Praise And Thanks

Praise ? How do you praise God ? Do you give God the praise due Him ? Do you thank Him for the blessings you receive everyday ?


Psalms 28:7 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.


I know in myself , I find that I do not always praise God as I should. I sometimes get downtrodden and feel sorry for myself. There is no other word for it but feeling sorry for myself. I am sure that you do this also at times. But I know for fact that I do, on occasion, feel sorry for myself. The question is, is it right to feel sorry for oneself ? Truthfully we should not feel sorry for ourselves. However, we are human and we do.


Psalms 7:17
17) I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.


Ephesians 5:20
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;


I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. We are to praise God in all things. We are to give thanks to God in all things. Even when we are downtrodden,feeling sorry for ourselves, having test and trials we are still to praise the Lord and give Him thanks. Yes, we often fail this but did you know that if you start praising God in the midst of whatever it is that is besetting you, that you will start to feel better and soon you will be uplifted in the Lord. Give it all up to Him. God knows of all you are going through and all that has befallen you. Give it to Him and praise Him through it all. Be thankful to Him for everything that you have, for all the blessings He blesses us with each day , we should praise Him and thank Him. As the verse in the Bible,God's Word says,He does not allow us to be tempted past that which we can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. We are to praise Him and give thanks to Him through it all. I fall short of this, oft times. In truth we all do. I encourage you that the next time you start feeling sorry for yourself to start praising God and thank Him for all the He has done for you and all that He has blest you with. So what if life isn't going as we want it to. What truthfully matters ? Yeah it hurts when things don't go as they should or as they were promised , one gets disappointed when promised things are not delivered. But in truth when promises are broken it hurts the one who made and broke those promises worse than it does you. The one is not being true as they should, you can't help what someone else chooses to do. You can only pray for them, as you should, and let them know how you feel about the disappointment. But in the long run of things you can't change it. It is up to them to make things right. If they choose not to make things right then they have to give account for what they did. We each have to give account for what we do, no one else. It is better to praise god and give Him thanks through all things and in all ways, even in the face of disappointment. If we face it by praising God and giving Him thanks for the opportunity to learn and grow, as we should, we are in fact growing closer in our walk with God and learning the lesson He is trying to teach us. We have to give account for ourselves so I intend to start praising Him through it all. The next time I get disappointed, start feeling sorry for myself, I will start praising God and stay true to Him because I don't want to be a person who allows the disappointment and sorrow of what has happened win. I want God to have the victory and in order to do that I have to praise Him and give Him thanks through it all. I am not going to allow anything else to take the victory that belongs to God. I urge you to do the same. Stand and praise God, give Him thanks in the face of adversity and give God the victory as He deserves it . He deserves all the praise, the honor, the glory and the thanks in all things.

Good Steward ? Good Servant ?

Good Steward ? Good Servant ? Are we truly a good steward and a good servant for God ? My question is the time that God has given you, do you use it wisely or unwisely ? The parable of the servants who were given talents by their Master comes to mind . Matthew 25:14-46. Even start reading from the beginning of the Chapter for it all speaks the same message Matthew 25:1-46 are you using what God has given you wisely ?


From the time we sought and accepted Jesus Christ's forgiveness time was no longer ours to do with as we wanted to. Our time is God's time. We, who are His children, owe our time in service to the Lord. We are His servants. He bought and paid for us with the highest price , His precious blood at Calvary. Our time belongs to Him it is not our own. We are supposed to spend our time being in service to our God.

How do you spend the time God has given you ? Wisely ? Unwisely ? When you have time on your hands, how do you use it ? Do you go out and do things that bring you fleshly or worldly pleasures, pleasures that fulfill the lust of the flesh and mind ? Or do you spend that time serving the Lord by helping others or by studying your Bible, reading an inspirational book, in prayer, in quiet communion with the Lord ? There are so many ways to serve God by spending the time, wisely, that He has gifted you with.

Is your mind and heart truly set on serving the Lord ? This question will help you to answer the other question of, do you spend your time wisely or unwisely ? If your heart and mind are set on truly serving the Lord then you will spend your time wisely in service to the Lord. One has to examine them self to see where their heart truly lies. If one finds more pleasure by doing worldly things that satisfy the lust of the flesh and mind than they do in serving the Lord, then something is not right. Set your heart and mind on the Lord. God can and will give you what you need that fulfills what needs to be fulfilled. The things that truly are good are things of the Lord.

When the Lord comes back do you want to be as the 5 unwise, foolish virgins who did not prepare as they should have ? Do you want to be as the unwise servant who hid his talent instead of using it for his Masters service ? Or do you want to be as the 5 wise virgins and as the wise servants? They used their time wisely as befittingly they should have in service to their Lord and Master. Which of these people do you want the Lord God/Jesus Christ to see you as when He returns ?

I encourage each of you to spend your time wisely in service to God/Jesus as He asks us to. Be ever watchful for not one of us know when our time shall end and then we will have to give account of the time we spent, whether it was spent wisely or unwisely. The wise servants ,whom served their Master as they should have will enter in to the Kingdom but those unwise and foolish servants who chose to spend their time as they wanted to instead of serving the Master will be cast into hell and then into the Lake of Fire.

You are faced daily within every moment of everyday, that God has saw fit to give you, with making the choice of spending your time wisely or unwisely. Which way will you choose ? Be it wisely ? Be it unwisely ? The choice is yours, but remember whom you have to give account of your time to and whether you spent your time wisely or unwisely that He gave you to serve Him.


As is spoken in Joshua 24:15
15)And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Truly Loving Your Children

There are people who have children and then there are parents. Among those parents there is a sub category of parents. Parents who truly love their children and care about where their children's soul will spend eternity.

We , as parents, have the ability and the means to teach our children about God/Jesus Christ. If we truly Love our children as God wants us to, then we will teach them about God/Jesus. The Bible, God's Word, tells us to raise up a child in the way he should go.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This passage tells us that we, as parents, have the responsibility to teach our children about God/Jesus. The responsibility to teach our children right from wrong. To teach them what they need to know so they can make decisions on their own, that will benefit them in their future life as a Christian, here on Earth. Also to teach them the things they need to know that will ensure them of having a Heavenly Home with Jesus one day. We have that responsibility and if we , truly, Love our children then we will teach them the right way, God's Way.

For example, the way we ,us parents, live our life, each and everyday, shows whether we are true Christians or whether we are pretending to be something we truly are not. If you go around cussing and swearing or drinking, having sex with someone other than your spouse,view pornography, say things to your child like," Wow did you see the way that girl/guy looked wasn't that sexy", if you lust after others other than your spouse and you let your children see or know any of these things then your children are learning by the example you are setting for them. Just as what you watch on television or listen to in the form of music says. You are teaching your children to learn by the example you are setting for them. You, as a parent, are the first and most effectual examples that your child will ever focus upon.

Just as if you live your life by going to Church, reading your Bible daily, saying prayers, blessings over food, praising the Lord out loud , singing gospel songs, doing things that will benefit others, actively serving God in whatever you do, not being afraid to serve God and share Him with others.If your children see you doing this for the Lord , they will learn by your example. By living your life , as a parent, for the Lord and in God's service you are teaching your child to learn by the example you are setting before them. Again you, as a parent, are the first and most effectual examples that your child will ever focus upon.

Other people can look at you and tell whom you live your life for, whether it be for God/Jesus or for the devil/world. Just as people can see how , the way you live your life, affects your children. You reflect upon your children , just as your children reflect upon you. Children learn by example.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

In all of this , if you truly Love your child and care about where their soul will spend eternity ,you will teach them of the Lord and the Lord's ways. You will live a good godly life before them.There comes a time in every parents life, when they have to step aside and let their children go out on their own. It is best to prepare that child, for when the time comes for it to go out on it's own, to be prepared in and of the Lord. With God in their life they will know how to live for the Lord instead of serving the devil/world and the ways of the devil/world. For we live in this world but we are not to be a part of it. Yes, that can be done. And we, as parents, if we have taught our children of the Lord, armed them with the Full Armor of God, then our children are prepared to live in this world/devil but not be partakers of the world/devil and it's ways. We have prepared them to be able to live and work their way as a Christian, a true Christian, if we have set the proper example before them and have instructed them as God directs us to in His Word, the Holy Bible.

If you Love your child you will teach them of God/Jesus and the right Way, the only Way, to live their life. By doing this you have insured them with God.

Learning To Listen

Learning To Listen To The Voice Of The Lord

We all must learn to listen to and for the voice of the Lord. He does speak to us. But we do not always hear Him or else we do not listen as we should when He does speak to us. It says in His Word that His sheep shall know His voice. Yes we know His voice but we do not always listen to Him when we should.

On Friday, the 27th of April, the children and I were leaving our house to go check the mail at the Post Office. As I locked the door , I heard a voice say," Go back in and get the camera." I heard it distinctly. But I did not heed the voice, which I knew it was the Lord prompting me, yet I did not heed . I went ahead and walked to my SUV and headed out to the Post Office.

On the way I usually take the road that goes by the Lake we live near. As I was driving by I noticed , out of the corner of my eye, a large bird perched on the limb of a dead tree that was sticking up out of the water. I pulled up and stopped the vehicle and my breath caught as the bird was a Bald Eagle. I knew right then and there that I should have heeded the Lord's voice. The children were all excited because it is not every day that one gets to see a Bald Eagle. So I said a pray. I said, " Lord if You keep the Eagle here I will drive back to the house and get my camera so I can get a picture of it. And from now on I will listen when I hear You prompting me to do something no matter what it is."

So I drove back to the house, ran in and got my camera. We drove back down the Lake road and the Bald Eagle was eating a fish it had caught and was perched on the same tree branch. I thanked the Lord for keeping it there. The children were ecstatic as was I. We watched it for a while before I decided to get out of the vehicle and try to get some pictures of it. Of course I only have a small digital Kodak camera that does not zoom in too well. I took a couple of pictures of the Bald Eagle perched on the tree branch before it noticed me. I walked towards it a little more and spooked it because it took to flight. It was so awesome to see this amazing bird take to wing. It rose in the air spread it's wings and turned in the opposite direction from me and flew. I saw the sun glistening off of it's white head and white tail feathers and I was in awe. I did not get any close up pictures but just being able to see the Eagle in all it's glory was enough. I was praising God that I got to see His creation, this magnificent Bald Eagle.

I turned and walked back to the SUV and the children were so excited. They had the SUV bouncing because they were in there bouncing up and down. I opened the door and they were praising the Lord also, for getting to see the Bald Eagle. We were so in awe and praiseful. I handed the camera to Elizabeth and then we drove on to the Post Office.

As I was driving I told them about me not listening to the Lord when I should have, when He spoke to me about going back into the house and getting my camera. I told them , God gave me a second chance to do His bidding but He does not always do this. Sometimes if we do not heed His voice , we will not get a second chance. I shared this with them so they would know that they need to heed God's voice when He speaks to them.

It is not always something great that God wants us to do when He speaks to us. He speaks to us to see whether we will heed His voice or not. We are tested in this way by the Lord , sometimes we pass the test but we also fail it sometimes. I failed that test but God gave me another chance. I and all of us need to learn to heed God's voice when He speaks to us because we may not get another chance.

I learned my lesson and also my children got to learn through me, by my sharing with them about me not heeding God's voice. God allowed me to use what I did , to turn it into an opportunity to teach my children. I make mistakes, I am not perfect and God knows this. Yet He still loves each of us and if we are repentant He accepts us and forgives us. I encourage each one of us, that the next time we hear God's voice urging us to do something, no matter how odd it may seem to us, to please heed His voice. Because we may never get another chance to make right what we did not listen to from the Lord.

Watching

I was looking out my window this morning watching a Mourning Dove that had perched upon my wooden swing, that is in the backyard. I have three bird feeders in my backyard and this Mourning Dove was watching the other birds at the feeder and the birds that were on the ground looking for any dropped seeds. It was as if the Mourning Dove was watching the others to see what they were doing. He just sat there as if he was pondering them. He made no attempt to fly to the feeders but was content, for a while, to just watch the other birds interacting and feeding. Eventually he decided to fly down and intermingle and eat with the other birds, chasing some away that got a little too boisterous or aggressive while eating in peace with others.

It struck me that God watches us in much the same way as this Mourning Dove was watching these other birds. God observes us to see how we are going to react when faced with a situation in which we have to struggle, or in which we are tested and tried. He watches to see if we give in to the harassment and demands of others and run from or give in to the trials or to see if we stand and seek Him for help. He watches us to see whether we withstand the test that we are being tested in. If we seek Him, then He will come to us and help us. Just as this Mourning Dove chased off the birds, that were being boisterous and aggressive towards it and the other birds, God will intervene and help us in the situations of trial, temptations, testing, the very battles that we face in our life.

God comes to us but we have to seek Him. We have to become humbled, to the point, to where He knows we are earnest in our seeking Him. God will help us, He will uplift us. He will hear our cry for help when the world and it's ways seek to encompass us. Trust in the Lord and He will deliver you.

Remember He is watching. He is in the Heavens watching us to see if on His name we do call when we are in the throes of temptations and battles or if we give in to those temptations and battles. He is just waiting for us to seek Him and ask His forgiveness and help. When we become humbled unto Him then He will come down to us and forgive us and uplift us from the midst of the battle and out of the temptations that seek to drown us.

God is watching.

I got an email from a dear friend today. I replied in email to my Little Brother and I thought I need to share this with others, the way the Lord led me to share with him, I also need to share with others what God gave me to share with my Little Brother. He is in some ways wiser in the Lord than I am. God blesses us with others in our life to help us in so many ways. That is awesome.


God is awesome. He is teaching me some things I need to know and some of them have not been easy to accept as I have had to eat humble pie, so to speak. I thought I was humble at the time but God let me know I needed to be humbler. And so He showed me this and I did as He asked of me and He is at work. I have had to reach the depths of the valley to get humbled to where He wanted me to be and put self out of the way. Once I did this He made known to me what He wanted to.

I had to take a deep look at myself and see myself as He saw me. And some of want I saw about myself made me realize that I am a harsh person in some aspects. I know when it comes to Him and His Word we have to be disciplined and strict but I had allowed this to carry over to other areas of my life. Too much so it seems. But now that I know this I am working to change me. I can't change others but I can change me to be more of who God wants me to be.

Sometimes the lessons taught by the Lord are hard to take but I know that He only wants what is best for us, His children. God has lifted me up so many times and once again He lifted me up . I still have a ways to climb and a lot to learn but one day after while I am going to be with Him. I look forward to that day.

Sometimes we have to do a little sacrificial living in order to be at the point to where God wants us to be in order to fully realize what God wants of us. Sometimes this is what it takes for us to listen to Him, for Him to get our attention. I am a selfish person. When I gave up to God the one thing that I wanted most and left it in His hands, He started taking action. I thought I could help Him but I truly realized that it was I who was hindering Him and what He wanted to do. So I gave up what I wanted and said to Him to do as He wanted things to be and He is working. I see Him working and I am repentant first for thinking I could change things when truthfully I never could on my own, and thankful that God is a forgiving God and that He after I gave up what I wanted has started to work on it all. I had to give it up for Him and to Him and then He let me see the awakening of what He wants to be done in all of this. I have to be submissive to God and follow His lead and His will for my life for without Him I have nothing. I am thankful that God saw fit to chasten me. I am thankful also that I realized that He was chastening me and letting me know to let go and let Him do as He knew was best for me.

How Are You Praying?

Have you ever asked God for something and you did not get the thing you asked for ? Was the thing you asked for something that would benefit you in a worldly way ? Would what you ask for bring you wealth that you might misuse to fulfill your own lust ? Did you ask for God to give you a specific person as a potential spouse and God did not give you that person because you only wanted to fulfill your lust for this person ? Was the thing you asked for something that would strictly benefit you and allow you to fulfill a lust or hunger that you had that was not of God ?

Well there was a reason that you did not receive that which you asked for. It tells us why we sometimes do not get what we ask for , if we ask for something that is wrong to ask for, within the pages of the Bible. The below verse tells us why we do not receive when we ask for things that will feed our own lust.


Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon
your lusts.
James 4:3

So the next time you pray and ask God for something weigh it in the balances, what it is that you seek to receive. Make certain that you are not asking something of God that you will use to satisfy your own lust. For God holds no part with the world nor those who seek to serve the world and themselves. Be careful of what you pray for and how you pray for it.