Giving Thanks and Praise...

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." -Thornton Wilder (1897-1975)
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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
By Joachim Neander, 1680

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him;
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
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1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 – "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
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Happy Thanksgiving to each one of you!

Thankful... Veteran's Day... Everyday

A couple of weeks ago I was out of town on business. As I was heading up to my hotel room for the night, a man dressed in uniform entered the elevator with me.

I said what I most often say when it is obvious to me that someone is serving or has served our country, "Thank you for your service."

He turned and looked at me with somewhat of a shocked expression. His response saddened me. "Thank you. We don't hear that very often."

Now it was my turn to be shocked!

I felt the need to apologize and further assure. "I'm sorry. Tonight you can be certain that there is at least one person in this hotel thankful for your sacrifice."

He smiled, exited the elevator and that was the last I saw of him...

To those who have served or are currently serving our country... THANK YOU for your service and your sacrifice!

Join me, not just today but everyday! Let's not assume they know of our gratitude. We should let them hear it!

One of Those Days

Ever have one of those days where you feel like doing this?


Today was one of those days.

The little guy woke much too early. The first few hours were fine. Even the monthly meeting with my daughter's teacher went quite smoothly. It wasn't until we were doing our grocery shopping that the reality of the day began to set in.

The rest of our day continued in similar fashion.

My husband came home from work early. Poor guy walked in to the house with brownies burning. Music was playing in an attempt to help me refocus the thoughts of my mind. The 2 year old sat at the table crying because his graham cracker had broke.

I was in the middle of making lasagna with tomato sauce splattered on the stove, grated cheese on the floor and noodles boiling over.

I found myself whispering personal reminders that this time really does pass ever so quickly. I was desperately searching for confidence that this moment that seems to be lasting forever really is so very fleeting...

It was just one of those days.

The good news?

Tomorrow is a new day...

Lamentations 3:23b (NLT) "... His mercies begin afresh each morning."

Fixing My Eyes in Uncertainty

I am still participating in reading through the Bible in 90 days with our small group. We will pass the half way mark through the Old Testament this week!

I am amazed that in the amount of reading I am doing on any given day, there are still details and phrases that stand out. These various things nestle deep into my thinking and my heart to ponder throughout the day.

Just yesterday in my reading, I discovered this one sentence. I have gone back to re-read it numerous times and have found great challenge and encouragement surrounding it.

In fact, I have even copied it to a 3x5 card and have placed it in my kitchen window personalizing and making this a prayer of my own heart as well.


II Chronicles 20:12b (NIV) "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”


This is how Jehoshaphat ended his prayer to the Lord as armies were approaching to make war.

There is currently a sense of battle and warring in my own heart. I can't seem to make sense of all that is taking place. I do not know what to do, but one thing I do know... I will keep my eyes on Him.

God's response to the prayer of Jehoshaphat is worth reading and personally clinging to as well. I know I am. You can find it in II Chronicles 20: 15-21.

What have you been reading? What words of challenge, promise and encouragement have you discovered lately?

Being a Better Friend

I have been reminded of a conference I attended some time ago. One of the seminar's I went to was about developing meaningful friendships. It was not only about how to have friends, but also how to be a good friend.

While in the seminar the speaker asked this question, " If someone were to ask others this question about you... "As a friend, how well does she take care of you?" ... What would they say?"

Since being reminded of this, I have been thinking a lot about this question. As far as I'm concerned... there is always room for improvement.

I know I can improve. I intend to continue to work on this and focus a bit more. I will work on being a better friend.

So tell me... What things does a friend do to take care of you? What could make a "good friend" and even better friend?

"Women friends become the face of God to one another- the face of grace, of delight, of mercy." -- Stasi Eldrege

It Begins with Me

Does it feel like our society is declining? Does it feel like we are losing all sense of morality, of right, of absolute truth? Do you sense, as I do, that our nation as it was founded and as we know it is slipping away?

I believe there is a formula for restoring our land. God has given us the answer to bringing health to our nation.

In the past, restoration for "my land" meant the politician needed to clean up their act. Healing required the representative and Congress to make right decisions. Restoration meant the media needed to bring more family friendly values back into the mainstream.

It meant that it was the job of those around me who have "power" to restore my land. But that is not the formula as I now see it. That is not what God has intended as the beginnings to a restorative work.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. "

"My people who are called by My name" is not the politician, the representative, Congress, the media, or even the guy next door. This is the church, the body of Christ. Even more personally... this is ME! If you claim to be a Christian then this is You!

Now that we know who this verse is addressing, what does it say to do?

It says "if we humble ourselves". It says "if we pray". It says "if we seek His face". It says "if we turn from OUR wicked ways". It is not demanding that of those outside the body of Christ... it is demanding that of the people called by HIS name. Again, that is ME!

What does this verse promise if we humble ourselves, if we pray, if we seek His face, if we turn from our wicked ways?

It promises that if we do these things... He will hear from heaven. He will forgive our sins. He will restore our land. Other versions use the words "heal our land". Ah, restoration and healing. Doesn't is sound so refreshing and so wonderful?

But where does the responsibility lie?

If I'm reading this correctly, the majority of the responsibility is mine. Am I humbling myself before God? Am I praying? Am I seeking His face? To me, these phrases conjure up more than just a quick two minute recitation and then off to do my day.

These bring to mind visions of being on my knees, no rather, on my face... prostrate before God. These bring a sense of urgency, of desperation, of determination. Is that me? Am I willing to stand in the gap?

Ezekiel 22:30 (NLT)
“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. "

Psalm 51:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Am I willing to begin the change in me? Am I ready to stop looking around me at who needs to change... and instead change my own heart? Am I ready and willing to turn from my own wicked ways? Am I committed to pursuing righteousness and holiness at its very core? Am I willing to persevere for the very words of God Himself?

This will require a discipline and loyalty. This will require not always being popular. This will demand being set apart from the world and its behaviors. This will demand obedience when to obey doesn't always make sense or seem fair. This will require sacrifice. This will not be easy. This will require accepting the Word of God in its absolute, complete entirety!

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

No wonder "my formula" wasn't working. "My formula" was looking to the politicians to change. It demanded the representatives and Congress to take action. It required the media to change. It required the government, the school system, society itself to change their ways. It required "them" to do something.

But it does not appear that is God's formula. To begin healing in my land, to once again have restoration in our nation... it must begin with us. It is up to us as His people... called by His Name. It begins with me!
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Did you vote? It's our privilege as Americans!