Thankful Thursday - give God a place to hang out

It's thankful Thursday here in the Nest! I hope it will be for you too.

Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praise of His people. It makes sense, right? Who wouldn't want to be in a place where people say good things about you, appreciate you, make you feel honored and respected? I think some of my daily fatigue comes from feeling unappreciated and discouraged. If I'm around someone whose bitter... or complaining... I get the heck out of Dodge... if not physically, at least mentally and emotionally. I don't wanna be a place where God doesn't want to be because of my whining but...

Psalm 34:18 says that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. I also know that when the journey is long and I grow discouraged... God is close. So... from that I take that we're not supposed to be Fakey Fakerson and pretend to feel what we don't feel... if HE knows your heart, He knows that you're hurt. God still loves you even if you're not bubbling over with joy... it's a simple matter of this...

Praise Him in the storm. How many things have happened in my lifetime that I didn't understand... that broke my heart... that crushed my spirit? I'd have to tell you honestly that just about every day there is SOMETHING that takes the wind out of my sails. I've been mom to a teenager since November 14, 1999... you can bet that there's discouragement in that. I've been the mom to a kid with Asperger's syndrome since 1994. It's been a fight for my kid on a constant basis. I've been a single mom since May 8th 2000... that little interlude with the 2nd husband made me no less of a single mom. If anything... it made my life more difficult - minus having to pay the rent. I've suffered from chronic pain for a full year. Yesterday was the anniversary of the day that my back started to hurt. I've lost a home to fire in the past year. I've had struggles professionally. I've felt alone. I've been weary and worn out.

And yet through it all... God has worked in my life. He has been there. I don't get it right in every situation but I'm learning to say, "I don't understand why... but I trust you". I'm learning to start my prayers by acknowledging who He is... by thanking Him for loving me in spite of my brokenness... for continuing to hold me together.

Let me give my usual disclaimer for those who visit my blog who don't believe in God: If you will acknowledge the power of optimism in the midst of unpleasant circumstances, you will feel less discouraged. Isn't it all about the attitude of your heart? Doesn't having a proper perspective in all things... knowing that "this too shall pass"... doesn't it help you keep going? Even if you don't have a belief in a higher power, you can't ignore the fact that bitterness is destructive to your psyche.

I am still feeling less back pain. At the end of the day, I have some pain but it by no means as crippling and overwhelming as it was over the past year. I thank God for bringing me through that episode of life that the doctor said would NEVER get better. I don't doubt that finding a medication that seems to be helping with all of my chronic pain has made a huge difference. I thank God for the opportunity to have access to medication that helps. Am I healed completely? I don't know. But I'm better, that's for sure!

I praise Him for every day at the start of the day when I am able to get up and go to work. I praise Him in the middle of the day for everything I've been able to do. I praise Him at the end of the day for allowing me another day of pay... all that I am and ever hope to be is because of God's work in my life. He may work THRU a doctor, a pharmacist, a job, a client willing to purchase what I'm selling... He may work through a kid who remembers that it's trash day and voluntarily takes the trash to the street. He may work through a friend who gives encouragement. But in my heart... I believe that there is an almighty, omnipotent God who is orchestrating all of this good in my life... and who is working through the things that are not as good.

It's thankful Thursday... give God a reason to hang out with you... let Him inhabit your praise today.
Love and hugs, y'all.