Blessings

It's so easy to praise God when we have abundant blessings. It almost rolls off our tongues automatically.... "Thank God... I got that job, I got there safely, My kids are safe." "Thank God." Yesterday, I was working and my client had a PET scan which took two and a half hours! No one told me I'd be in a waiting room for that long, but for Christmas my mom bought me a Nook by Barnes and Noble. Yesterday I was seriously thanking God for allowing us the technology we have. I sent my mom this text message"Thank God and you for the Nook. This is taking forever!" I meant it, it wasn't a flip 'Thank God." Plus it was wonderful because I was able to use it as a tool to witness a little. There's ALWAYS an opportunity to talk about God. It started out so innocently. Random guy in the waiting room: "Is that one of those ebook thingys?" Me: "Yeah it's great." Random guy: "What kind of books do you have and how much do they cost." Me: "I have several novels from the free nook book store,(Hook) some I purchased, (Line) would you like to take a look?" Random Guy: "Well, sure, what are you reading now?" Me: (smile) "Right now I'm studying." Random Guy: "Studying what?" Me: (bigger smile) "The book of Job." (Sinker) Random Guy: "I tried reading the Bible once. It's too big. Too much information for just saying "be good to other people." The ensuing conversation made some others uncomfortable. But then, that's okay. We looked over a passage or two. Talked about it. Bottom line..... Thank God for my Nook.

Is is so easy when we're suffering? I found it hard when I was out of work, when I didn't have a home, when my life was painful, to remember to praise God. I found ways. I'm happier when I can praise Him. "Praise God I have this opportunity to spend time with my daughter." "Praise God, You're going to teach me something aren't You?" Those were my main praises. I have to remind myself that He is in control of my situation. Sure, I have free will, but when I flex my muscles and try and take control things usually get more difficult until I finally let go and let God take over. Sometimes, I literally throw my arms in the air and say "Whatever God. Whatever Your will is, I want it." That's what faith is, it's looking at nothing, knowing that God will make something out of it. It's submitting to something amazing, letting go of what you never had control of in the first place. Even when I fail, when I just KNOW I've let Him down, I remind myself that I haven't surprised Him. He knows my story. He knows the ending. It's like when we were kids. We'd sit on our mom or dads laps in the car "steering", but they always worked the pedals, and they were always close enough to take the wheel. As Carrie Underwood's song says, "Jesus take the wheel." Take control and remind me to praise You, to love You, to put the thankfulness first, so that You may be honored.

*The Jesus Loving Princess*

*Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Luke 6:22 *