Speak Praise: Better Together

Welcome to Day 30 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

When I began blogging just a few shorts years ago, it was an outlet for me. I hear this a lot from other bloggers as well, and writers who have become published authors. I blogged about my new baby, mommy life, and lack of sleep. But there is one entry I wrote about five years ago when my daughter was only a few months old, and it always stuck with me, stood in my mind like a stone of remembrance when I felt God's nudge to reach out.

Motherhood was a difficult adjustment for me after being in the workforce for several years and then shifting to being home all day with a brand new baby. I wondered if I might be available to reach others in some way just to take my attention off of my loneliness and maybe receive the blessing of friendship in return.

At the time, our neighbor, the woman next door, was a teacher like me. She had been put on disability and was home much of the time. I felt prompted to visit her at home and befriend her. That time became a blessing to both of us having fellowship with one another.

Shine a Light

Welcome to Day 29 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

We guided her, blindfolded, up the walkway leading to where her little friends had hidden themselves awaiting her arrival. I held her small hand and steadied her, counting, “1...2...3...” and removed the handkerchief from her eyes.

Friends jumped from their hiding places to shout, “Surprise!!!”

She couldn't have been more full of joy than at that moment! Bashfully she blushed behind the drape of my sweater, biting back shyness to receive the love. Giggles erupted from down in her chest as her friends swarmed around her with hugs and wishes for a happy birthday.

We celebrated as we always should celebrate the gift of a life. With fun, friends, balloons, a pinata, presents, and of course cake! She stood at the edge of the table eyeing the sweet pink swirls of frosting as sweet as the life she lives. Candles lit atop the cake representing five years she has been the light of our lives.

Pilgrimage of Praise

Welcome to Day 28 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

This week we have been reflecting on the practical ways we make praise part of our daily habits, such as by renewing our minds with the word of God and choosing praise in our speech.

One element that is the essence of worshiping the Lord in our daily walk is what Brother Lawrence calls practicing the presence of God.

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. PSALM 84:1-2

As I think about what this looks like in my everyday life, I cannot separate my faith in God with any segment of my life. As believers and disciples of Christ, we do not portion out what parts of our lives we give to God and decide where we can invite him to visit. Certainly not!

Pause to Praise

Welcome to Day 27 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

The discount store was crowded Friday afternoon. As I finished my shopping and took my bags out to the car, a woman hastily pushed a cart with her screaming child back to her vehicle. Her little boy was whining for something he wanted. This young mom was resolved in her answer "no", yet her son grew more and more persistent.

Sensing the stress in her body language, I closed the trunk of my car, and smiling in her direction I said, "Stay strong mama."

Hearing me, she instantly relaxed her shoulders as she made eye contact with me. Relief washed over her face as I sympathized with her. She told about what had happened moments before, when a man behind her in the check-out line gruffly criticized her child's behavior.

I'm sure in the moment of meltdown, this mom wished she could have had a cleaver come-back to the unwanted advice. Instead she coolly stood her ground with her child.

Renewed Mind

Welcome to Day 26 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

Living out a daily journey of speaking praise, I am surprised at the direction the Lord is taking me. For all the brainstorming and outlining and scriptures about praise and the power of the word, I could really spend a year delving into the significance of our worship and our words.

But living this journey, and being thrown into the middle of the storms of life, have tested what I think I know. Truly, it will take a lifetime of walking with the Lord to learn what he means by worship in Spirit and in Truth. How do we learn what that even looks like?

Meditating on praise this month has lead me down a humbling path. Praise should render a penitent heart. The sound of our voice becomes like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal if it doesn't erupt from a heart changed by God's love and grace. It forces me to search my heart, my thoughts, and reflect on the sobering repercussions of my words.

Let My Words Be Life

Words

By Hawk Nelson

They've made me feel like a prisoner

They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Quiet Strength

Welcome to Day 24 of the series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge.

A prevailing pattern among society is that if we want something we have to do it ourselves. We strive to accomplish more, use our words to work our plans, and we're quick to take credit for our victories.

We feel guilty when we have to rest. Yet even the Creator of the universe worked six days and set aside one day to rest. God calls us to stillness because it is in acknowledging Him that we find all that we need.

In Bible study this week we looked at Acts 13. The apostles were waiting on the Lord for their next move in spreading the gospel to the world. Tucked away in verse 2 is a notable discipline of their faith.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

ACTS 13:2 NKJV

Into His Presence

Welcome to Day 23 of my series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge. I am so happy you have joined us on this journey of exploring praise!

This Friday I am sharing a link to a gifted writer, Anna Smit of Joy of the Spirit Within, who through her series, so beautifully reflects on something she says has been

"a constant part of my journey into God’s Love, but especially prevalent in the deepest of valleys: Worship. It seems, the more I meet the ends of myself, the more my soul yearns to sit in His Presence."

Her writing itself is a beautiful expression of worship and captures the joy, the freedom, and the healing we find when we let ourselves be held in God's presence. Anna provides glorious insight about what she calls our "severed bond with God through sin" and the power of his "transformational love."

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

By Matt Redman

[chorus]
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Bless the Lord (Part 2)

Welcome to Part 2 of the post Bless the Lord in the 31-day series Speak Praise. As we saw on Day 6 of this series, I began a new habit with our child that changed my perspective in a profound way.

I mentioned in Part 1 how the Lord was prompting me to add a new element to our habits as a family. Every night when we were tucking in our little girl, we would say our prayers as usual, but I felt compelled to focus on more than our requests. I began praying blessings over her, prayers of thanksgiving for God's grace in our lives and giving us the gift of a child.

Just as our Heavenly Father rejoices over his children (see Zech3:17), I was learning how to love my child with God's love and allow him to heal the brokenness in my heart.

At first when we were having a lot of exhausting days with tantrums and meltdowns it was really hard for me to have the right attitude and words of thanksgiving.

It started small. “Thank you, God, for making my girl so strong.” I praised God for the character trait that was causing us the most grief--her strong will--because I knew it was a gift and that one day God would develop her character as he intends (see Phil1:6, Jer29:11).

Bless the Lord (Part 1)

 

Have you noticed? This life is full of wounds from words misspoken and misunderstood.

Praise is how you speak life into your dreams, promise over your people, and hope for eternity. We call it a blessing.

Did you know that in the Bible God repeatedly blessed his people? Did you know he is speaking blessings over you now? (see Num. 6:25-26; Ps. 139:5; Zeph. 3:17; )

It is God's character to bless his children. And since we, his children, were created in His image, it should be part of our character to bless one another.

When our daughter was going through the turbulent-threes, it seemed we were battling her strong will at every turn. She was stubborn. We were resolved. No one was winning--and we were losing patience. Sometimes I felt like I was losing my mind. Our daily toe-to-toes with our three-foot tall tyrant was bringing unrest to our hearts and our home.

Audience of One

Some days I don't feel like praising. There are those days when I don't even want to get out of bed, because, you know? I am TIRED. That's a mom's life. But especially because I have been persevering to do the thing God has called me to do in obedience, and it is so far outside of my comfort zone it has it's own zip code.

Everyday, I can rejoice in one solid truth: God is good. All the time. That truth is not dependent on how I feel or how much sleep I got the night before. God's character is not on trial based on my feelings. God is still on the throne and he is always worthy. His mercies are new everyday.

Speak Life

Speak Life

Toby Mac

Some days life feels perfect
Other days, it just ain’t workin’
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between

Yo it’s crazy, amazing
We can turn our heart through the words we say
Mountains crumble with every syllable
Hope can live or die

[Chorus]
So speak life, speak life
To the deadest darkest night
Speak life, speak life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why

Words Like Honey

a prayer of praise inspired by Psalm 119

Across the pages of news print words land like shrapnel in a war torn world.
Our generation is tangled in a web of media weaving sticky stories that seduce and ensnare.
O Lord, your word is a balm. Your word attracts a hurting and hungry world and gives it life.

Your kindness leads to a changed heart. The things I used to desire leave much to be desired. Only you satisfy and the more I get of you, God, the more I hunger for you! Your word has become like food and your Spirit like water to my soul. How sweet are your words--they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.

I never need to wonder if I can believe your promises, God. Your eternal word stands firm in heaven. It will not be shaken. You have said of your word, "I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it" (Isaiah 55:11). Let your word produce the work you have begun, for you are faithful to complete it.

God, you have taught us right from wrong and established truth in your Word, your only Son. He came so that we might worship in Spirit and in truth. Accept our praises and teach us your ways.

Let praise flow from our lips,

for you have taught us your decrees,

Let our tongues sing about your word,

for all your commands are right...

Let us live so we can praise you,

and may your regulations help us.

We have wandered away like lost sheep;

come and find us.

--see PSALM 119:170-175

Praise is Power

Today is Day 16 of my series Speak Praise as part of the Write 31 Days challenge. (Click here to follow the series and catch up on any you've missed.)

This Friday I am sharing a link to another amazing writer, Elizabeth Meyers of Blessed Beyond the Mess, who has so beautifully captured what it means to worship in the battles and storms of life.

Her post is especially relevant for me in this journey of speaking praise as I have personally been discovering the power of worship to prepare and soften my heart for God's will and remain steadfast through trials. It is no wonder God commands his people over and over again to praise him!

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him–my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
EXODUS 15:2 (NLT)

Quiet Praise

“What do you do when God is silent?” she asks me on the other end of the line.

And I nod long and quiet because I have felt it deep in my bones, that kind of silence.

It's a silence like I have only heard in the forest where cars and phones and electricity and the hum of technology disappear into a void of non-existence. Each tree containing a type of silence that only creaks as it sways and bends in the breeze. Each blade of grass keeping quiet with the hush of bees wings hoovering near. Each leaf and needle clapping in whisper like worship.

That kind of silence sits in the soul awaiting answers.

I have learned that this kind of quiet proffers praise.

It is in God's silence that I have suffered to learn true worship is an act of waiting.

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. PSALM 62:1

When in and among the wilderness, the collective voices of the forest give distinct and recognizable tones. The rustling poplars, the whispering pines, the mocking jays, the chattering squirrels. And I can hear the ways they speak praise with all creation.

All the ways God's love outnumbers the grains of sand, the blades of grass, the heads of wheat, the needled pine, the pedaled wildflower, the hairs of beast, and legs of insect.

And if he loves me in so many ways, might I also begin to count the ways my soul magnifies the Lord?

So that through the seconds, and minutes, and hours, and days, and weeks, and years, I may credit Him with all the loving-kindness and tender mercies he has given me?

What offering is there more acceptable to God than thus throughout the day to quit the things of outward sense, and to withdraw to worship Him within the secret places of the soul?

—Maxims of Brother Lawrence

When God is silent, retreat with him there. Seek him in the quiet place. Be still and know.

Soon, when your heart is humbled and soul surrendered, you will hear that unmistakable still, small Voice, and you will know His heart by its sound.

Childlike Wonder

“Papa!” She calls across the slope of tall grasses. “Papa. I want my papa.”

Grandpa is one of her heroes. Lucky girl, at age 5, she's got several family figures who point her to Jesus with their lives. Blessed, to be sure. And being that she is an only child, she is surrounded by adults who love her. A house full of people who have come alongside my husband and I to raise her up.

Her favorite games to play with the grown ups are hide-and-seek and piggy-backs. She often demands that whoever is nearest give her a ride up on their shoulders to the destination of her choosing.

She is fond of her Papa, though, and so demanding of his attention.

Worship in Splendor

The stars are brighter up here on the mountain top. In the darkest part of night the sky floods with a sea of glittering orbs hung precisely in their places, announcing an order and a purpose to their being. 

We lean back in our chairs and crank our necks way back to view the expanse. Taking turns calling out the constellations sitting beneath a milky river flowing constant over the globe. We feel small with wonder. 

In darkness we can see this kind of glory. The light reaches us through the eons reminding us of our position among creation. What are we that He is mindful of us, sons and daughters, that he would call us each by name? Each of us a child of the one true King.

Have you had this kind of mountain top experience? When your heart feels about to burst from majestic wonder? And it aches, too, knowing you must return and remain, to continue the journey.

But what if glory stayed?

At dawn the first light breaks through the darkness. Sleep had wrapped me in her blanket but hope is calling, drawing me out from comfort.

In the brief moment of hesitation I cling to the safety of my bed. Then the light in the room changes from a dim glow to streams of gold piercing through the window. 

I grab my phone as a camera and rush through the door to the porch. Glory light blinds and I blink awake. Billows of rolling morning fog creeps over the lake. The whole earth is a display of God's splendor.

All at once the sound of creation echoes back glory. Ducks flap wings over the surface of the water. Birds warble and chatter among the trees. Even the flowers look like they are lifting their bonnet heads to sing praise.

I am enraptured and can't stop clicking, grabbing pictures with no filter. The rising sun is so brilliant I shield my eyes to aim my camera phone at the images I want to capture, not knowing what will come through. It is only later that I preview the frames and see hallowed moments happening in shutters of splendor. 

This time on earth is like a vapor. All that busts out of the seams of this world pales in the light of His holiness.

I have often tried to imagine what it will be like when the Son of God returns in glory. This weekend on the lake we were given a glimpse. When Christ comes He will shine brighter than the morning sun with fire in his eyes, standing ablaze in robes of heavenly light. 

Morning by morning he reveals his faithfulness to all creation. Can we not see it? Will we not perceive it?

Sing a new song to the Lord!

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

Sing to the Lord; praise his name.

Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.

Tell everyone about the amazing things he does...

Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him...

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!...

Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!

Let the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the Lord for he is coming!

PSALM 96

Even When it Hurts (Praise Song)

Even When it Hurts (Praise Song) Official Lyric Video -- Hillsong UNITED

This album, Empires by Hillsong UNITED, has been playing on repeat in my house since it debuted a few months ago. I love this track with it's quick tempo in the up beat and heavy base layered below. It motivates to get up and keep moving forward in praise.

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. PSALM 59:16-17 (NLT)

One Small Praise

At the start of the week Crystal Stein shared on her blog series, 31 Days of Faith and Fitness, about the significance of starting with “one small step.”

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements.” JOHN MAXWELL

Here at the end of the week, I am reflecting on praise and can see that no matter how simple it seems, our small praises matter. God knows our hearts, he knows everything about us. Each thought turned toward grace adds up like grains of sand in an hour glass, and turn over throughout a day, and a year, and a lifetime. If we begin the small steps of meditating on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy, it adds up to joy.

When it comes to praise, especially in the hardest times, it begins with a word. Jesus. Sometimes when it hurts the most, His name is all we can say. Then when you feel your soul build courage add what you can thank Him for. And don't stop! Begin counting God's promises. One step at a time, we build upon faith.

My prayer for you, friend, is that you will learn with me how to take small steps to a deeper love of God and a faith that cannot be shaken.