Category Archives: Praise and Thannksgiving

Hushed…

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image via fromtheheartofj

“In their distress they cried to the Lord, who brought them out of their peril, hushed the storm to a murmur; the waves of the sea were stilled.  They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for.  Let them thank the Lord for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortal. Let them praise him in the assembly of the people, give thanks in the council of the elders…Whoever is wise will take note of these things, will ponder the merciful deeds of the Lord.”  Ps 107: 28-32,43

I’ve heard some say….”The weatherman was wrong again!”, “The media just hyped up Isaac!”…

Are we of such little faith that we no longer believe that in God all things are possible? I choose to give thanks for God’s calming of the storm, His hushing the harshness, and although our brothers and sisters in Louisiana and Mississippi are contending with some flooding issues…it could have been so much worse. Our prayers and assistance continue to reach out to them. But let us be like the “wise” taking “note of these things” and pondering “the merciful deeds of the Lord” while giving thanks in everything!

P.S.  Thank you for all your prayers!

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Praise Report….

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This is a bit different than my ordinary posts…but I felt compelled to share a story…and to say thank you.

image via faithtalkministries.com

I wanted to pass on a huge praise report!

 I was to have surgery yesterday morning for a growth found in my leg ….it had become badly infected in December and I’ve been on multiple courses of antibiotics. The infection was severe and stubborn. And it had set my entire body into a state of chaos. At its worst the growth was as big as a man’s hand and deeply imbedded in my thigh. I have been greatly blessed at all the prayers that have been said for my healing.  And I had received anointing of the sick twice. Yesterday morning before surgery I told the nurse that others had been praying, and I didn’t think I needed to have surgery because I felt that the growth was gone. I am usually not that bold, but I had such a confident spirit. I’ve never had anything like this happen before, and it was as if the words just came out with conviction. She looked at me a bit like I was crazy and told me she would get the surgeon. He came in immediately and I told him the same thing…others had been praying for me and I felt that the growth was gone. He said he wanted to examine me, and as he did his eyes got big and he said, “you are right….it is gone!”  He seemed shocked as he had been monitoring it all along. I smiled and told him God is good and there is power in prayer. He left the room with a real skip in his step and I heard him go tell others the news.

image via revelation777.multiply.com

 

God IS good and cares about all the details in our lives….yes even something like a growth in our leg. I pray this story blesses each of you…there were many known and unknown who shared they were praying for me through this blog, and perhaps others in the silence of their hearts as I shared on my blog that I was “under the weather”. I had other prayer friends” locally and across the states praying as well. I believe God smiles on His children coming together in prayer for a common intention.  We can never discount the power of our prayers or think they are insignificant. God is the God of all details…and His love longs to free us from anything not of Him. I may be the recepient of this miracle that kept me from the trial of surgery and the subsequent recuperation…but anyone who prayed…known or unknown…too are a part of this story, and from the bottom of my heart I say thank you.

image via interruptingthesilence.com

 

Our faith need only be as big as a mustard seed…God takes care of the rest. To BELIEVE is to allow God to act in our lives and in the lives of others. And as for me….I truly heard those words of Jesus echoed in my heart and I pray they are branded there so I may never forget…”Daughter, your faith has saved you.  Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” Mark 5: 34
“I will always hope in you and add to all your praise.  My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds, day after day your acts of deliverance, though I cannot number them all.  I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord.  O God, I will tell of your singular justice.” Psalm 71: 14-16

What Gets You Up in the Morning?…

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What gets you up in the morning?…

A desire to check off items from the to – do list?

image via creatingpeace.com

A recipe for burnout.

What gets you up in the morning?…

A desire to accumulate riches, honors, and personal gain?

image via images.businessweek.com

This shrine to self is built on a shaky foundation.

What gets you up in the morning?…

Cruising through the day not much thought why?

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Those are shallow waters to swim in.

What gets you up in the morning?…

We exist for the PRAISE of God’s glory.

image via oneyearbibleblog.com

How do we praise God with our lives?

By being the best “you” that “you” can be right where God has placed “you”!

Doing all for God in thanksgiving and praise for the gift of life He’s given you.

Even the smallest and most mundane occasions in our daily life become a gift of love back to Him.

image via 123rf.com

Sweeping the kitchen floor…presiding over a business meeting…taking out the trash…exercising…making meals for the family…taking time to talk to those who cross our path…8  hours at a desk job.

All given to Him…for Love of Him.

What gets you up in the morning?

The Apostolate of Daily Life!

Morning Offering Prayer:  Oh my God, I offer You all my thoughts, words, actions, joys and sufferings of this day in union with my Lord, Jesus Christ.  I want to make each of them an act of perfect love giving constant witness of You to those around me. “

“In Him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of His will, so that we might exist for the praise of His glory, we who first hoped in Christ.” Eph 1:11-12

In the School of the Shepherds…

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image via catechesisinthethirdmillenium.wordpress.com

“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.  The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.  The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold , I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord”…And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.  All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.  And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” Luke 2: 8-20

The Shepherds keeping night watch over their flock…

image via ifcamedia.org

Shepherds, in the time of the birth of Christ, were the borderline bandits of society. They were mistrusted. They were social outcasts. Instead of being in town to protect their wives, children, and families, they lived in the hillside tending their sheep. They were even considered unclean for they had daily contact with carcasses of animals and so were not able to go to the temple for worship.

And yet they were the first to hear the “Good News” of the birth of the Messiah.

And this was announced by an angel who was accompanied by a multitude of angels…

image via signsofangels.net

God himself entered into the “ordinary” of the life of the Shepherds and left it “extraordinary”!

God did not shun those who society had shunned. These simple  souls didn’t debate what had happened. They left their livelihood in “haste”.

And when they saw the Christ child they believed and returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

The Shepherds were the first Believers.

The Shepherds were the first Messengers.

What do the Shepherds teach us? God does come into our daily, everyday, routine lives. Even in those places that we think are messy or broken or that the world sees as failure.  He transforms us and all of our “ordinary” into the “extraordinary” with the power of His grace. He gives us a choice to respond. Are we able to leave those things that we always thought were important to begin the journey in discovering Christ? It is these simple souls that are ready to believe the Good News. It is these simple souls responding from the heart whose eyes are opened to believe. And with this belief comes a most important mission…to praise and glorify God through our words and actions bringing this Good News to all who cross our path.

May we like the Shepherds be open to receive His “extraordinary” into our “ordinary”. May we have the courage to “leave in haste” those obstacles that stand in the way. And  may our lives be songs of constant thanksgiving as we exist for the praise of God’s glory.