Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people
and praise Him in the council of the elders.
Psalms 107:31-32
What does praising the Lord look like to you? Is it going out into nature and drinking in the glory of it all, listening to the birds singing, the wind swirling about you or the sounds to the insects? Or do you prefer the corporate worship, where you enter the sanctuary and sing to your hearts content and settle in and listen to the minister teach or preach? Whatever your style is, worship Him. Worship Him with your whole life, your whole being.
Just as David praised God in the good and the bad times of his life, we can too. We can be angry with God as well, just as David was. Our God is such a big God. Growing up I had such a reverence for God..I still do. What has changed is that I have learned that God loves me more than my earthly parents, my husband, my child or my friends ever could. Only—to come to that conclusion—I had to understand who God is.
God loves us and wants what is best for us. Here is an example of His protection of Job:
Have You not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
So that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
Job 1:10 NIV
Even though God allowed Job to suffer, Job never wavered from his faith. Job was a strong leader for his friends and for his wife. Job always looked out for those around him and looked for ways to improve his relationship with God.
God is sure to give us rest when we need it.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
I pray, as this week closes and we begin to celebrate our fathers, that we choose to honor them for who they are. My dad (who raised me) was brought up during the Depression Era. He was the second or third of five children whose father was a saw miller. His mom was a stay-at-home mom who was responsible for the four boys and daughter. Dad started out on his own with only an eighth grade education and joined the Army. He served only two years and was discharged. He followed his dad and joined him and older brother in the saw mill business for a short period. Then he was employed by Mr. Pride Car Wash where he became a manager. Dad did his best for his family. He worked hard and advanced with what education he had and took advantage of the skills God had given him.
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Father, thank You for our fathers. They may not be the one we would have chosen, but You have plans. You know who was the best person to help develop us for who we were meant to be. I know I would not be who I am today without the two dads You placed in my life. I thank You for both of them and I thank You for the other people who have helped develop me into the person I am today. I know I still need to improve and seek to know more about You and Your Son. In His name, I pray. Amen.
