May 5, 2026

Praise Heart

We cannot praise God if we don’t know Him personally. It takes our relationship with Him for us to adore and admire His good works over our lives.

I stand in awe of Him because I personally know who He is to me and what He has done. He is so great, and so worthy to be praised. It is only when I realized this when I will truly worship, praise and admire and appreciate His works over my life.

For You are awesome God of Nations,
Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Alpha, Omega
You are worthy of all praise
More that these hands I’ll raise
I’ll live a life of praise!

from Life of Praise ~ Casting Crowns

When I say, “You are awesome!” it means I have run short of words— He is so wonderful! When I say, “Lion of Judah” it means I know He is reigning over every situation. Think of a lion the way it roars and what do other animals do when the lion is near? They flee for life. How about this Lion of Judah? At His name every knee will bow.

Lets just look at what He has done?  Read through this praise-filled psalm, Psalm 103.  He has done great and mighty things; looking from the time we were born to now; and the greatest thing of sending Christ to die on our behalf for us to have eternal life…don’t I have to jump with praise and live a life of praise?

What else do I want when I know He is worth it. He created me to praise Him again and again…He is mighty, awesome, excellent, great in battle!

There is a song I have composed (of course, have not taken to the studios yet!)…part of the lyrics says:

Adonai, I worship You today
El Shaddai, I worship You today
You are worthy of the praise
You are worthy of the glory
Adonai, I worship You today

And when I sing this song I feel His presence near me. Remember when our praises go up high to Him, His glory comes down and this song gets me closer to His throne.

It is the same with you, praise can be done anytime as long as you know Who you are praising, what He has done, and things He is yet to do—for they are awesome. Nothing compares to Him; hence He is the Alpha and Omega (He’s the beginning AND the end.)
He is our Rock of ages—solid rock. All other grounds are sinking sand hence us praising Him for He is the solid one never shaken even when the storm rages and it is because He is in me and I am in Him I don’t fear no storms and I am covered under this Rock. The Rock Who is Christ Jesus and this means if devil wants to attack he should start with the shelter (who is Christ) then come to me otherwise I am under maximum protection—hence my praise.

Father, I praise You and worship You for You are the great I AM!  In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!!!

Thanksgiving

At this time of year we come upon a day we call “Thanksgiving.”    We will play games, watch football, and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

We will get together with our families and eat (turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or pecan pie) and much more…yumm…I’m getting hungry already.

Sometimes before we begin our meal, everyone in the family will tell one thing they are thankful for.   And then after we are all through eating, playing, talking, checking out ads for Black Friday shopping, everyone proceeds to go home—with Thanksgiving now being just a memory in our minds until next year.

Something we all must ingrain on our hearts and minds is that Thanksgiving is not just a one-day-a-year event.

Thanksgiving is a daily opportunity to speak out and express to God how grateful we are.

The Bible tells us we are to “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

When we make thanksgiving a daily part of our life we will find that our life is much richer and fuller.  When we take time to stop and thank God we will find we have a much softer heart, that our relationship with Him will grow, and our desire to spend more time with Him will increase.

One of the all-time best things we can say thanks for is to God for giving us His Son to die for our sins and allowing us an opportunity to receive salvation and live with Him forever!

Can I stop here and say “WOW”, and “THANKS!

You can track throughout God’s Word the many times Jesus gave thanks to His Father; here are some: (Matthew11:25;  John 11:41;  Matthew 15:36; John 6:11; Luke 22:17-20;  1 Corinthians 11:23 and 24).   How many times do we give thanks to our Father, Jesus Christ?

 Thanksgiving is not the only day we can say thanks to Him.  I encourage each of you before your feet hit the floor each morning to sit in your bed…and…

Speak out to God your daily thanksgivings!

 

Let’s Pray: 

Dear God,

I pray that each of us will let “Thanksgiving” be a daily prayer not a yearly event.  In your name I pray, Amen!

Entertain Without the Holiday Weight Gain

christmas tableI am a true southern girl who loves to entertain. I have to admit, holiday and party foods are my favorite. However, to entertain without the weight gain, during the holidays, can be a challenge. With the average weight gain for Americans of 7-12 pounds from Thanksgiving to Christmas, it is crucial to have a plan to avoid those extra pounds.

Planning how to eliminate the temptation to indulge is just as important as planning the party itself.  Here are a few of my strategies.

THE PREPARATION

  • Eat healthy the day of the party

Don’t let the time get away from you with all of the baking, cooking, cleaning, decorating and errands and forget about eating.  To avoid starvation and overindulging by the time your guests arrive, be sure to budget time during your day to eat a healthy nutritious meal.

  • Prepare healthy options

Have healthier options available and fill most of your plate with foods that are lower in calories to give yourself less room on your plate for the higher calorie treats.

  • Prepare your staple items

If you entertain regularly, you probably have those recipes that are a crowd favorite.  Stick to them and maybe try one new thing. Attempting all new recipes can lead to taste testing all day…which leads to extra calories all day. I have a couple of desserts that I know will work every time. No need to sample.

DURING THE PARTY

  • Focus on your guests

If you have eaten properly during the day, you will be ready to give all of your attention to your guests.  Enjoy your food, but don’t make it your focus.

  • Have smaller plates available

To accommodate all of your guests, having different plate sizes available is a way for every person to control their own portion sizes.  Decide ahead of time that a smaller plate will be your choice.

  • Have ‘to-go’ boxes ready

As the hostess, my biggest fear is running out of food so I tend to prepare too much and end up with plenty of leftovers.  However, having them remain overnight can be disastrous. If you can relate, have cute ‘to-go’ boxes ready for anyone who may wish to take some home and get them out of your house.

Don’t fall into the weight gain statistics this year.  Just as you must plan the food and decorations, be sure to plan your strategy to avoid the holiday weight gain as you entertain.

In Good Health,

Crystal

Joy IS Possible…Right Where You Are

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it

Genesis 28:16

November 22,2011.  There was a note, and a knock, and some boxes; and our lives were packed in two cars and a U-Haul. It was Thanksgiving Eve and we were in a hotel room overlooking the Pensacola Bay. Not a plush hotel room or a suite, just two double beds and some orange carpet and 1970’s curtains. Musty smells replaced turkey smells and loud noises outside replaced the familiar sound of family. No Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing on TV or parades…but we still had each other.

We got creative and played games. The kids had a blast as they were so excited to be in a hotel for the first time. They had no idea what was really going on. See, as long as their father (and mother) were there, they felt safe. Thanksgiving came and we broke out the Pringles and gummy worms and had a feast. We thanked God for all we had and for being together and for loving each other. God was still blessing us and loving us. We took walks outside and watched some movies and prayed and fellowshipped. Kyle and I continued to pray for a miracle. We never once wondered where God was in all of this…we knew He had to be up to something.

Just as we were thinking this was the end of a beautiful season of living in a dream place, God was starting something new here. We received a call from a friend and in that call was a huge dose of hope! Shortly thereafter, we loaded the kids back in the car and drove back over the bridge to a precious house on the beach and we have been there ever since. God knew all along and He had a plan. And it was much better than we could have ever imagined.

When you praise Him through it all and thank Him for all you do have, it opens up the heavens for more blessings. God works in mysterious ways and His ways are not always understandable. But He is always trustworthy. If you are wondering why you are where you are today or you are wondering where God is at this moment—He is always with you.  He always loves you.  He always keeps His promises. There is hope today and there is always something to be grateful for. Remembering to give thanks is what causes us to trust and to believe.  Live the prayer of Thanksgiving and you will always live the power of trusting God.  Joy is always possible right where you are.  And just like my children, when we are with our Father, we know we are safe, no matter where we are.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and be a blessing to someone today!!

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for all the blessings You bestow on us daily, hourly, every minute of the day we are blessed by Your grace. Lord, You give so much and we take so much for granted. Help us to remember that this is not all there is. And that we are living for eternity and we are not Home yet. Help us to keep our eyes open and ears open to see and hear of anyone who is in need and may we not hesitate to give until it hurts for it was in someone being obedient to You that saved our family years ago. Comfort those who are hurting today and draw especially close to them during this season. You sustain us and You keep us in perfect peace. We love You and we praise You. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

His Love Endures Forever

 

Don’t you just love to sing this praise anthem?!!?  The words give our hearts such an awesome way to acknowledge God’s goodness and praise Him for His enduring love!

This praise-filled phrase—He is good; His love endures forever—is recorded in many places throughout the Old Testament.  One of the most outstanding records, in my opinion, is found in the 2nd Book of Chronicles, specifically chapters 5-7.

We see (2 Chronicles 5) King Solomon calling the elders of Israel, the leaders, the heads of the tribes (along with all the people of Israel) to accompany the Ark of the Covenant to its long-awaited proper home in the Temple. (It had been his father, David, to whom God has given the vision and provision for the building of the Temple, which was never accomplished in his lifetime.)  The priests brought the Ark to its proper, anointed place in the Holy of Holies.  Surrounding the altar were the Levites and the priests ready to praise in unison with all their instruments and their voices.

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice.
They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments,
in praise to the LORD: For He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
The temple, the LORD’s temple, was filled with a cloud.
And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering,
for the glory of the LORD filled God’s temple.
(Verses 13 and 14)

The record of the dedication of the Temple continues (chapters 6 and 7) as Solomon prays and blesses the people.

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven
and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices,
and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:1

The peoples response?

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down
and the glory of the LORD above the temple,
they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground,
and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
“He is good; His love endures forever.”
Verse 3

And throughout the continued sacrifices and the ceremony of dedicating the Temple, continual praise “His love endures forever” was offered to God by the priests and the people along with the sacrifices of animals.

And, as such, this <without the animal sacrifice!> should be our continual praise. We are oh-so-very blessed!  The provision and supply that our great God brings to our lives deserves our continual exclamation, “He is good! His love endures forever!”  Just as the psalmist communicates in every single verse of Psalm 136, our conversation and our communication  should always include this praise.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His (steadfast) love endures forever.
Verse 1

As we thank God for His goodness our hearts should overflow with words of gratitude and praise confessing that truly, “His love endures forever!” … Perhaps in your celebration of Thanksgiving with your friends and loved ones, you could have a time of praise and worship and use these same words that David, and Solomon, and the Israelites used to declare God’s goodness.  Because no matter what the age, the situation, the circumstance, the season, the time, the day or the hour… ‘He is good! His love endures forever!

Here are a few different ways this glorious praise is written in different translations:

  • His love endures forever (NIV)
  • His faithful love endures forever (NLT)
  • His lovingkindness is everlasting (NASB)
  • His mercy endureth for ever (KJV)
  • His steadfast love endures forever (ESV)
  • His love is eternal (HCSB)
  • His loyal love endures (NET)
  • His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting (AMP)

Worthy of So Much More

SeekingHimLogo

“I will serve You Lord, always for You are my strength…
But I’ll praise You for You are holy, Lord
And I’ll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more….”

As I listened to the song,  Life of Praise by Casting Crowns, the line “I’ll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more!” jumped out at me.  I, sometimes, lift my hands at church during worship and I serve in the Children’s Ministry.  However, I got the feeling that the “…so much more…” being referred to here could not be summed up in the amount of serving I do.

I asked the Lord, “What is this ‘…so much more…’?”

I compiled a (mini) list of things God is worthy of:

Glory

O Lord , our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth!  Your glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalm 8:1

Praise

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord ; it is fitting for the pure to praise Him.
Psalm 33:1

Glory and praise are obvious things that the Lord is worthy of!  After all, He is who He is. I felt a nudge to make this much more personal.

God is worthy of my:

Love

Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37

Loyalty –

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine,
and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Obedience –

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalms 37: 23-24

Trust –

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalms 20:7-8

Complete Devotion

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. S
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23:1, 3, 6

Time

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.
Luke 10:39

Feel free to add to this “mini” list!

Ultimately, God is worthy of everything that is in my possession, but being specific helps me to focus on actual areas.  Vaguely, saying, “I give you my all,” is easy for me.  When you start to put names to “my all” the obvious question is,  “Does He still get your everything?”

Time is a big one for me…I like to spend more time than I should playing endless hours of video games.

 * * * * *

Lord, help me to he a better steward of that which you have blessed with with. Help me to remember that I am meant to bring glory to you.

Amen.

 

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

The countdown has begun!  The lists are made…the shopping for groceries is happening…maybe the forks and knives, plates and napkins have been counted out, too! Just a few days now ‘til we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones recognizing the goodness of our great God (and eating some yummy food, too)!

For the past few weeks, we have been sharing some of the dishes that we will be preparing to serve and share; did you take a peek at that scrump-diddly-umptious Mocha Brownie Torte that Dana gave us her recipe for?  Today I am sharing my recipe for an equally delicious dish that is in a totally different category: Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. This recipe keeps within the parameters of our healthy but oh-so-yummy point of view.  A very light vinaigrette is served on this salad.

I hope you each have a wonderful, thanks-filled, counting your blessings kind of Thanksgiving Day!  May we each always remember how very, very much we have to be thankful for and give thanks to the One Who so mercifully and abundantly and graciously provides for our every need!

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and lovingkindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!
Psalms 107:21 and 22

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Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3-4 medium beets, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
6 cups fresh arugula (or your favorite lettuce blend)
1/2 cup pistachios
3 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with foil. Preheat oven to 450.
Whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey together in a small bowl to blend.
Slowly whisk in the oil. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
In a different bowl, toss the beets with just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
Place the beets on the foil-lined baking sheet and roast ‘til the beets are slightly caramelized, stirring once or twice, for about 30 minutes.  Set aside and cool.
Toss the arugula (and/or other lettuces) along with a small amount of the remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl ‘til lightly coated.
Season the salad, to taste, with additional salt and pepper. Place the dressed salad onto a large serving plate.
Arrange the beets around the salad.
Sprinkle with the nuts and small dollops of the goat cheese.
Serve the balance of the vinaigrette alongside in a small pitcher.

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Serving the Lord in Love and Faith

SeekingHimLogo

I will serve You, Lord, always, for You are my strength
When I am weak I will never be afraid for You are my Rock and You protect me.”
Life of Praise by Casting Crowns

Serving the Lord should be one of the main tenents of any Christian’s life. By serving the Lord, we show that we love Him and that we depend on him.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart;
consider what great things He has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24

During the spring, many children participate in sports such as baseball, tee-ball, and softball.  Our church has a ministry geared toward those who use our church’s ball fields to practice on.  It is called “A Cup of Cold Water.”  Members of our church gather donations of water and juice to hand out to the ball players after they finish practicing. This past spring was our son’s first time to play tee-ball, and he practiced mainly at our church’s fields.  Well, my daughter and I would go over to the concession stand to talk to our Children’s Ministry Director, who was handing out the water and juice.  The refrigerator needed to be restocked, so I offered to restock it.  As I was putting water in the refrigerator, our (then) two-year-old daughter started putting water and juice into the refrigerator as well.  I was setting an example of serving the Lord by restocking the refrigerator, and my daughter picked up on the example.  Serving the Lord starts early if you have the right examples set for you.

That is why as Christians it is up to us to set a good example to our kids and those around us about ways to serve the Lord.  We should serve God with faith and love.  It does not matter how we show love as long as we do it in faith of God.  God is our Protector and our Strength. By serving Him, we are showing that we love Him.

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all Your blessings.  I pray that I am serving You in faith and love each and every day.  I pray that through serving I am showing You love.  In Jesus name.

Amen.

Bless the Lord, o my Soul

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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalms 103:1 and 2

Now that is what I want to do! How about you? Of course…it comes so easily to the heart of one of God’s children! Oh, how we love to praise and declare His goodness!

I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders of old.
I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.
Psalms 77:11 and 12

Haven’t we all had times when you have so palpably experienced the goodness and faithfulness of God so intensely that you want to leap in the air and shout and say, “How could I ever doubt You, my God, after this? How could I ever again despair of your help?” And we go along remembering His goodness and blessing…and then…some short time later…we falter. We find ourselves doing just that—being discouraged, and doubting, forgetting our confidence in the goodness and greatness of God. Why does this happen? Perhaps because we so easily forget the evidences of God’s goodness which we ourselves have experienced; not to mention the vast number of records in Scriptures which tell us of God’s faithfulness and His goodness.

What are some of His ‘mighty deeds’…the ‘wonders of old’ spoken of in Psalm 77? Think about it; I am sure you won’t need to think but a moment to recall God’s awesome works! Here’s a few that immediately came to mind—and these are all from the very first book in the Bible:

  • God spoke into existence His Creation (Genesis 1:3-31)
  • God gave Noah His plan for saving a remnant of mankind, along with the animals and the birds (Genesis 6:13-21)
  • God protected mankind from making too much of themselves (Genesis 11:3-9)
  • God promised (Genesis 18:10-15) AND then made a way for a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman to conceive a child (Genesis 21:1-7)
  • God provided in an incredible way as Abraham intended to sacrifice to God his precious boy…obeying to the uttermost (Genesis 22:1-14)

That God is GREAT in every imaginable way that greatness could possibly be described should be obvious to everyone. Paul reminds us,

Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So men are without excuse for, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give him thanks.
Romans 1:20 and 21

We ARE without excuse if we are not continually voicing our gratitude and our thanks! Our great God, the Great I AM, has done many and mighty works throughout time! And His lovingkindness and goodness continue…His faithfulness to each of us is incredible! We each have numerous stories to share praising God for His incredible blessings in our lives. Every day in a variety of ways we should be expressing our thanks.

I will praise the name of God with a song. I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High;
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.
Psalms 50:14 and 15, 23

* * * * * * *

My prayer…for you and me; let us bless the Lord with all that is within us:
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalms 34:1-3

Mocha Brownie Torte

mocha brownie torte
I remember the first time I had something other than pumpkin pie for dessert at Thanksgiving, and it BLEW MY MIND.  We spent the holiday with another family when I was 12, and for dessert they had pumpkin pie and a chocolate silk pie.  It was inconceivable to me that there could even be anything else for dessert besides the standard pumpkin pie, yet here was chocolate! It was a game-changer for me.  So while I always look forward to pumpkin pie, I like to make a second dessert too.  Believe it or not, there might be someone at your table who doesn’t adore pumpkin pie.  For a change of pace, and for those non-pumpkin people, may I suggest Mocha Brownie Torte?
You can, of course, omit the nuts if you have an allergic family member, but I really recommend you leave them in – the walnuts add crunch amidst the dense and chewy brownie. And the frosting? Heck, I’d happily mix up a batch right now to eat with a spoon. I dare say I like the frosting more than ice cream. Yes, it’s that good!  To simplify your Thanksgiving day, bake the cakes the night before, cool on racks, and wrap in plastic wrap overnight.  The morning of Thanksgiving, frost the cake and let it chill in the fridge while you make the rest of your dinner.
Mocha Brownie Torte
(recipe is courtesy of my Mom’s battered and splattered 1970’s Betty Crocker Cookbook)
Ingredients:
  • 1 package (15 oz.) fudge brownie mix
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (pecans would be nice too)
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon powdered instant coffee or espresso
  • Shaved chocolate for garnish
Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix brownie mix, water and eggs. Stir in the nuts. Grease and flour (2) 8-inch cake pans. Divide the brownie mix evenly in the pans.
2.) Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let them cool completely on a baking rack.
3.) Chill a big metal bowl and your beaters in the freezer for a while. Pour the whipping cream into the cold bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Gradually add the brown sugar and powdered coffee. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
4.) Put one cake down on a serving tray, flattest side down. Top with one cup of the whipped cream frosting. Put the other cake on top of the frosting, so the flattest side is up, and use the rest of the frosting to cover the top and sides of the torte. Grate or shave some dark chocolate over the torte and chill for at least an hour before serving.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana


To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!