, support and journeying with me. I’m thankful for my friends encouraging me right now towards better health. I’m grateful, though all that I have may crumble to the ground, God you are faithful. I praise you that my kids are learning this in a mighty way. I’m thankful for Compassion’s pray list that is teaching my children to pray for others around the world. Thank you Lord for your word, that reminds me of who I am, your sovereignty and grace, and who my neighbors are.

Thank you for opening my spirit, mind and body to a new path towards health. Thank you Jesus for not fitting into my box!

Thankful Thursdays: Taking a Praise Shower on Friday

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

This morning I was an explosion waiting to happen. Just light the fuse and shrapnel everywhere! Yet another night of pain and not sleeping. The cortisone shot doesn’t seem to be working. I had intended on recording my thankfulness yesterday, but felt it all stopped up by the struggle and pain of functioning. As I read my Unglued devotional this morning the thankfulness began washing over me!

So Lord, I praise you this morning!

  • What great music you are playing for me on the radio! (Air 1)
  • My husband and I laughed this morning
  • I get to bundle up and go watch a high school football game tonight!
  • My in-laws have my kids for the weekend
  • I didn’t come unglued, instead I acknowledged my anger and released it
  • Dishes are complete!
  • I get to write!
  • The cardinal that landed on my deck
  • That I don’t have to rely on my own strength
  • Your daily love notes in scripture: Today meditating on Psalm 73:26
  • Friends

What can you praise God for this morning?

Praising the Lord is not Pie in the Sky Mentality

Psalm 34:1-3

1I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

There is something amazing that happens when I extol the Lord in the midst of my affliction. My whole demeanor and outlook change. I have shifted from the impossible to all things are possible with God. Extol means  to “lift up”. Good grief, I do not feel like lifting up anything or any one in the midst of my sorrow! I feel like shaking my fists at God and saying why did you take my son. I feel like ripping down others. I cannot tolerate God, others or myself.

When I extol, praise, glorify, rejoice, and exalt the character of God, I am acknowledging that he gave me his son! I am remembering that my hope lies in Him alone. I am recalling to mind all that he has done for me. Extol is not a pie in the sky mentality, it is an in the trenches, my circumstances suck, but I have a resource like no other discipline! David is praising God in this Psalm, in the aftermath of pretending that he was crazy to escape Abimelech. David wasn’t on his throne living the good life when he spoke these words; he was running for his life.

The Latin word for extol is tollere, which is also where we get our word tolerate. I can tolerate so much more in the light of God’s love for me, his sacrifice, and his perfect will for my life. I will extol the Lord at all times!

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