Welcome to Summer! Yesterday I wrote about the Psalms and my change of heart towards them with the expression of emotions. I went from that early morning time into a series of counseling appointments where Praise had been lost. I had three new clients starting yesterday replacing those who were moving on. The three clients turned out to be couples all expressing communication needs. In each case the word praise was lost in their vocabulary for one another. Their relationship hadn’t started that way, but life together had turned inward which I believe happens to all of us at some point. Then, a young man followed these three couples who simply struggles with life–depression and anxiety. Praise has never been a big part of his life.

Today, as I wrapped up the reading of Psalms, each chapter begins with Praise the Lord! I have lived long enough to know the Power of Praise. It is counter-intuitive for us in the flesh. But, when we let the Power of God’s Spirit within us PRAISE when our flesh is screaming–POUT, there is a transformation that takes place. It is the power of TRUST/FAITH which are only powerful in SPIRIT–never in flesh. It is something I’ve used and have to be reminded every now and then to do so again. My first impulse is to complain and then I see my reminder to Praise God that I have on my prayer list.

Today I’m praising God for these ones of yesterday who are working to Praise God in the midst of their own strife. God is so faithful and His Grace is so kind and loving. How I PRAISE HIM and TRUST HIM!

Over the many years of my adult life I’ve used several different versions/translations of the bible to read through in my devotional time. As I began this year I thought I’d use one that I was given by Kathy for my birthday in 1992. This was the year before we lived abroad for two years in the countries of Yemen and Turkmenistan. As I was reading today in the Psalms I found several notes I’d written on the sides relating to that experience. The reason I write this is because this awakened me to something I didn’t even realize. In the past 20 years I’ve said numerous times that I haven’t enjoyed reading the Psalms. It is so filled with David and others complaints/pleas to God for help. I would think–why don’t they buck up and tough it out? This, of course, was before I had my personal help from counseling.

Today, as I am reading through the Psalms I find my notes from 30+ years ago that deeply appreciated the Psalms like I do today. Today I’m able to see the issues of man as something to confess and work through with God’s help and with the mentors God puts into our lives. I no longer need to hide them and pretend they don’t exist as I was trying so hard to do when I thought differently about “David and others’ complaints”. I see today that their needs are no different than my own and that I cry out to God just like they did.

God is immensely patient with us (me). How I love Him for this!

Each morning as I sit down to write this day’s entry my mind instantly goes to the Joy of the Lord. Yesterday had moments of helping others with their needs as well as getting my own met. I wasn’t sure all of it would get done in the day but surprisingly, I was finished with all of it by middle of the afternoon. When I sat down for a moment of relaxation I couldn’t help but thank Jesus for His Goodness.

Our pastor is taking us through Romans 8 for a 6-week sermon series. Yesterday as I was working through some material for a couple of the counseling sessions, I was amazed to find Romans 8 the major focus of the counseling materials. The main focus of both is our need to awaken to God’s Gift to us when we accept His Son Jesus into our lives. This GIFT is THE HOLY SPIRIT. It isn’t just that He is a GIFT, but do we realize the immensity of this gift given to us? Even when we start to realize this tremendous gift, do we use Him or better said, let Him use us?

I so often ask God to take charge of my day and let me glorify Him in it. Yet as soon as the day gets going I’m reversing my thinking and asking God to bless what I’m “doing for Him” instead of asking God if I’m doing this as His Spirit desires? The selfishness of flesh is so dominate. Yet, the more we allow God’s Holy Spirit to indwell completely in us, the more He can become our dominate focus. This is truly a “one day at a time and one moment at a time….” item. I want my faithfulness to look more and more like Jesus living in me.

This morning is such a quiet, peaceful one. The fun of yesterday is over and the calm of the house is so nice. I do love and appreciate these moments. Mondays for me are what most people use Saturday’s for. I get all of my chores done which the interferences of the work week won’t allow. I have a good list of these things for today but for this moment I just want to thank Jesus.

There is a chorus we use to sing years back titled: Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know. The lyrics are: Jesus is the sweetest name I know. And He’s just the same as His lovely name. And that’s the reason why I love Him so–for Jesus is the sweetest name I know! This has never been more true than this very moment.

Happy Father’s Day from a happy father! Today’s only event, other than going to church in an hour, is having all of the kids and grandkids over for a BBQ. All the other events of the weekend have now passed and all is good.

Today’s overriding theme is obeying God. It is throughout the scriptures I am reading in the book of Psalms, it is the theme of my devotional which was Malachi 3:10, and lastly, it is written at the top of my prayer list and highlighted so I can’t just overlook it. Well, it is one thing to see this emphasis in all of these places, but it is another thing to put it into place. I always intend to do this each morning as my devotional time ends, but I get into a day and all of a sudden I’m totally focused on just what I want to do or get done.

Last night’s ending activity was a 50th anniversary party for dear friends. Kathy and I were both ready to leave (a little early) when a person attending wanted to talk. As they began I was told how my story had impacted a person in their life and she was so grateful for it. That person was finally beginning to face their past “hurts” and let God into the poison it had caused. It is moments like this when I am reawakened to my need to stay focused on God’s nudges and not my selfish wishes.

I want to be a good and faithful servant, but in order to be this, I need to stay tuned to the One True Father in my life and His Gift of His Holy Spirit within me. He is worthy of all praise!

This weekend is packed with activity. In addition to the routine ones, there are those things like the pool getting finished, basketball tournaments for a grandson, another grandson’s birthday dinner, friends 50th wedding anniversary and a concert Kathy has arranged for us to attend this afternoon. All of this interferes with getting the lawn mowed! (It is almost done!)

Today is a full day but also a very good one. I was stewing for a moment about it with Jesus when He just said it was time to step into it and enjoy it. Then, I read my devotional which said God gives Light for one step at a time. This is the way He operates so we learn well how to live using TRUST instead of knowledge/awareness. We try to manipulate what we know to make it fit what we want. There is no way to manipulate trust. Either accept it and move forward or stay anxious all day. Today I’m choosing to accept and enjoy. God is in control. How I love our Heavenly Father!

As I wrote yesterday’s entry I expressed my nervousness about speaking to the bible study group. Well, it seemed to go well. It was funny to do the phone session I had at 8:00 am. The young man was seeking help to deal with his anxiety and overthinking about things in his life. I told him I felt as though I was counseling him with advise I needed for my own issues. God sure has a way of bringing His Light into what seems as darkness until these issues are brought out into the open by expressing them to someone else.

Last night at Celebrate Recovery we had a couple of new men attending–both young men. Each one of them had recently had their struggles brought into light and now they were reaching out. I had the opportunity to do their 101 (session to acquaint new comers with all that Celebrate Recovery has to offer). I was deeply moved by their needs and their desire to step out of their old behaviors to hopefully find freedom. They both expressed their fear in coming but how welcome they felt and the safety they also felt in sharing why they’d come. Those are critical elements we always want to have in place for any and all who come no matter how long they’ve been attending.

There is nothing like seeing God at work. I don’t care what the issues are which one brings out into the open, if they are doing so seeking God’s help, He is always there ready to offer it. We just need to take that one needed step–seek help. God simply waits for us to knock for the door does open when we do. GOD IS AMAZINGLY GOOD!

Thursdays are usually a day with a quiet morning where I can do yard work/gardening/watering, etc. Not today. I was asked last Sunday to talk to a bible study group this morning at 10 am. They want me to talk to them about Celebrate Recovery connected to my personal story. Just writing this stirs a nervousness inside. There is a reason I was asked due to someone in their group who I don’t know having shared his own need a week ago. So, I’m sharing for his sake. I just want to be a good servant in times like this.

Additionally, yesterday a young man I was seeing for a few months text asking if he could have a phone appointment soon. He has moved to Texas. So, this appointment is at 8 am. It is a good thing actually, it keeps my mind off of the 10 am time. Then, later yesterday I was called that my pickup, which needed some repair work, is ready. Kathy is transporting our two youngest grandkids to VBS so she can’t help with the pickup until it’s almost time to start counseling this afternoon.

Anyway, I write all of this only to tell how God takes care of details. I don’t like lag time when I’m speaking as I am at 10. I just want to get it started so my anxiousness subsides. Well, God has the morning well handled so I don’t have any “lag moments”. It makes me smile just writing this reality. I do love our Heavenly Father and how He cares!

The focus of today–PRAISE HIM! Yesterday’s counseling sessions seemed to primarily center around each one’s need to embrace what they are facing in their own life and praise God for creating themselves the way He did. So often we beat ourselves up for the “weaknesses we possess”. We completely overlook the idea that what we call a weakness has great strength in another realm. Sensitivity is one of these examples.

Men often get beat up emotionally when they are sensitive to others. Sensitivity is suppose to be a feminine characteristic. Why would a man be sensitive unless he is feminine rather than manly? This is what our culture teaches boys and men. Sensitivity is a strength if only we allow God to use the sensitivity He created us to have for His purposes in our lives. There is just nothing better than someone offering help sensitively to one in need. This sensitive person seems to understand just what the need is and how to give accordingly. God’s Holy Spirit is the core to this sensitivity. What could be a greater GIFT than this?

Our culture has done a cruel and destructive thing labeling manhood as it does. God’s sensitivity that He gives generously to some should be praised rather than cursed. How I love God and how I want to learn to thank Him for all He has done and is doing!

“When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams and your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes. And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears, don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear–PRAISE THE LORD!” These words of the song–Praise the Lord, came to me this morning as I was struggling through something before me. I was journaling about this struggle and asking Jesus just what He wanted me to do with it? Immediately these words came to me–Praise the Lord.

The idea of praising God in the midst of a struggle is so counter to our flesh. All I want to do is cry out to God for help and He wants me to cry out to Him in praise. It is not that I haven’t experienced the value of this lesson before. But let some time pass and I have to learn it all over again. Somehow, God uses all of our struggles for His Glory when we finally get our eyes off of the struggle and onto Him.

Only God can take the struggles of our flesh and turn them into His blessings. I’ve had to learn this lesson many times and today I’ve now chalked up another time I’ve learned this same lesson! I’m so glad God is so Patient!