That's Why I Praise Him...

I woke up singing this song today...

"I've got so much to thank God for,
so many wonderful blessings,
and so many open doors,
a brand new mercy along with each new day;
that's why I praise You, and for this I give You praise.

For waking me up this morning, (that's why I praise You),
for starting me on my way, (that's why I praise You),
for letting me see the sunshine, (that's why I praise You),
of a brand new day.
A brand new mercy (that's why I praise You),
along with each new day;
(that's why I praise You, for this I give You praise).

You're Jehovah Jireh (that's why I praise You),
You've been my provider (that's why I praise You),
so many times You met my needs (that's why I praise You),
so many times You rescued me.
I wanna thank You for the blessings (that's why I praise You),
You give to me each day;
(that's why I praise You, for this I give You praise).

For every mountain You've brought me over.
For every trial You've seen me through.
For every blessing, hallelujah;
for this I give You praise"

-For Every Mountain, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

[I CANNOT wait for the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Worship Leader Conference in October. This song makes me weep. God is SO good, and worthy to be praised -- always.]

"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."
-Genesis 22:14

Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will Provide

The Lord called Abraham to trust Him, to withhold nothing from Him, even his own son. And in Abraham's obedience and faithfulness, the Lord provided the ram for the sacrifice, and then blessed him.

I think often we expect God to provide for us, but we don't always surrender all to Him first. We need to re-order our focus. Surrender, then trust that He will provide. He won't bless us if we withhold from Him.

He has brought me over many mountains, and through many trials, and has proven His faithfulness, and blessed me. I praise Him for everything, and in everything, because He is worthy.

Dear Lord, thank You for the beautiful women in my life...

That fact that I have many friends who are so different, and who are in such different places in their lives is such a blessing to me. The more I talk to these women, the more I grow in my understanding of the way our minds work, the things that drive us, and the things that distract us. I cherish each relationship, and I pray that I will not offend or disappoint any of them.

God has made each one of us as unique individuals, and throughout our lives we have developed our own personalities, likes, dislikes, and quirks. We use these things to connect with each other, but even more than that, to challenge each other. I am in love with this concept. We cause each other to think outside of our typical perspective. To embrace new things, to stand up for things we believe in, to listen and to love. This experience is intoxicating, and is often the thing that leaves me sitting with a girlfriend at 2 o'clock in the morning, still talking, whether at a table outside of a restaurant, in the middle of a parking lot, or on a couch.

I am thankful that God is still placing beautiful women into my life, and the women I have known for a while are becoming like family to me. I need this. It is definitely cause to worship.

Thank you Lord!

Let's stop chasing after things and success and start chasing after Christ! Don't ever be content to stay where you are (spiritually).

The Laodicean Heart

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." -Revelation 3:15-20

I pounded my feet along the sidewalks in my neighborhood...down in front of the rows of apartments and houses...past the pool and the tennis courts and the biggest bird house I've ever seen...through the gazebo and down the steps to a little bench that overlooked the lake in the moonlight. I clutched my bible in my hand, opened to 1 Corinthians 3, which had I started reading on my porch, but my anger burned so strongly, I had to just walk, tears streaming down my face.

"...neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." How thankful I really am for this. I don't want that responsibility. But, the Lord has burdened my heart to plant and water. And this anger has grown inside of me because of the state of our hearts. Where are our affections held? What is captivating us? What is consuming us?

As much as we'd like each other to believe, it's not God. And yes, I am speaking in broad generalities. Don't take offense, but please, take this to heart. Examine yourselves! "Be zealous and repent"! Do you really want to be that which the Lord vomits out of His mouth? He would rather you be COLD. Do you hear that?

The thing that gets me the most out of this is His overwhelming love and MERCY. In His disgust He counsels us to come to Him for riches, clothing and sight (the spiritual kind). He rebukes us because of His love. He waits for us to invite Him in. He longs to fellowship with us.

I want that. I want to be on fire. I want to dine with the Lord. I want in on what He is doing! Do you?