31 Days Of Praise - Day 29

On Day 29 of Lisa Jo's challenge, I am simply going to repost my friend, Robin's posts from the past few days. She has been battling cancer for several years now. Here's where she was Friday and where she's at today...

Robin's post from Friday...

"...we got my results back from my scans they weren't good. I have more spots on my liver and a spot in my lung. It doesn't look good but I have a God who holds me close and comforts me through times like this. He is good to me and even if He takes me home, I will still love and serve Him :) Thank-you for the love, prayer and support, it means so much to me! I love you, all!!!"

Robin's post from today...

"I love the Father!!! I just got a call from my Doc that they read the wrong scan...they compared my scan to the CT from Feb. not the one from June. So!! It looked like my cancer has grown but it has shrunk from the mass of an apple to the mass of one M&M!!!! I can't stop crying for joy!! The radiologist was shouting for joy, my doctors and nurses were shouting and crying....PRAISE GOD!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!"

Won't you join us as we rejoice over this awesome good report! And I reiterate Robin's words...PRAISE GOD!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! 

"O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people."

(Psalm 105:1)  

31 Days of Praise - October 28, 2012

On Day 28 of Lisa Jo's challenge I awake spiritually refreshed and with renewed perspective concerning a heart-condition that has plagued me for decades. Not a physical heart-condition, but an emotional one...an ache in my soul that has never found peace, nor healing. The Lord came to me in the middle of the night last night, and awakened me in the wee hours of the morning, speaking health and healing into my aching heart and broken spirit. By faith, I believe that He is, even now, bringing about answers to long-asked questions and unanswered prayer, and deliverance from an ache that has muddled my present for far too long. Thank You, Lord! In the precious name of Jesus I praise and thank You, and I ask You, Lord, to using all for Your glory...to create beauty from ashes. In Jesus name...Amen!

31 Days Of Praise - Day 27

As Day 27 of Lisa Jo's challenge draws to a close I find that I am extremely tired, anxious about things that I have absolutely no control over, yet desperately determined to find, and hold on to, joy even in the midst of the apparent lack of it.

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

And for that promise I am thankful! 

31 Days Of Praise - Day 26

On Day 26 of Lisa Jo's challenge my heart is filled with praise to my Heavenly Father. No particular reason...just filled! The only thing I can think is this...

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his might acts; praise him according to this excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 150).

31 Days Of Praise - Day 25

On Day 25 of Lisa Jo's challenge my heart is filled with gratitude towards my Heavenly Father as, once again, despite trials, tribulations, struggles, and troubles on every front, He makes known to me His tender mercy, His never-ending grace, His mighty hand of protection, and the depths of His enormous love towards me. Yes! YES! I am FINALLY beginning to see it...to feel it...and to understand it! Thank You, Lord God! Thank You, dear, wonderful, magnificent and mighty God! Mighty is our God and greatly He is to be praised! Praise the name of the Lord!!! 

31 Days Of Praise - Day 24

Day 24 of Lisa Jo's challenge finds me thankful? for new neighbors? I don't know about that for sure, but...crazy as it...that's what I'm thinking. You see...I have a long history with new neighbors in the house next door.

When we first moved into this house the house next door to us was empty. The lady that owned it is the lady that we bought our house from, but she lived down the road from us and she wasn't sure what she was going to do with the house next door...sell it? keep it? move in to it? She ended up more-or-less donating it to her church for a parsonage. That dear, sweet woman has gone home to be with the Lord since and, I think, in the end, must have ended up leaving said house to her church just for that purpose.

Anyway...the house set empty for the first few years we were here. Irene (the owner) would come in and out doing various things and we would visit back and forth in the front yard and what-not. I always enjoyed our visits and I think she did, too.

In the fall of 2004, Irene informed that she had decided to allow the church to use the house as a parsonage and that we had new neighbors coming...and they were homeschoolers..."like us"! Well...that was questionable! I hadn't known any homeschoolers "like us". :)

The next two years turned out to be two of the best years of my life! Our two next-to-the-youngest sons had married that same fall and our youngest son was really missing his brothers. God provided two new "brothers" next door and a "sister"! And one for me, as well!

The pastor's wife next door and I turned into sisters-by-heart very quickly and the next two years were magical...especially that first year...a knock on the backdoor anytime...day or night, midnight talks over tea and blueberry pie, our Jane Austin days and, oh! By the way...the Reece's DID turn out to be homeschoolers JUST "like us"! Crazy! Zany! And full of adventure! We went everywhere and did everything together! So many wonderful homeschooling memories! I can't even begin to explain.

And, then, the awful day came when the Reece's had to leave. The magic was over! When the Reece's left,  a piece of my heart went with them...and it remains with them still. I chatted with Robin just yesterday and that same old magic is still there...it's just from a distance now. Oh, Lord! How I miss her! And she's halfway across the country. I pray that, someday, the Lord will make a way and allow us one more cup of tea and a slice of blueberry pie together in this lifetime. (tears)

(deep breathe)

Anyhoo...needless to say...after that experience I was kind of NOT willing to give away any more pieces of my heart. It hurt too badly. There have been at least three families in that house since then and I've not been a very good neighbor to any of them. Cordial when the moment dictated...yes...a "Good Morning! How are you?"...a wave of the hand...maybe even a loaf of banana bread or a plate of cookies at Christmas time...but nothing more...not even that much with some of them...and the last family that lived there I truly regretted not making more of an effort with. I really believe that lady could have used a friend...especially toward the end...but, by the time I realized it...even though the Lord had been dealing with me on it for the whole previous year or so prior to that...it was too late. I just couldn't do it. DIDN'T do it! WOULDN'T do it! And I have regretted it ever since. I felt so bad for them.

SO...long story, I know...(sorry)...yesterday afternoon it happened again! There was a yard full of cars next door and church people were milling around all over the place. I told my husband that I had a feeling we were getting new neighbors very soon. Sure enough...about ten minutes later a U-Haul pulls in and the yard full of church people commenced to unloading it and moved everything in.

Now...at this point...I know nothing about who or what has moved in next door. I do think I've seen the lady of the house, but, until I actually walk over there and introduce myself, I'm not ever sure that the lady I saw is the lady who even lives there. I just didn't recognize her. And I know they have a dog. It barked a friendly "Hello!" to me this morning when I let my chickens out.

As of this moment I have a loaf of homemade bread rising in the kitchen and I've set out a jar of freshly made grape jelly. My plan is to take that over in a bit as a 'welcome to the neighborhood' gift as I introduce myself as their new neighbor. How it will go from there I have no idea, but, at least...this time...I'm willing to try to be neighborly, if nothing else.

Praise God for new neighbors! Sometimes...it's just new neighbors...but, sometimes...new neighbors turn into friends, and...even better than that...some new neighbors become sisters-by-heart for life! <3

31 Days Of Praise - Day 23

On Day 23 of Lisa Jo's challenge, I want to take a moment to praise God for my friends in the blogging world and the messages that they share! I was reading Courtney's post this morning over at Women Living Well and it really ministered to me. So often I, too, feel like such a let-down to everyone...such a big disappointment...but, praise God! What a blessing it is to know that we can be free to be a disappointment to the glory of God! Like Courtney (and every other woman on the face of the earth) I, too, am SO flawed! Most of the time I am gripped with fear to the point that I'm afraid to move forward and, in doing so, I've become stagnant in almost every area of life. I, too, have grown hypersensitive to the flaws of my family (and point them out to them on almost a daily basis), and, overall, have just become a general mess all the way around. I so want to turn this thing around and go from being a disappointment to being a disappointment to the glory of God! Pray for me that I will be able to lay aside my pride and just be *me*...flaws and all! (smile)

(Once again...I am reminded of my new theme song..."Redeemed" by Big Daddy Weave...)

31 Days Of Praise - Day 22

It's Day 22 of Lisa Jo's challenge and I praise God for health and healing over my loved ones. I have so many friends and family members that are suffering illnesses this morning...physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual...and they all need healing.

Lord God, I come before You right now and I pray health and healing over all those on my prayer list this morning. The list is so long, Lord, but You know each need. I lift up all those that suffering physical illness and injury this morning, those that are going through procedures and lay in a hospital bed this morning, and those that are in pain. God, I pray that You will touch and heal each and every one of them from head to toe. I lift up all those that are suffering with mental and emotional issues right now, Lord. Father God,You know each and every need. Only You know how to reach some of them, Lord God, and I ask You to so right now. Just reach right down into their hearts and minds and give them what they need at this very moment! And, Lord God, last, but certainly not least, I pray for those that are battling spiritually this morning. Lord, I pray that the power of the enemy would be broken off of their hearts, minds, and lives and the Spirit of Truth would be loosed into their lives. Lord, send ministering angels to help them, and I pray that every path they take would lead to the foot of the cross of Calvary. I pray, Lord, that each and every one of them that is outside the arc of safety would accept Your Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior! In Jesus' holy and precious name I pray...Amen!

I praise You and thank You in advance, Lord, for the good reports that are forthcoming! In the wonderful name of Jesus I praise and thank You, Lord!

31 Days of Praise - Day 21

After a particularly good message this morning, and as I focus on Day 21 of Lisa Jo's challenge, I find that I am most thankful today for the opportunity and blessing to, not only hear the Word of God spoken, taught, and preached in my own language, but to hold it in my hands, handle it, embrace it, and read it openly, and without penalty, for myself. There are many throughout the ages that have not enjoyed such a precious, precious gift...a gift that, unfortunately, far too many of us take for granted.

"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

(Psalm 12:6-7)

Thank God for His preserved Word for our day and time...the Authorized King James Bible! 

31 Days Of Prasie - Day 20

"Iron sharpenth iron; so a man sharpeneth the 

countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).

On Day 20 of Lisa Jo's challenge, I offer up praise to God for 'iron sharpening' friends and family members!

Have you ever thought about it? A knife can't sharpen itself! Nor can a pair of scissors...or the blade of a saw...or any other metal tool that needs to keep its edges sharp in order to do the job that it was made for.

Like tools made of metal, how often do we as people...God's people...people created by Him, to be used by Him, to carry out His plans and purposes. How often do we become dull, unproductive, and no longer useful to those plans and purposes due to the fact that we got lost somewhere along the way when some storm came up and caught us out in the rain?

And how refreshingly wonderful is it during those times when God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, sends others into our path. People who care enough to come along side, pick us up, brush us off, give us a helping hand, sharpen us when need be, and bring us back to a point that we are, once again, useful and productive for the Kingdom of God! At times the sharpening process can be painful, but praise God for those who care enough, and aren't afraid, to do it!

I praise God for the 'iron sharpening' friends and family members that He, in His infinite wisdom, has given to me! Praise the name of the Lord!

Have a blessed Saturday!

~Rebecca

31 Days Of Praise - Day 19

Today has been one of those hard days without much praise offered (not God's fault...strictly my own). Everywhere I've gone there have been joy-robbers. I think sometimes I expect way too much out of people (again...my own fault...I need stop that). I get all excited about stuff (and, believe me, it doesn't take much to get me excited, either!), then I expect others to be excited, too. When their not, I take it personally and allow their lack of interest to effect me in ways that are not good for me. Like I said...I need to stop that! So, having said that, I praise God in the hard things. Even if no one else on the face of the earth can, or even wants, to understand me, God knows my heart and understands the things that reside there. It is enough. Praise the name of the Lord!

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

31 Days Of Praise - Day 18

 

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How weak and tired I feel at times! How overwhelmed with all of life's unrelenting demands and trials! It is in those moments of weakness that I turn to the Lord and just praise Him for all that He is...for all that He's done...for all that He is doing, and it is within those moments of weakness that He becomes my strength and my shield...a very present help in times of trouble. Praise the name of the Lord!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalm 28:7).

31 Days Of Praise - Day 17

As I focus on Day 17 of Lisa Jo's challenge I find that, despite burdens and difficulties, I have much to be thankful for! Today's list: word on the sex of grandbaby #11...a boy...due in February, another grandson celebrating a special birthday today, dear cousins, a beloved aunt, my dearest friend, each of our children and their spouses...all with burdens and difficulties of their own, but (praise God!) each knowing Whom to go to when the burdens they bear begin to be too heavy to carry on their own, a job well done, and my first Etsy sale. God is good all the time! Praise the name of the Lord!

31Days of Praise - Day 16

On Day 16 of Lisa Jo's challenge, I offer up praise for God's never-ending protection. I am really not safe to be on the road after dark and, for the past several years, I've managed to avoid driving after dark as much as possible, but, with recent life changes, I can no longer avoid it. Praise God! He miraculously provided new glasses for me this year that came complete with a glare-resistant finish, and we do have a different vehicle with better lighting, but it's still not as good as it could be (I think I need halogen bulbs or something...I don't know). Anyway, this morning, before daybreak, I was taking my son to work in Lamar. When I popped the little hill on NN Highway there was a skunk right in the middle of my lane. There was no time to react. I hit the poor little thing and, of course, my van stinks terribly, but I praise God that it wasn't a deer. It was on that same hill a while back that a deer, literally, stepped out on to the road right in front of our next-to-the-oldest son who was riding his motorcycle at the time. Again, there was no avoidance and, the fact that he came out of that accident alive is miraculous. Over and over again the Lord, in His merciful goodness, has watched over and protected our family and I praise His holy name for it. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

31 Days of Praise - Day 15

Offering up praise in the hard times is not easy, but it is in the hardest times of all that praise is, not only the most needed, but the most effective. It is in the hard times that we offer up, not what we have in abundance, but what we have...where we are...who we are...in our lack.

"Though he slay me, yet will trust in him..." (Job 13:15)

Praise the name of the Lord!

31 Days of Praise - Day 14

Today I offer up a heart full of praise for the very special people that God has placed in my life...some for only a passing moment in time, others for a season...be that season long or short, some for a lifetime, and some for all eternity. Some of those people I've never met. Some of them are so close that, without even meaning to, I take them for granted...imagining that they'll always be there. (God, forgive me for that. Help me to take notice to appreciate and enjoy them more while there's still time!) And still others of them are people that the Lord, in His gracious Sovereignty, has allowed into my life to share good times and hard with for a time, and now they're gone...either through death or a move...or maybe we've simply lost touch. Either way, it doesn't matter. I still hold them close to and dear in my heart and some of them I'm sure I'll see again! Either here, God willing, in this life, or, if not, in the life to come. Some of them I may not ever see again, but, for now, I'll treasure their memory while I can. For all the people that have passed in out of my life, and for those that remain, and for those that will be, I am thankful. For each has served (or is serving...or will serve) a purpose in my life...to help shape me, moment by moment, into who I was, who I am, and who I will be. And praise God! He's not finished with me yet! Or you, either! <3

God bless all here!
~Rebecca

31 Days Of Praise - Day 13

As Lisa Jo's challenge continues today I want to offer up praise to my Heavenly Father for the fall season. Due to the summer's drought this fall isn't nearly as pretty and vibrant as most. In fact, for the most part, in our area, things are rather drab and blah compared to previous autumns, but, still there are glimpses of color here and there and I am thankful for every little bit of autumn pleasure I can get in on because there just isn't that much compared to normal. For instance, I went out to get the mail while ago and, as I turned to come back to the house, a big gust of wind came along and a mass of leaves came swirling out of our walnut tree and it was one of the prettiest things I've seen this fall. I stood in awe and praised God in the little things...for sending that gust of wind along at just the right time for me to witness that. I ran in and got my camera, hoping to capture a similar scene, but no such gust came along a second time. The point is, I am thankful for the little things and I am thankful for the fall season.

Have a blessed Saturday!
~Rebecca

31 Days of Praise - Days 5 - 12

As Lisa Jo's challenge rolls on without me, I find myself dreadfully behind. I will not make excuse, but I will say that life has been full and, though I've not had much time to spend writing, when I have had time I simply have not had the mental or physical energy to do so. I have made a few notes though and here are a few of the praises that I have to share from the past week or so...

31 Days of Praise - Day 5

Day Five of Lisa Jo's challenge found me on the road with family. Our oldest son and his wife invited us to share a couple of days with them just kicking around Kansas City. Friday we ended up in Northeast KC. We visited Cascone's Grill, the City Market, and Corinthian Hall. Corinthian Hall has been home to the Kansas City Museum for decades and John and I both spent many happy hours there as children. It was good to go 'home' and visit such an old friend, but that wasn't the best part! The best part was getting to spend a few blessed hours with our youngest daughter and her husband as that's where we spent the night! That is what I praise God for most! An extra unexpected visit with my daughter. That usually only happens twice a year!

31 Days of Praise - Day 6

Day Six of the challenge found me still in Kansas City with family. After visiting a short time with our daughter and son-in-law in the morning, we took to the road and started working our way home. Our first stop was at Roma Bakery. After that it was on to the cemetery to find my husband's grandfather's grave. We knew which cemetery it was, but have never been able to find the grave. With a little help we found it this time. The stone was nearly covered over by tall grasses. My daughter-in-law and I cleared the weeds away and we were able to get pictures. I am thankful that after all these years we were able to find it. It meant a lot to my husband. After the cemetery we worked our way on down to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and took a quick run through the Plaza. After that it was time to scoot on down the highway and home. I am thankful for the getaway. I just wish it could have lasted longer. I am always so thankful to get an opportunity to get back home!

31 Days of Praise - Days 7 and 8

Here is where I praise God even in the hard things. Beginning even as early as late Saturday night, Sunday and Monday did not go well. They were full of stings and strife. Rules change, people hurt, and all is tears, frustration and anger. I am thankful for the prayers of one who is older late Sunday night, and the words of wisdom and practical advice given by one who is younger come Monday morning. Praise God for spirit-filled believers who come along side in that moment of need! It turned the tide of what could have been catastrophic to me.

31 Days of Praise - Day 9

Ah! A morning of perfection! A morning of perfection spent with a lovely group of homeschool mommies and their young children (several of them my own grandchildren) under blue skies and amid the gently swaying wildflowers and grasses of southwest Missouri's tall-grass prairie! I praise the Lord for those few hours of heaven on earth for it is there that I am truly in my element! It is those rare days that I long for and to actually get one is truly heaven-sent!

31 Days of Praise - Days 10 - 12

These days have been spent going back and forth getting son to and from work, running errands, getting things done around the place, and getting things marked off my long overdue to-be-done list. I am thankful for little successes...a clothesline restrung, a carpet shampooed, a bag of clothes delivered to the secondhand shop, pictures put on a flashdrive and delivered to a friend...all little things in and of themselves, but little things add up and for months...maybe even years...I've felt like I'm drowning in an overwhelming sea of to-dos that never get done. I am truly thankful for the little successes that have been achieved over the past few days and I pray that they continue.

Looking Forward To Tomorrow...
~Rebecca

31 Days of Praise - Day Four

As Lisa Jo's '31 Day' challenge continues, and even though we're only on Day 4, I find myself focusing more and more on praising the Lord in all things...in distresses, perplexities, and in times of trouble, as well as in the good moments that are spattered throughout these, otherwise, difficult days. Already I am beginning to see that 'making a way in the wilderness' that was promised to me by God on Day 2 and I praise Him and thank Him for that!

I intended to write more, but, as I have just been called away and must leave, I will stop here for today and will share more of what's on my heart and mind some other time.

Blessings To All,
~Rebecca

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised..." (Psalm 48:1)

 

31 Days Of Praise - Day Three

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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and glory to His name!

On Day Two of  Lisa Jo's challenge I shared the fact that God had made yet another promise to me...the promise to do a new thing in my life, and to make a way in our wilderness experience and to provide rivers of living water in the dry, parched, and sometimes desolate desert places in which we now find ourselves. What refreshing promises to hold on to in times such as this! Thank You, Lord!

Last night, after a better, but still particularly trying day, the Lord reminded me of another promise made to me long ago....a couple of promises, in fact. Promises that have not yet come to pass, but promises that I know are still in the works. Here is the passage of scripture that the Lord led me to last night...

"But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany 

salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work 

and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have 

ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do 

shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not 

slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, 

he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will 

multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

(Hebrews 6:9-15)

In the midst of all this turmoil that we are currently going through, I believe that the Lord is telling me that He knows. He knows what we've been through...the sacrifices we've made...and that He has not forgotten us, nor has He forgotten the promises that He made to us many years ago, and that if we, through faith and patience, endure, that He will bring them to pass.

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for the promises that You've made to us in Your Word, as well as those that You've made to us personally, and the fulfillment of all...whether it be now or in the future. I give You all praise and glory today, Lord, and I lift Your name on high!