A SPRINGTIME THANKFUL THURSDAY

This week let's open our eyes to all that God has done as well as being

a watchman on the walls of your location..... wherever God has placed you. 

On my FEC monthly prayer sheet, Isaiah 62:6-7 precedes all the petitions. "....Give God no rest until He establishes and 'til He makes (First Evan or wherever it's people minister) a praise in the earth."

In A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson connects the word watchman with wait and hope. (p. 136) 

It's a role to embrace not a complaint.

Today I choose to look for God's hand in every situation and rejoice.

A morning in the hillside at daughter Molly's showed God's creation at every turn.......from baby chicks to rhododendron filled with butterflies!

Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. (Psalm 150:6)

PERPETUAL PRAYERS!

Perpetual prayers so easily come forth for peace as we face life or pray  for others who relish such prayers as well. 

Recently, alone on a damp precipitous perch while hubby and grandson, Owen. hiked near-by, I left behind all the petitions.

Praises came forth! For me, circumstances too often lead to pleas/petitions. I needed to be still and allow the Lord to touch my soul that praises might come forth from my inmost being. (Psalm 103:1)

Reflecting this morning on that time on the "cliff", a knock on the door got me out of my prayer chair. Neighbor, John, had found a letter in the grass----damp from several days of due. But God used it to bless me greatly. It was answer to one of my perpetual petitions and it prompted praise. I had been anxious for an update from her and here it was!

Petition ▶️ Prayer  ▶️ Praise ▶️ Prompts 

▶️Perpetual Prayers & Praise Together

May praises for Him always be on my lips! (Psalm 34:1)

PRAISES FOR THE DAY!

Day of Praise!

Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. (Psalm 150:6)

Praise God from whom all Blessings flow.....

31 Days of Praise! Shouldn't we have 365 Days of Praise.

CONSIDER THE HANDIWORK OF GOD!

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. ((Psalm 19:1)

What great glimpses we've had of the work of His hands as we have traveled the eastern coast of Florida!

From banyan trees and palm trees .....

to bald eagles perching & soaring at May Port......

.............to a sand crane family on the golf course....

and the deep rich blues of the Atlantic Ocean,

God's creative hand has done a great work!

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, (Psalm 150.6) let all rejoice
as they consider the handiwork of God.

God-Speak

First and Foremost-----Know this----God speaks through His word!!!

Yet, occasionally, I can't help but see God's hand in "mysterious" instruction.
A "God-wink" of sorts, as Ann Martin says.

"Take Time for Family and Prayer. Always give Praise."
It's even quoted on their web page.

Thanks to Rucker's Candy for this sweet taste of God-Speak!

WOW Factor in Meditation

3/25/13 Just finished Anne Lamott's, Help, Thanks, Wow--the three essentials of prayers and though I don't always agree with her "theology," that gal has a way with words. Pastor Cole alluded to her book title in yesterday's Palm Sunday message during our "Festival of Praise." He concludes that "praise" is the "wow" of prayer. He quoted C.S. Lewis, definition of praise. Praise is inner health made audible.
So.....this week's meditation will be on "praise" verses. Verses which for me are easy to find in my "old" Bible because they are marked in purple, per Kay Arthur's instruction in the first Bible Study I ever attended.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 150:6, KJV)

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV)

In KJV, word "bless," translation is used---but as applied to God, bless means to praise, implying a strong love & affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. It's the chosen translation for "10,000 Reasons" song (Matt Redman) so naturally I love that version too!

A Mom and her special needs son join in the WOW of worship

Sing to the Lord a new song,.....for he has done marvelous things; Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalm 98:1 & 4, KJV)

The entire service was full of the WOW of praise---from scripture readings to songs. A "wow" factor that has me continuing to meditate praise worthy scriptures.

PIP

10/3/11 PIP is my acronym for "Put Into Practice." Usually for me that means living out a meaningful verse of Scripture. Today was a "Day of Praise" for the radio station K-Love. They asked listeners to join them in praising God for who He is & thanking Him for what He's done. Praise and thanks. That seemed like a good thing to PIP. (By the way my acronyms are in no way connected to net lingo for chatting or texting---just my way of remembering, established long before one could even text on a phone.)

Today's MM (Monday Meditation) is a glimpse as I PIP this challenge. Meditating on scripture often serves as a springboard for prayer and praise. Psalm 67 was my international praise guide. Psalm 150 was my benediction.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us
2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! (ESV)

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)

As the Puritan's "Evening Praise" states, "My cup runs over. Suffer me not to be insensible (without feeling) to these daily mercies.Thy hand bestows blessings: Thy power averts evil. I bring my tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the warmth of faith, the cheering presence of Thy Spirit...." (The Valley of Vision, p. 121)