PRAISE THE LORD!

It's interesting to me how perspective on life changes when someone you love is gravely ill or when you attend someone's funeral regardless if you knew them as a close friend or just an acquaintance. In times like these, it allows you to truly appreciate life and praise the Lord for everything that He has given to you in life. Many times, it allows you to reflect upon your ownself and it permits you to let go of all of the petty small things that are insignificant to the bigger picture in life.

Recently a friend of ours told us a story about a colonel that was interviewed after surviving a P.O.W. for seven or eight years. He asked the colonel, "How did you survive?" Was it the optimists that survived?" The colonel said, "No, it was the realists." For it seemed that the optimists would set a date, by Easter they come and rescue us, by Christmas, by such and such time, etc. and when those dates came and went; they became more and more discouraged and despondent and those are the ones that died. As for the realists, they continued to persevere. As for the colonel, he said, "It did not really matter whether or not He would be rescued because he would see his wife either way (on earth or in heaven). Praise the Lord! This colonel had his realist point of view, knowing that either way, he definitively knew that he would one day see his wife.

Each day God leaves us little reminders of Himself whether it be beautiful flowers, the dew on the morning grass, a home, friends, family, a joyful heart, a child's laughter (oh how I love to hear children laughing, it is such a beautiful song to my heart), or in the case of Houston, the seemingly long and lasting beautiful HOT and sunshiny days! Paul says this in Romans 14:17 about how the Lord always leaves us reminders of himself, "but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

My favorite part of this is when it says, "joyful hearts." I love that because despite our circumstances in life, adversity or prosperity, God wants us to say, "Praise the Lord, for He has provided and given us His joy." I know at times, it is difficult to see the ray of sunshine in the midst of a life or death situation, but I pray that the Lord gives you His peace dear one. Allow yourself to reflect on the great and glorious times that you have in this life. Reflect on the bigger things of life and allow the petty things to be let go. Open your eyes to all the things that you have to be thankful for. Those are the things to set your eyes upon. It is God saying, "I Love You," "I am always here in the midst of you, just look at all I have done and yet to do."

David rejoiced in the Lord and said, "Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle...For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow." (Psalm 144:1,4).
David reminds us that the Lord gives us His strength and prepares us for this life that is short. We must make the most of the time we have, appreciate the things God provides for us, make our lives meaningful, worthwhile, and purposeful. For we are "like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone." (James 4:14)

Look for the Lord today in all the "little" things around you and will will see His work around you. Share those things with your family, friends, co-workers, and all those around you. For maybe your words can be an encouragement to them today!