PRAISE GOD ALWAYS







Friday, March 25, 2011

All of Creation Sing Praises...

I hope you've have a wonderful week! It's Friday, WooHOO!!! Well its that time of year again when flowers are blooming, trees and grass are greener & everything that was dormant for winter is now flourishing. The birds are chirping away & it seems like even the sunrises & sunsets are more breathtaking than ever. Everything seems to be coming to life & lifting up sweet songs of praise. I love this time of year, it reminds me to thankfully praise God for all His beautiful creations.
Psalm65:8 (NIV) The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
Isn't that awesome to know that “the whole earth”, birds, flowers, mountains, trees, etc, sing their own
song of praise to our Maker? I pray you join in with all of God's creation and lift joyful praises for His glory and honor. I love you and hope you have a wonderful weekend. 
Psalm 66:4 (MSG) All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!" When your
enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs. The whole earth falls to its knees— it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Keeping it between the lines...

Good Morning....I hope you've had a wonderful week! It's Friday...WooHoo! This morning it was extremely foggy making it difficult to see & drive. There were a few spots where the fog was so thick I had to slow way down & I just kept telling myself “Just keep it between the lines”. But as the sun came up it was easier to see & the fog started to lift. Have you ever felt like you were driving aimlessly through the fog of life praying to “just keep it between the lines”? Health issues, finances, employment, relationships, etc.... Sometimes we go through seasons in our lives that can cloud our vision of Christ's great plan. God isn't affected by the economy, health issues, finances, or any other sufferings we face. He defeated death & now lives at the right hand of Our Father
 
 Hebrews 1:11-12 (NIV) 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."
Read what Jesus tells Martha when she's upset with Him about Lazarus's death. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”Do YOU believe? Next time your sight is clouded by life's struggles remember to trust that the Son is always there, will rise, and and reveal His marvelous plan for you. I pray this encouraged you with whatever trials you're facing and it has me. I love you & hope you have have a wonderful weekend!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Sacrifice...

I hope you've have a wonderful week! It's Friday, WooHOO!! I want to talk to you about something that I've never really paid much attention to...Sacrifice. It's Lenten season now & although I'm not Catholic, I like the principle of self-examination to better ones relationship with Christ. I have asked myself what have I sacrificed lately. Better yet what have I ever sacrificed? As you would imagine, the Bible is full from cover to cover with people who sacrificed. In Genesis 22, God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac to one of the mountains and offer him as a burnt offering. HIS OWN SON! As you continue to read Abraham obeys God, takes Isaac to the mountain God showed him, & is about to sacrifice his own son when an angel of God stops him.Verse 12 says "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me." Abraham exemplified his faith and trust that God was in total control.
15-18The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: "I swear—God's sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I'll bless you—oh, how I'll bless you! And I'll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me."
I can't help but to think of Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to
His purpose.
God was testing Abraham & he passed to say the least! God blessed him & his children that they would “flourish-like stars in the sky!” I strive for faith like Abraham at that time.
I pray this opens your hearts so that you can hear what God is asking you to sacrifice for His purpose. I love you and hope you have a great weekend!

Friday, March 4, 2011

I'll Huff & I'll Puff....

I hope you've all had a wonderful week! I can tell you I'm relieved it's Friday! It's just been one of those weeks & I'm welcoming the weekend with open arms. :0) To best describe lastnight let me set the scene for you. It's about 7:30 & we just got home from having dinner @ Jeremy's parents house. I still have to bathe 2 babies, do laundry, dishes, and pick up the house because the young cleaning lady will be here tomorrow. Thankfully Jeremy bathed the kids so that was one check off my growing list. Everytime I started a chore, either my children or my husband would pull me away with their many (what I thought) "less important" needs. Well this started a chain reaction of the old familiar huffs & puffs, eye rolling, and stomping. I was downright upset that they couldn't see I was obviously way too busy to tend to them & that they were interrupting my agenda! Thankfully no feelings were hurt. However as a result, I am extremely ashamed by my selfish actions lastnight. Have you ever noticed that more often than not we're much nicer to strangers than our own family? I have many "middle names" and complaining is one that I'm not proud of. Phillippians 2:14-16, tells us we shouldn't compain & so that we can "shine...like stars in the sky". It also reminds us to hold tight to God's truths so that when He returns He'll have a reason to be proud of us. We can be living proof that all of His work was worth it. I pray this has opened your eyes & hearts so we can continue to show God's love to others. I love you & hope you have a safe weekend.

Phillippians 2:14-16  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.