Pray and Praise
This week has been long and tiring. So many times things have started to overwhelm my brain and I get fed up with life. But the thing is that this week (in)courage featured a post that I wrote awhile back about Praising Your Yoke. It’s nothing like moaning and groaning to have something that you wrote youself smack you in the face like a pie… and God is the one throwing it. The verdict that I have found is that it’s true. When you stop and praise God and thank Him for the things in our life, even the hard things, then it makes your burdens lighter.
Let me be real for a minute. This week I had to take my dog to the vet. He’s an old dog but has been my best friend for life. No matter what I take him to the vet for, I know that there’s going to be the day that he doesn’t come home from the vet since he”ll be 13 this fall. I cried the whole way to the vet picturing the vet coming in with worst news and saying goodbye. Yeah he’s just a dog but he was my first child, the one I dressed it little shirts and pants (oh yes I did), the one that I nursed back to health after heart worm treatment, and the one that I almost killed my dad’s cow for (long story).
Was I really crying over the dog? Yes but there was other things mixed in. Pressures of the world, my life, this stinkin’ house, missing my husband who was out of town, my children’s poor behavior that week, everything was adding to that burden that was on me. I knew that if I went into the vet just to get my dog some allergy medicine (yeah, that was it) with bloodshot eyes and a red nose they would think I was crazy. You guys are the only ones that know that fact so I didn’t want to let them in on that secret before it was time. So I remembered those words I wrote last month after we found out that the people had pulled out of our house contract and that (in)courage published this week and I stopped and praised God.
I praised Him for the time I’ve had my dog, Gershwin. I praised Him for my husband who I knew was longing to come home to us. I praised Him for my kids, even when they yell and scream at each other. I praised Him for that day and then I found the strength to walk through it.
Praise for this week:
1. I have one big one this week. My friend Robyn and her family moved to Belize to be missionaries this year. It turns out that their son had been pacing the floor praying for a way to come to Youth For the Nations (a youth camp at Christ for The Nations) here in Texas. He never told anyone that he wanted to come, just asked God. Several people pulled their airline miles for not only him to come but his sister too. They are already back here drinking Dr. Pepper and enjoying time with family before leaving for YFN. So thankful to God for blessing this family in such a strong way and for the son’s faith.
2. For my husband who is amazing and faithful. He is a better father to my girls than I could have asked for and never afraid to grow and learn how to become an even better father. Happy Father’s Day Turkey Lurkey. You are loved by all four of your girls.
3. For my dads and grandfather. You guys are amazing. I love what all of you give to me and my kids whether it be infinate wisdom, hunting tips, or just a love of reading. Happy Father’s Day. We all love each of you greatly.
Prayer:
1. For those that are at YFN, youth camps and VBS’s all over this country to come to know that power and Beauty of God this week and for their leaders to be given the strength they need to make it through it all.
If you have any Praise you want to share or a Prayer request that you want to be prayed for, please share in the comments!!