Thankful...

We were in the kitchen last week as my daughter's and I were discussing the Thanksgiving menu for 2009! I said, "Girls, we are discussing this already and it is still a month away?" "Yes!" They shouted with excitement!

Listening to their excitement about their favorite dishes that they wanted to prepare, it began to stir my emotions inside of me! I am not sure what has perspired in your lives since Thanksgiving of last year with still having a heart and spirit of being thankful, but I know that it got me thinking!

Have you sat down recently and began thinking what exactly does it mean to be thankful in all things? The girls again reminded me of that during our Woman's Bible Study this past week! Does it not just get you when the younger ones are the ones reminding you? UGH!

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

We began discussing how this verse says, in everything to be thankful and then you let your requests be made known! Ouch! Does that mean you have to be thankful before coming to Him with your requests? YES! I don't know about you guys, but that can be pretty difficult at times.


So, again we continued with our Bible study and after we finished I could not get "with thanksgiving," out of my mind. Upon recalling some of my stories since last Thanksgiving, I was thinking this could have given me a heart attack!




For instance recently with one of our newly "adopted" daughters who came out of sexual abuse and incest for 23 years had an opportunity to be interviewed and share her story. One thing that struck me was her thankful attitude towards the Lord as He had protected her all those years! She was thankful that she was now in a family she could count as her own. Somewhere she was safe and loved! She brought me to tears and it was a sweet reminder to me that in every circumstance there is thanksgiving! Wow!


Is this a difficult proposition to be thankful in all these matters before even coming with our requests before the Lord? YES! Can it be done? YES!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Listen to this from Acts 16:22-25: "Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them." If that does not bring me to conviction!

So this is what I simply gathered. To be thankful in all things! This Thanksgiving, when you gather with your family and friends, remember those that came before us and their difficult times under their circumstances and conditions. Their thankful attitudes and hearts should encourage us to come with thanksgiving before bringing our petitions to Him!


Close and Personal:

What can you be thankful for in the midst of unbearable circumstances?

"Thanksgiving." Should it be only celebrated in November?

Can you think of a time this year that now looking back you realize you should have been thankful?


My dearest Savior,

I want to take time to tell you thank you for those moments this past year that seemed so gloomy and difficult! Those times now looking back you were using for your Glory and Honor yet I saw them so hard to endure! Father I love you and I thank you for entrusting those difficult times to us and our family! May this Thanksgiving we remember that it does not end in November but rather last all year round! I praise you now and forever!
Amen.

I'm a Fan!

I'm a fan.

It just happened that way. I was born in Pittsburgh in the late 60's. Legend has it that while babies were still in the hospital, a transfusion occurred, changing their blood from red to black and gold. I'm certain that it happened that way.

I grew up being a Steeler fan, then when I went off to college I became a Tiger fan.

I'm a fan. It's just that simple, or so I thought.

Last year my team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, made it to the Super Bowl. That is when it happened. My true fan colors came shining through. The game began and I was in control, for about 3 minutes.

Then, I screamed.

I cheered like a crazy woman.

I did an end zone dance.

In short I was not just a fan, I was a CRAZY fan.

A few days after the "big game," I was spending some quiet time with God, who I'm SURE is a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and I felt a nudge. I began to think about what kind of fan am I? Just how CRAZY am I?

We find ourselves caught up in the game, whether it's a favorite football team, hockey team, nascar, college team, pro or tee ball. We get caught up in being a fan. Many of us have team jerseys and license plates that say we are proud to represent our team. We'll scream, cheer, dance and high five all in the name of "our team." Stadiums are filled to capacity with fans.

What about HIS team?

What kind of FAN am I?

Am I a "CRAZY for HIM" fan or a lukewarm fan?

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Revelation 3:16

Each day I have an opportunity to "wear" the team colors, except they are not black and gold, they are;

" love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. " Galatians 5:22 - 23

I have an opportunity to cheer;

"We praise you, Lord, for all your glorious power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts." psalm 21:13 nlt

and this team WILL be victorious;

"Everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world - our faith." 1 John 5:4 ncv

The arena is life. A true fan stands up and is counted. A true fan commits to her team, regardless of what the scoreboard says. A true fan is easy to spot, there is no doubt who's team she is on.

I am a fan. As a fan, I need to make sure that I'm acting like one, showing up for each and every game, each and every play, rain or shine, cheering with passion. Lukewarm fans are not what this coach is looking for.

After all, this team and it's head coach, never lose...never have, never will.

Are you a fan? Better yet, are you a CRAZY fan?

Just this week a book was put in my hands....called Crazy Love, call it coincidence, call it crazy...I'll just call it God speaking directly to me.

Father God,

Again you reveal a message to me in the midst of my daily life. I want to be a true, CRAZY fan. I want to always be in YOUR game, playing by YOUR rules and committed to YOUR will. It's in this game that I can find victory each and everyday. Help me Father to be that true, crazy fan. Help me to always walk in love and grace, never in selfishness and pride, for I know that the real victory lies only in you.

It's in Jesus' name I pray,

Amen







join Lori daily at her personal website,all you have to give, where she can be found anxiously awaiting football season.

Power of Praise

I've been reading, "The Shack," by William P. Young. I have heard people talk about this book and how good it is. I thought it would be an "easy" read. I was wrong. I had to look more than once at the back cover to make sure it is fiction. It is. Mr. Young is right on target with some of the feelings and emotions surrounding tragedy with your child. I have found that after a few pages I have to close the book, put it down and wait until later to read more.

One thing that I thought was pretty interesting was an interaction with God and Jesus in the shack. It was a few sentences just telling God how wonderful He is. I realize this is not real and there are many more examples of praise in the bible which is so real, but this personal side by side relationship got me thinking.

After reading that chapter I listened to a speaker talk about the importance of praise and our purpose during praise and worship. We are praising God. It doesn't have to be at church, with a leader or a praise team... I can praise God anywhere with words, with song, with my heart, with actions. I can praise God with my obedience.



When I'm at home there are a couple of songs that I listen to to create an atmosphere of praise. Lord, You're Holy by Karen Wheaton is such an awesome praise song. I know we all have our favorites that we sing at church that seem to stick with us all week long.


I guess I had never considered praise to be such a powerful spiritual weapon before. Praise is more than an uplifting song, or words spoken to lift God up in praise. Praise does something. It releases the very presence of God Himself. And when the presence of God enters, your enemies are turned away!

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Death of the Son." I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. My enemies turn away in retreat; they are overthrown and destroyed before you. Psalms 9:1-3 NLT

The next time the devil tries to stifle your effectiveness, or to drain you of the strength and victory that's yours in Jesus, turn him back with the powerful weapon of PRAISE.


What is your favorite praise song?

Do you have other ways to offer up praise to God?

Sometimes I Wonder....

What is going on in the world today? Have we forgotten the heart of the Father? Have we forgotten about the love Jesus showed?

Lord, help me to not be so caught up in the technicalities that I miss the heart of the person.

Help me to see the situation through your eyes; from your perspective.

Show me how to love in spite of my fears and bullheaded thinking.

Remind me of the time when I was in a similar situation and how evident your hand was in my life.

Forgive me for being self-righteous and hypocritical for pride's sake.

Teach me the difference between judgment and discernment and cover my mouth so that I may not gossip about either.

Reveal yourself to me in your word so that I may stand firmly on that foundation. I'll drop to my knees when I can no longer stand.

Sustain me until my prayers are answered or until you have given me grace to live without them.

Bring to remembrance that even though I am now wearing these adult shoes that I am still your child in need or training and molding.

Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you, Father.

I just want to praise you for all of my days and bless your heart in so many ways.

You are loving, amazing, kind, giving, patient, strong, good, encouraging, comforting, mighty, and inspiring.

And because you are.... I Am.

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:3

I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31

God is not into labels

Because I only had a small finishing touch (a signature) to put on the devotional I had already written, I waited until late last night to do it. It's a two minute job even for my techo-challenged self. So, some time around 11pm-ish, I sat down to 'sign' and post it. Two minutes later, the post disappeared. Seriously.

The disappearing post was about how I occasionally ask God to "label" my trials. I sometimes tell Him that if He labeled them, and I had some kind of warning - before the tough situation hit - I might possibly be equipped to react . . . better. (Something like, "Darnelle, pay attention, fiery darts up ahead!!") So far He's not gotten on board.

Most of the time when I encounter some trial, some unexpected difficulty, I often catch myself falling into 'default' mode. Default mode for me is generally a mixture of anxious thoughts and a sizable portion of fear/doubt. It's not where I want to be. It's certainly not where I should be and yet, before I have a chance to think, there I am. Default mode. Eventually I make my way back to thankfulness and praise mode, but usually only after the detour.

Now, I invite you to enjoy the humor with me. I sat down to publish this post - about how I wish God would label my trials to give me some warning and:

#1 - The post disappeared. (then minutes later)
#2 - My husband injured his back (history says - days in bed for him) and all of the over-time dinero he was going to make this weekend - out the window. He is very disappointed and in pain. (then minutes later)
#3 - I walked into the kitchen only to find our income tax bill that states we owe thousands in taxes - (because of the mismanagement of a former - not so ethical - employer)

Strike 3 . . . And not one of them with a label or warning.

The longer I sit here, the more I realize that a few folks reading this, right now, may be sitting at the top of the slide with me, ready to slip on down to default mode. The place where the enemy causes us to forget who we are and more importantly, Who we serve. The place where fear and doubt reign - and not our King. The place where our (un-announced) trials seem bigger than our God.

Maybe today could be a new day. Maybe today, we just skip default mode, and go directly to thankfulness and praise. Maybe today we just trust what we KNOW about Him and not what we think we SEE . Maybe we could stretch ourselves to believe that, really and truly, ALL THINGS, in God's hands, work together for good.

That's my plan. Though the trials of today, the ones with no labels or warnings, were a surprise to me, they were not, to Him. That's good enough. Join me?

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation; My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior . . . (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

In Him . . .



Visit Darnelle at her personal blog: All Things Work Together. . .

I Know

In the great big scheme of things, I'm pretty sure that the list of things I don't know, is far longer than the list of things that I do know. I don't know, for instance, why guys need everything to be faster and louder - always. I don't know anything about brain surgery (except that I don't want to participate on any level - I know that). I don't know how cell phone conversations float through the air and land in my phone. I don't know how some birds make intricately woven nests - with . no . hands - and I can't tie a non-embarrassing bow - with two hands. I do not know how Google can give me 8 zillion answers to my question in 2 seconds. I don't know why water heater hoses only burst at 3:15 a.m. I don't know why, after 45 months of pregnancy, I still don't have one kid who looks like me. (A couple of blue eyes! How hard is that?) I don't know why the dog walking under my desk can make the internet go away. I don't know.

And, I don't know why I've worried so much about aging, because it's only now, in my more "mature" years that I have actually figured out a thing or two that I actually DO know.

I know that Jesus said that in this life, here on this earth, we will have trials. He had them, too.
I know that there will be dark times and shadows. Jesus had a dark week.
I know that at times, fear and doubt will yell much louder than my bewildered faith.
I know that sometimes we will laugh and enjoy, and sometimes we will cry . . . and wait.
I know that the reason 1 Corinthians says ". . . we will not be tempted beyond what we are able to bear . . ." , is because sometimes, parts of life will seem unbearable.

~AND~

I also know that He has plans for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I know that He causes all things to work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
I know that He will supply all of our needs. (Philippians 4:19)
I know that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
I know that He is with me. (Isaiah 41:10)
I know that "Eye has not seen nor ear heard all the good things God has made ready and stored up for those who love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9)

~~BUT~~

The very best thing that I know, my most FAVORITE best thing of all - that I KNOW - has already been expressed (sung) so much better than I ever, ever could.

So . . .

Just press play and listen to the only thing we really NEED to know.
I even put the words for ya! :)

In Him . . .

I Know - Darrell Evans

Though I'm walking through the valley
Of the darkest hour I've known
Lord don't You leave me all alone
When I'm surrounded by the shadows
That seem to feed my fear
I will trust You
Though I may not feel You here

But I know that Your love is unfailing
O I know Your grace is so amazing
O I know even though my faith be shaken
O I still know that I’ll never be forsaken
‘Cause You’re always faithful
I know

When my bed has been floating
On the flood of all my tears
Seems as though my joy has disappeared
Still I will not put my hope
In what I feel or see
I will cling to You
And Trust You’re holding me

'Cause I know that Your love is unfailing
O I know Your grace is so amazing
O I know even though my faith be shaken
O I still know that I’ll never be forsaken
‘Cause You’re always faithful
I know

I worship You
I look to You
I trust You with my life
I worship You
I look to You
Come lift my head up high

Lord I don’t know where I’m walking
But I’ll take it day by day
And I’ll hold Your hand
And You will lead the way

And I know that Your love is unfailing
O I know Your grace is so amazing
O I know even though my faith be shaken
O I still know that I’ll never be forsaken
‘Cause You’re always faithful

I know

Visit Darnelle at: All Things Work Together

Enter His Courts With Praise

Two summers ago, before our trip to Ghana, I was at our African partner church and a woman I'd never met before approached me. She began asking me, in her broken English, where we were going on our mission trip. I told her the region we would be visiting, and named the villages to which we would be going. Her face lit up! She exclaimed that one of the villages I had named was where her brother and his wife lived. She told me he was a pastor there, building a small church. She asked for my address, and a few days later I received a letter from her telling me her brother's name, and a picture of him standing next to the frame of the church they were building. I had no idea if I would be able to find him, and if I did, what exactly I was to do with this information, but I tucked the letter and picture into my journal and slid it into my backpack before we left.

My team worked in two main villages that week, and between the hectic pace, my son's sickness for part of the time, and the sheer volume of work we were trying to accomplish in such a short time, I didn't get to search out the man whose sister I had met weeks earlier. Our last day in the village, I pulled out that letter from my journal and prayed, "Lord, if you mean for me to meet this person, You will need to orchestrate it. I have no idea how to find him." I put the letter back in my journal and left for the day's work. Later that evening when we were back at the small hotel where we were staying, one of my kids came to me and said there was a woman there, looking for my husband. Thinking she was someone we had met earlier in the week, I went to find her, as he had not made it back to the hotel yet. A lovely woman approached me, with her warm Ghanaian smile, clutching an envelope with my husband's name on it, followed by the word, "missionary." That, in itself was enough to make me get tears in my eyes. It turns out, she was the wife of the man in the picture! She didn't know if we were still in the area, but she had walked about six miles from where they live to this small hotel, where she thought we might possibly be staying. She had no idea that this was our last day there! She had apparently gotten our name from her sister-in-law.

We sat under the shade of a hut-like structure and had a wonderful visit. She told of her husband's work trying to start a church in a nearby village. She described what God was doing in their lives, the miraculous provisions He had made, and the daunting work that lay ahead in this particular area dominated by tribal religions. She told me of their goal of starting an orphanage in the area, and told me wonderful stories of babies they had already received. It was an amazing time. She wanted to make contact with us in case we would ever be working in their area again and might be able to help or possible partner with them. I was thoroughly blessed by our conversation. But the blessing was about to be greater.

Before she left, I asked her if we might pray together. She exclaimed that yes, she would love that. Immediately she stood up, straightened her posture, and looked up. She paused, turned to me, and said in her wonderful accent, "I always eentah Heez cawts weeth praise!" at which time she began singing, loudly, a magificent song of praise in her own language. I praised right along with her, feeling very much like we were now officially, "in His courts!" We then prayed together, very much in the presence of the Heavenly Father. I don't know when I'd ever felt more "before the throne of grace." It was so, so powerful.

That moment changed the way I approach my personal prayer time. Like my Ghanaian sister, I always "enter His courts with praise." Now, that doesn't mean that I sing loudly before each prayer (that's a personal favor to anyone who might be near me at the time!) Our church has a separate bulletin each week with the worship lyrics printed, which I keep in the front of my Bible for my own "personal praise" time. Just looking at the lyrics jogs my memory and I can sing, either out loud or to myself as I begin my prayer time. I have my iPod nearby when I have my quiet times each morning, too. This morning, as I was making pancakes for my kids, I was still singing the wonderful strains of "O Worship the King" from "Hymns: Ancient and Modern" (Chris Tomlin and the Passion band.)

So often, after I have entered His courts with praise, I feel like I stay there long after I say "Amen." I encourage you to "enter His courts with praise" as you start your prayer times. That can take whatever form you want it to, from lingering in the psalms, to singing out loud. It will transform your time in prayer!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4

"Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;" Psalm 84:10

Cyndi blogs (and praises) at One Day More and Mater Magistra.

Do Over!

Last weekend my daughter and I made peach cobbler together. No not an exciting detail to mention yet it was extraordinary in my life.

You see, I serve the King of “Do Over.”

Some of you may be aware I worked in the corporate world of finance for 23 years. I began as a teller, I retired three years ago after working in many capacities as commercial lender and manager.

Five years ago, while absorbed in my corporate persona, had you told me I would be making peach cobbler, from peaches grown in my back yard, I would have said you were crazy. I told everyone I knew back then I did not have a domestic bone in my body. --Ask my mother, she can attest to this statement.

Every time I made this pompus remark my Great King looked down upon my life. He knew I needed a “do over.” Boy, did I ever get one. (It’s all good!)

I went from Nine West to Payless, from designer suits to Wal-Mart sweats. My power lunches morphed into a McDonald’s break after school with my tuckered out little girl. I left the fast-paced world of finance and discovered a new pace. I discovered an entirely new life. I am a stay-at-home mom and having the time of my life!

God in His infinite wisdom gave me the opportunity to live a different life. He knew I was missing some of the greatest gifts this life offers. He wanted me to experience facets of life on earth I didn't know were possible.

I began to take an active part in my daughter’s day and school. I began to write and to read more. I grew tomatoes and canned them all by myself. I learned to cook and I love it. I clean my own house. I am good at it too. I can pick peaches, blanch them and make homemade cobbler from scratch, okay Bisquick, close enough!

Last weekend as I sat in the kitchen pealing the skin from the juicy, rip peaches, I looked up and smiled. My heart was overflowing with gratitude and wonder. With peach juice dripping from my elbow and splashing on the floor, I thanked God for His wisdom. I am a new woman. A woman with more than a domestic bone in her body, I have a new heart and a new life.

I am humbled to my knees when I meet others whose lives were also changed by a God sized do over. God meets our deepest needs even when we are blind and unable to recognize them ourselves.

We serve a brilliant, magnificent, holy, God!

Now it’s your turn. My daughter and I invite you to make peach cobbler. The recipe follows. When you are peeling your peaches sometime this week, remember to raise a smile and a prayer of thanks to the God of fantastic do-overs. Peach Cobbler:



1 c. brown sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. cornstarch
6 c. sliced fresh peaches
12 c. milk
2 tbsp. sugar
2 c. Bisquick
1. tsp lemon rind

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch in saucepan. Add peaches and toss to coat. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until boiling and thick. Reduce heat and cook 2 minutes longer. Set aside.

Combine Bisquick, sugar, lemon rind. Add milk. Stir with fork until moistened. Return peaches to a boil. Pour into 2-quart oblong baking dish. Drop batter of top. Bake at 400 degrees fro 20-25 minutes. Serve with sauce.

Lemon Sauce:

Mix ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 ¼ cup milk in saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil and thickens. Reduce heat and cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, t teaspoon lemon rind, 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Serve warm over cobbler.

I am a do over. Are you? I would love to hear your story.

Please stop in for a visit at my place: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

A Joyful Noise

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture." Psalm 100:1-2

There are many things about my life as a Preacher's wife I consider atypical, however my Sunday morning seat on the 2nd pew, piano-side is about as predictable as it gets. What is unusual, however, is the motley crew of fellow worshipers who surround me. Along with my own children, my area has attracted many other young'uns - mostly boys. This past Sunday, there were thirteen of them. Yes, you read correctly. Thirteen boys on the front two pews. Thank the Lord for Children's Church!


There is one boy I particularly enjoy sitting with because of his love for worship. When the song director announces the page number in the hymnal, he immediately hands me a book to find the correct song for him. No one sitting near this fifteen-year-old during the song service can help but feel they are in the presence of angels.

The reason? Michael is deaf and mute.

Now obviously Michael is unable to form the words to the worship songs, but what he vocalizes instead is a, 'Woo, Woo, Woo' to the vibrations he feels from the speakers. This past Sunday, the congregational hymn was, 'The Star Spangled Banner'. As we neared the end, I thought to myself, "This is the part where we should all jump out of our seats and cheer. After all, we throw our hands in the air at a ballgame..Why not the Baptist Church?"

Michael must have sensed what I was thinking because at the end of that song he YELLED, 'Woo, Woo, WOOOOOOO!" That's all it took. I cried. Then I patted him on the back which is my way of letting him know he is special and I love him dearly. He just grinned and said, "Memen". His word for 'Amen'.

Amen, praise the Lord, Hallelujah, indeed!

As I thought about Michael's joyful noise, Psalm 100 immediately came to mind. I looked up the phrase 'a joyful noise' in my trusty Lexicon and discovered these meanings: "to split the ears with sound, to sound a trumpet, to shout with joy or for joy."

And then Michael's worship made more sense than ever. A joyful noise is not a word but a shout! There are times when no words can fully express the joy in our spirit, the depth of our grief, the praise of our graciously redeemed souls. There are occasions when the song of our heart is comprised of only one prolonged syllable, exhaled to the Only One who can translate. Just as the Spirit knows how to pray for us when we can not voice His will, I believe He sings the song to the Father we can not. And what a beautiful song it is.

Until that child can say the name Jesus, I believe 'woo hoo' will do.




Please visit my personal blog, The Preacher's Wife.

Bung Balogna

Bologna is the most innovative food there is. It can be used to stuff cheeks at a picnic, win friends and influence people, and promote dance among the canine population. I fondly remember my bologna days during those quirky moments when my mind travels back to my childhood…

When he's inclined to do so, my dad plays a mean fiddle. I popped the weasel in “the day” more often than I can count; yet each time, I danced with my sisters like it was the first time the tune tickled the drum of our ears.

Lisa was our toy poodle--not to be confused with Preacher’s Wife, who’s clearly not a toy poodle. Although Lisa suffered a traffic accident the day she slam danced with the tire of a moving car, she could dance. Lisa didn't need Fantasia Barino to teach her the “Bobo,” she relied on nothing more than a wiggling slice of bung bologna.

After removing the fiddle from it's felt lined case, my dad always made a trip to the kitchen with his bow in tow, before sitting down to play. There he would carefully hook a piece of meat to the end of that bow so Lisa could join in the fun.

I know that Lisa danced because she was eager to get that meat in her mouth, but I sometimes wonder if perhaps part of that little dog just wanted to dance with her sisters--I know that I did.

Little Lisa was raised by two hand raising, tongue speaking, spirit shaking, Pentecostals--my parents. Little pleased them more than to say, "Praise the Lord!" in front of church friends, only to see our dog hop off of the couch and raise her paws in the air.

Lisa was a special little thing who I enjoyed immensely, but was created for a reason, and that reason was to please God. Sure, I know that Lisa was only doing a trick to please her owner when she lifted her paws in the air, but I do marvel about the spiritual aspect of creation that my mind still can’t wrap its way around.

Luke 19:40 says, ‘But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”’

And my sister, who’s planting her garden, tells her flowers in no uncertain terms, that they were created to please the Lord, and so she’s cheering them on as they bloom. Ok, my family is odd, but you should see her beautiful garden…

The Psalmist often wrote about creation praising God. Each time I hear those words, "Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah!" I'm reminded of Lisa with her arms in the air, and I sense the pleasure she brings to the Lord. I sometimes wonder if perhaps part of that little dog just wanted to dance before the Lord--I know that I do. Just like it was the first time His voice has tickled the drum of my ears.

Under Pressure...

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV – emphasis mine)

I guess endurance/perseverance is my motto for this week. Last weekend was so busy with getting things done around the house that my Sweetheart and I didn’t have time to relax. I was hoping for a little R&R, but we had to catch-up on stuff that didn’t get done during the week. I wanted to be fresh for a very busy week at work—long hours were scheduled since we have year-end-close in April/May.

We were all under a lot of pressure in my department. How to do you cope with pressure/stress? As for me I look to Him for strength; I put on my headphones and listen to praise music. Others just walk off the job…I am serious—we had one leave work on Wednesday because the stress was too high (no worries—the person returned on Thursday).

That got me thinking about our Lord. What if He would have said ‘No’ to the pressure He was under? He could have just refused to be the sacrifice for all of us. He could have said ‘No’ to the cross. What would have happened to us? I know that I could not save myself. I could never fulfill all the commandments God has set before me.

But our Lord said YES to the cross—despite the pain that came with it. His love for us was much greater than the shame He would have to endure…

I am glad that He poured hope into my heart when He took my sins and nailed them to the cross. With His strength I can make it through year-end-closing at work or through busy weekends…How about you? Will you travel the road of life with a smile on your face and a song of praise on your lips because of the hope He has given you? I pray you do…

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank you for saying YES to the cross. Thank you for enduring the pain and the shame. Lord, help me to travel the road of life with a smile on my face and a song of praise on my lips. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

Praise At Odd Times

In college I became a voracious note-taker. I've seen college classrooms today with students furiously clicking away on their laptops during the professor's lecture. But that's not how it was "in my day." In my day, I feverishly wrote, trying to capture what was written on the board before the next board was pulled down in front of the previous one and subsequently filled up as well. (Whew! It makes me tired just thinking about it!) It's a skill that has served me well, even into my adult years. It's almost how I listen now. In church, at seminars, and sometimes even as I listen to podcasts, there I am... scribbling in my notebook.

One tactic I learned to employ in some of my science or French classes in college, when the lecture was sometimes given by an international student or teaching assistant from another country, was to write what I thought they said and just make sense of it later. Many times, due to the difference in his or her accent, I would write one thing, and then later figure out it meant something completely different! (Sort of like making a game of Mad Gab out of my study notes!) A few months ago at a women's conference, I found myself copiously taking notes using this particular method as a precious woman from Zambia was speaking quite fast and with a heavy accent. What I heard her repeat several times was, "I will praise Him at odd times." As she repeated it, my brain heard it that way again. So, I wrote it. Just like that. I will praise Him at odd times. I thought to myself, "I suppose it is good to praise God at odd times," wondering where she was going with her point. I later figured out that what she said was, "I will praise Him at ALL times," which makes total sense!

But so did what I thought she said.

You see, if we praise Him at all times, then inevitably we are going to praise Him at some odd times, too. There are certain moments that just don't seem to call for praise: Being stuck in traffic. Sitting with a sick child. Being bedridden. Receiving devastating news. In the midst of financial uncertainty. Facing a giant disappointment. Letting go of a dream.

But, those are precisely the moments when we most need to praise God. Praise ushers us into "His courts" where we can lay all of it at His feet, and helps to put our circumstance into the proper perspective. It doesn't mean that we are to act like we've got the "holy jollies" in the midst of our grief and pain, but we can honestly praise Him through it. In one of my favorite resources, 31 Days of Praise, Ruth Myers says of David and the other psalmists:

"They did not deny their feelings or simply ignore them. Nor did they wallow in them until they'd all but drowned. And it doesn't seem that they postponed their praise until they had worked through their emotions and felt better. Instead, they mingled an honest pouring-out of their feelings with sincere, God-honoring praise."

Myers also says:

"I find that sooner or later (often sooner) the Lord releases me from being a slave to my distressing emotions. He unties the tight knots within me and settles my feelings, though He may not answer my questions about how He's handling my affairs. And when at times praise does not quickly bring inner feedom and joy, I can say, 'Lord, I can't praise You in the same way I did last week (or last year). I can't seem to respond to You with the same sense of delight and celebration. But I do choose to lift You high, praising You for what You are and what You mean to me.' "

Since the day I wrote that mis-heard sentence in my notebook (I didn't change it!) I have thought about, and even looked for, odd times to praise Him. When I have, I have seen a difference in how I cope in those moments, and my relationship with Him has grown so much deeper. I praised God two summers ago while I held my sick child in a foreign country. I praised Him during a health issue I recently experienced. I praised Him yesterday when I was grieving the news of the death of a dear friend. I don't always do this, and I do revert to "panic mode" way more often than I should, but by His grace and through His precious Holy Spirit, He's teaching me.

Have you praised Him at some odd times? Would you share it with us in the comments? God is good, all the time. May we praise Him at all times. Even the odd ones.

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1