So I will always sing praises to Your Name, as I pay my vows day after day. Psalm 61:8

I have to admit that it is often easier for me to voice a never-ending litany of miseries to God than to remember to praise Him. What a sad, sad truth about who I am; I live out in the country where the night sky twinkles with uncountable lights that proclaim His Glory. I see birds and animals long gone from the cities, and forget that none fall apart from His Hand. I live on a ranch with horses whose power and beauty often leave me speechless with delight and do not see His Hand in creating them. It seems that I am more preoccupied with how the Lord will provide for my never-ending needs than just thanking Him for His Presence. Personally, I am not sure how I would feel if I had a child who constantly complained, questioned my ability to provide, and rarely thanked me for what I did do. I think we can all thank God that I am NOT God!
I remember a story Corrie Ten Boom related about the fleas in her barracks in the concentration camp where she was interred. Her sister told her that she needed to thank God for everything, and she, like me, could see no reason to thank Him for the fleas. She later learned it was the fleas that kept the often sadistic camp guards out of the barracks, leaving them free to have Bible studies and singing. All this week I have been haunted by a suicide I was an unwilling witness to. I can still hear the moans and see the broken body laying there. It is a psychic pain I can't really explain. I have a hard time finding a reason to thank God for this situation. I have a hard time understanding why God will not deliver me from my financial problems, and seems, worsened them when I reached out to honor Him more. But maybe the answer lies in thanks. Thanks, because maybe what I experienced with that suicide will touch someone enough that they will choose not to take that path. Thanks, because maybe God has a better job for my spouse than the one she lost. Thanks, because no matter what, He has been there for me. Thank you, Lord.

Blyth,
I know the reason the Lord let you observe what you did and share it here. Thanks for being sensitive enough to the Spirit, to speak what He gives you. He uses you to minister to those you don't even see Sister.
HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU BLYTH,
ROSE

RUTH
16And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. [1] Your people shall be my people and your God my God.
17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.

SONG OF SOLOMON 8
6Set me like a Seal upon your Heart.


Your Love for your Wife should be like the Rock of Gibraltar. Though waves beat against it constantly, it can Never be moved.
ROSE S.

[This message was edited by Rose on June 06, 2004 at 06:12 PM.]

Two thoughts come to mind...

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
Psa 119:68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
Psa 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.


I'm thinking that at the bottom of the secret to a happy Christian life is simpley to acclaim our Savior God but I note it is a process that I have to learn.

Blyth and Rose as well as others are doing just that and we all benefit through God's wonderful grace because of it.

Deb

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Thank you, Rose for the encouragement. I feel like the Lord has called me to write another devotional series...how long is up to Him, but writing is my witness...my obedience to the Great Commission, and I have not been doing it. I prayed about what to write about since it is important for the Spirit to use me to speak what GOD wants said. The day I decided to start obeying God in this was the day the girl committed suicide. I was called to help within minutes, maybe even seconds of her act. It was too late for me to do anything for her, but I saw and heard way too much. That was when I felt the Lord wanted me to use the incident as my first week's topic- Although I was willing to write it, it was a very depressing, very shocking subject to write about. I also know I write in a way that brings people to the scene. When I reread what I wrote, I questioned it because of its' content...but yet, felt the Lord was the One behind this...perhaps because someone who reads this will choose to live...to see suicide not as a fantasy of finding peace, or even getting even, but for the tragedy it really IS. And perhaps, in the depths of their pain, they will turn to God Who really DOES care about them, and has NOT abandoned them. Maybe they can understand a little better that God cares about them personally. That is what I hope...but my writing is for God to use as He chooses. I am just seeking to obey Him.