30 Days of Praise Day 19 I Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Since we went to church last night and the time spent before it was taken up with cleaning, errands, etc, I felt a strong conviction this morning to actually take a Sabbath day. You know...relax, rest, sit quietly. Three things I am horrible at. Throughout the day I've been chomping at the bit-to go do this, go run, get ahead for the week...DO something! Instead I chose to obey the still, soft voice of my Savior wooing me to spend the day with Him. And I'm glad I listened! I've spent most of the day in bed reading Tim Tebow's book Through My Eyes and what an incredible inspiration it was! Tebow's influence for Jesus has been wide and far reaching in his young life. Each chapter starts with a Scripture, this one being one of them. I love the analogies that football lend to real life, because on and off the field, we face battles. We get hit, blocked, and even hurt in our everyday lives, face opponents that are bigger than we are, just like football players do on the field. I think sometimes as Christians we expect everything to be rosy and for us to somehow be exempt from hard times. God doesn't promise that, but He does promise that he will be with us to the ends of the earth and that His power in us will overcome the world. He also tells us His WILL for us during these times is to give thanks. Wow. So if you're ever wondering what God's will for you is, this verse is a good place to start. That means we give thanks when we're grieving or when we're happy, when we don't understand what God's doing in our circumstances, whether we win or lose, whether or not we get ahead at work, whether we get what we're asking God for or not. IN EVERYTHING, give thanks.

30 Days of Praise-Day 18 "Offering" by Third Day

Magnificent Holy Father
I stand in awe of all I see
Of all the things You have created
But still You choose to think of me

Who am I that You should suffer
Your very life to set me free
The only thing that I can give You
Is the life You gave to me

This is my offering, dear Lord
This is my offering to You, God
And I will give You my life
For it’s all I have to give
Because You gave Your life for me

I stand before You at this altar
So many have given You more
I may not have much I can offer
Yet what I have is truly Yours

This is my offering

30 Days of Praise Day 17-Psalm 52:9

I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Today has been a tough day. It's such a strange phenomenon to go from feeling joyful, close to the Lord and at peace to struggling, doubting, and going through the day with a heavy heart. My only explanation for this is that the enemy wants nothing more than to steal our joy, our passion and our love for the Lord. So especially in the midst of sweet times of intimacy with our God, he brings attacks in all forms. If we are not consistent in our devotions and "arm" ourselves with the Sword of Truth, we are easy targets.

This verse reminds me of how amazing God is. We are spiritual beings with an eternal need to praise our Creator...not only for what He has done but what He is going to do. Since His name is perfect and without flaw, I will put my hope in it. He is Deliverer, Conqueror and in me, is greater than he who is in the world. I cling to that truth during these times of attack, and regardless of how I "feel" I will continue to praise Him!