40 Days of Praise: Day 16

I have to admit that today has been tougher for me to find something to praise about for whatever reason... Could be my selfishness, lack of faith or focus on the right things... I'm not sure, but the focus fog sure hit thick today, but there is still something to praise about none-the-less even though I feel I really had to search for it...

Today God reminded me of his past blessings and how He has taken care of me... I was chatting with someone on MSN and discussing some unexpected stressful "issues" that came my way today and I became very frustrated again with "things"... Yet as we discussed these things I went back to how God has got me through "crap" before so I suppose that He would be there for me now too though I am not sure how... As I got to this type of thinking something inside of me squirmed (I don't think it was gas) and I became very anxious... It was almost like I would rather be upset with my situation than have peace and remember God's past blessings... As I think of it, this is a strange comfort zone if you ask me... But like it or not, if I don't ignore the obvious or become hard hearted, God has been there and brought me throught a lot and I guess He ain't done...

As well this week I was given an article that I did for the Christian newspaper sometime last year... It spoke on being in our "ruts" in life and as I read it the Holy Spirit began to convict me with my own words of praise to the God who has blessed over and over...

So though my "Inner Critic" and my flesh don't want me to say this today; I Praise You Father for Your Reminders of Your Past Blessings Because They Remind Me That You Have Been Faithful, You Are Faithful Today and You Will Always Be Faithful... Continue to remind me often if You please...

40 Days of Praise: Day 15

Today I think I have to give praise to God for music... It seems that whenever the enemy would attack me with discouragement, my desire to play my guitar or the churches piano or drums decreases greatly... Yet when I decide to "suck it up" and not let the enemy have the victory and play on, I have beautiful times with my Saviour... As of late God has been bringing me back to music and I have been much more disciplined in spending that personal time with Him and "He" shows how beautiful it is to have those intimate times again... this is so odd to me since i never touched a musical instrument before i my second year of college, but I suppose we never know what pleasant surprises God has for us... So there it is: Thank you Saviour for music and the ability that you've given me to use this gift for You... May I use it more and more as I long to be with You...

40 Days of Praise: Day 14

Today my praise is for heat... I am thankful for warm climates, and warm houses...


That being said, I really appreciate them today for it is freezing outside as well as inside my house... I woke up and much to my delight (NOT!!!) I could see my breath... Now initially I was hoping that this was some elaborate prank and I was actually outside of my house, but alas I was not... That is the funny part...

Here is where I am asking for prayer: I have two options for oil trucks... One will be here on Sunday and they allow me to put a little in at a time and option #2 is one that would cost I think 400-800 dollars to fill my tank which of course I do not have... I do not get paid til next Friday, so you see my conumdrum here I am sure... I sure can't wait til spring so the weather will be warmer and I can fill my tank a little at a time and be ahead next winter... So if ya would, please pray... I need a Holy Spirit blanket around my house so my pipes don't freeze...

Typically I would be super stressed, but now I am not... Just a little concerned... I have no clue what to do, but fortunately someone bigger than me will help me out... Right???

40 Days of Praise: Day 13

Man oh man, I am seriously flying here... I think this is my third post this week... Perhaps I am coming out of my little funk and getting thankful again... And to think that a couple of days ago I was going to put a "closed" sign on this blog and not do this blog thing anymore... I had a thought today that I want to share and then I will share my praise for today... I had the scripture in my head earlier and it has now left me, but it was about us humbling ourselves before God and this morning on my drive to work it hit me in a new light... This may not be new to all you scholars out there but for me it was a Eureka moment... God wants us to humble "ourselves" before Him... Now before you say Duh, let me explain why this is such a revelation to me... I think I always just assumed that being humbled meant that there would be humbling circumstances that would happen to me and that is how I would be humble... Now don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of those, but it occurred to me this morning that for us to humble ourselves before God was an intentional act for us to do... But here is my question: How do I/we in real, nuts and bolts life do this? I am sure that is is something that I should know by now, but can someone tell me what I am missing here?

And now on to my praise... I am thankful for and praise God for His love... Admittedly there have been a lot of times in life and as of late that I have questioned God's love for me, but thinking back to the last weekend that I was able to see my son, God reminds me of His love for me as I think of my love for my son...
As I was able to speak to a friend of my from my old church we talked about what a great illustration parenthood is of God's love for us... When my son hugs or kisses me, or when he says thank you daddy, the pride, excitement, and joy that wells up in me is overwhelming... Is this how God feels when we love on Him or express thankfulness to Him? According to His Word I am getting to the place where this is bit by bit becoming real to me... So although I do not always "feel" it I am thankful for God's love... Thanks Timmy, it does come back to that...

40 Days of Praise: Day 12

i am thankful for "Dog Beer" because it quite literally made my eyes water due to the laughter that it brought out from my innermost being... check this out...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DOGGIE_BEER?SITE=MITRA&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT

if you do not find this funny due the foolishness of it i would like to quote the wonderful band named HOKUS PICK...

micheal w. smith, he doesn't need anything, he's perfect...

oh, wait... that's not it... here goes: "YOU REALLY NEED TO LEARN TO LAUGH!"

40 Days of Praise: Day 11

i am thanful for spaghetti... cheap and it gets me by when the cupboards are bare... yay for spaghetti...

40 Days of Praise: Day 10

wow, wow, wow... this forty days thing has finally reached double digits... despite what the lack of blogging may indicate to some, deep down i am thankful... especially after last sunday when i was able to spend time with my youngest boy... that makes me thankful... he is so beautiful... and yes he is mine... i know you were thinking it...

today's blog is simple... i praise God that i can be real and not have to feel condemned... of course that does not mean that i always feel free of such thoughts but i am SLOWLY learning that God created me and that is cool... often times i feel bad because my realness or in confusing times i feel like i am complaining, but i suspect that God is big enough to handle my questions... i suppose i just have to get past seeming vulnerable in peoples eyes and ask the questions and be willing to dig deep to find the answers...

does anyone ever feel bad for feeling blunt and not so proper at times? is this less Christian??? this pic although fun represents a lot of what i have been feeling lately bouncing back and forth between two schools of thought... this is a discussion starter so, ready, set, GO...