Thankful Thursday ~ With open hands...

But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Throughout the course of 2012 as I counted 1000 Gifts, over & over again I was reminded of God's Faithfulness, His Love, His Strength & His Glory. 

He blesses me each & everyday in the breath of a moment, the laughter of a child, the pain of the hard times & tears of heartache. He blesses me in the good, the bad & the in between.

This Sunday I was reminded all over again how even when I am hurting, sad, lonely, or fearful if I REFOCUS my attention on Him & Praise Him for Who He Is and for what He Has Done, He will give me the Strength I need. Praising Him lifts my eyes, my feelings, my heart & my soul!

I walked into church with a crushed spirit. I was hurt, sad & anxious, all over a comment from one person. A comment in which that person had no idea those few words would bring back feelings I thought I had long ago dealt with. 

Walking into the choir loft I wanted to crawl into a dark corner and hide. Praising God was no where on the top of my mind. 

But then the music began...

Thou Oh Lord

I had to force myself to sing the notes but as the words came from my mouth they began to reach deep into my soul. A little tug...a reminder that my Lord is "a shield for me. My glory and the lifter of my head." Oh how I felt the words as "I cried unto the Lord with my voice". I remembered the nights I cried and I remembered how He lifted my head in the darkest days. He is "my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head"! My hand was clinched tight in a fist as I sang... not ready to totally let go of the pain that had surfaced from deep within.

Today is the Day

This is the day God has made! I WILL REJOICE and be Glad in it! 

Oh but how do I rejoice when I hurt and fear?

And then we sang "What have I to dread what have I to fear leaning on the everlasting arms?" His arms are strong enough to carry my burdens! His arms are strong enough to carry me. And His arms are strong enough to comfort my fears. 

I may not know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow! God holds my future and the future of my husband and the future of my children in HIS hands! And because of that I Will Rejoice because this is the day the LORD has made!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

And then He quietly reminded me of His Faithfulness. 

I stood there with eyes closed, heart lightening, and hands opening, feeling His Peace and His Presence as He was ready to guide me - Guide me out of the fear & hurt that had resurfaced and guide me into each new moment that He has planned for me.

Who Can Satisfy My Soul Like You

As my hands opened and my heart lightened I asked Him to "cleanse me and refresh me" as I trusted Him as my fountain and my king.  

With one hand lifted high and one hand across my chest I praised Him for He is my "Victorious Warrior...my Rock...and my shelter...who Reigns upon the Throne."

Total Praise

I stood there Praising God with a heart & mind Refocused on God giving Him the Total Praise He was due - Total Praise for the good, the bad & the in between. For He is "the source of my strength, the strength of my life. I will give my total praise to Him."

Refocusing on God started with slowly opening my tightly clinched hands and heart to Him. With each breath and word sung my heart lightened, my hands relaxed and I gave it all to Him - trusting Him with each day and each moment that He makes.

Are you hurting, afraid and anxious? Are your hands grasped tightly closed, holding in all the pain & fear you feel? Do you want to run and hide in the darkest corner you can find? Oh Sister, refocus your heart & mind on God. When you take that focus off of yourself and instead focus on the blessings He has given you and the Mighty God that He you will see how much He loves you. Open your hands a release the fear & pain to Him.
 

Continuing to open my hands and praise Him for each gift #1014 - #1030:

• Friends who can see me without make up & see me as a beautiful child of God
• 2 little friends catching up
• brothers & sisters having fun on the trampolene
• cheers of excitement over a great play
• rain to refresh the earth
• packing up Christmas to begin a new year
• yummy donuts
• friends supporting each other
• big brother helping his little sister with a game
• the alarm that says school has begun
• teachers who love & protect my kids as much as they can while they are at school
• answered prayers for safety
• going through the hard days so I know how to pray for others when they go through the same thing
• opening my tight fists to praise
• God my Victorious Warrior
• God my Rock
• God my Shelter

Taking the Joy Dare of counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience 

In His Calm,

Mary