Today's Thought

Praise first! The Psalmist is quick to recognize that his prayers have been
heard and God's mercy has been provided. But, knowing all that, his first
matter of business is to give praise and glory to God; the emphasis is not
on answered prayer, but on giving God the glory due His name!

What do we think of when we see a prayer answered? If we're like most, our attention is immediately drawn to the answer of our prayer and giving God the glory is not our first priority. Unfortunately, if we don't see
answered prayer, praise is often far from our lips, or secondary at the
very best. This verse implies something quite different that we need to
carefully consider.  Praise is first . . . regardless of the outcome of the prayer. Praise should be continually on our lips, long before we see the answer to our prayers! Praise should be a way of life! Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, said, "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content." (Phil. 4:11) Paul wasn't concerned about his
life's situations and circumstances. He understood the Psalmist's statement in today's verse: "Blessed be God...." He first praised God, a priority in his life!

Begin to praise God today for Who He is, for what He has done, and for what He is doing! If He has answered specific prayers for your, be sure to
acknowledge it, but praise Him first and foremost!

Don't allow your praise to be conditional, but make it a priority in your
life, today and every day!

Today's Prayer

Father, I praise You! I bless Your Name for Your Name is above every name that is in heaven or on the earth! Your glory can be seen in all Your
works, there is none like You in all the earth! Father, I thank you for
answered prayer and for your unconditional mercy, but first, and foremost,
Lord, I give you praise. Be glorified, Lord, be glorified! Amen!

Have a blessed day!

Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

John 11:40

Mary and Martha could not understand what their Lord was doing. Both of them said to Him, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Back of it all we seem to read their thought: "Lord we do not understand why you have stayed away so long. We do not understand how you could let death come to the man man whom you loved. We do not understand how you could let sorrow and suffering ravage our lives when your presence might have stayed it all . Why did you not come? It is too late now, for already he has been dead four days!"

Comment.... that is just like us...our normal human thoughts are 'why weren't you there'.  From a child's point of view when there is a problem or crisis, we depend on a parent or an adult figure to take care and make right what is wrong. And, for the most part we can right what is wrong. This brings a secure feeling and comfort to our troubled souls. I am appreciative of the nature of the Holy Spirit that our Father has left with us to comfort us in those troubles times...... but what about Mary and Martha?????? They are confused as were others about the whereabouts of Jesus ...  Let's continue .....  And to it all Jesus had but one great truth: " You may not understand; but I tell you if you believe, you will see."

Continuing ...... Abraham could not understand why God should ask the sacrifice of the boy; but he trusted. And he saw the glory of God in his restoration to his love. Moses could not understand why God should keep him forty years in the wilderness, but he trusted; and he saw when God called him to lead forth Israel from bondage. Joseph could not understand the cruelty of his brethren, the false witness of a perfidious woman, and the long years of an unjust imprisonment; but he trusted, and he saw at last the glory of God in it all.

Comment...... Isn't it hard to wait even for a day for something we want... We see daily where we are having to wait on someone or something. Our patience wears virtuously thin! I can't even begin to share with you how really thin it it in most everyones life. We go from having to wait in traffic jams in major cities to waiting on a doctor in an over crowded waiting room or emergency room, to a simple waiting in a checkout line at a local super market! Wow!!!!!!! Then there are the long waits on medical test to see if you have a dreaded disease/cure remedy for it. Patience is certainly a virtue. We should always pray for God to guide us continuously in our endeavor with patience. I want you to think about these men mentioned above and imagined what they must have been dealing with......could you have done it? 

Continuing ....... Joseph could not understand the cruelty of his brethren, the false witness of a perfidious woman, and the long years of an unjust imprisonment; but he trusted, and he saw at last the glory of God in it all.

Comment....... Could you allow yourself to be wrongly imprisoned? .....and how would you spend your time there? Now assuming that you see God's glory in this situation....what if you had to continue on in the situation? 

Continuing ..... Jacob could not understand the strange providence which permitted the same Joseph to be torn from his father's love, but he saw the glory of God when he looked into the face of that same Joseph as the viceroy of a great king, and the preserver of his own life and the loves of a great nation..

And so, perhaps in your life. You say, " I do not understand why God let my dear one be taken. I do not understand why affliction has been permitted to smite me. I do not understand the devious paths by which the Lord is leading me. I do not understand why plans and purposes that seem good to my eyes should be baffled. I do not understand why blessings I so much need are so long delayed." Friend, you do not have to understand it all God's ways with you. God does not expect you to understand, only believe. Some day you will see the glory of God in the things which you do not understand. In conclusion here.... the important thing to remember here is that God is ETERNAL ! He is the only source of belief in life! He has given us the Holy Spirit to see us through in those times that are the hardest as well as His promise that those who believe in him (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit),and confess their sins will have eternal life........is our hope. 

Anything other is amiss. Whether you believe that there was another world, another time period with other rulers, other biblical entries....... there is no other God! There was a beginning! Something far greater than you or I could imagine. Who else could it have been?

Only God could have those powers? You ask perhaps....who made God so great? Good question.... but I would never go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It all started with only ONE ! Identity?

I choose The Creator.....God, the Father.

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We have a link at CWOW that I think will give you a look at God's plan... why come with me to read it......let's go here ......

http://www.cwowfoundation.org/embroidery.html

May God walk beside you all through the day :)

Shenna