"Have you praised the LORD today?"

The other day I was visiting with my dear friend, whom I treasure and am so blessed to know. Kay Larsen (I have mentioned her before is previous posts) will be 95 tomorrow. The LORD willing, a few of us are going to take her out to lunch for her favorite............lamb........and to celebrate her life. And when we were visiting last time that day, the conversation went to the LORD and His goodness, as it often does with her.

Our hearts are knit together and all the more when we talk about worshiping, praising, exalting, & honoring the LORD all the day. It is so humbling to me that she allows me the privilege of writing her story and visiting with her about her life, humbling because she walks so closely to the LORD and is always concerned about others knowing and enjoying Him like she does. She is about her Father's business................much like Jesus was all the days of His life. As we were dialoguing about being an anbassador for His kingdom, the subject came up about why don't people praise Him instead of complain about what He is or isn't doing!!

And typically, our conversation went to His amazing grace and incredible gift of salvation that cost Him greatly. As we continued in this deep conversation, a mutual friend came by to see her. He, not knowing anything about our conversation, proceeded to share with me that Kay taught him to praise the LORD. He so humbly spoke about the times he would struggle with worry or depression and would talk to Kay and her question to him was, "_______, have you praised the LORD today?" And with a chagrin, he sadly admitted that he had not. After a few times of this kind of brief conversation with her (many years ago), he began to make praising the LORD a habit of his day. His worries lessened, his bouts of depression diminshed or were very short-lived, and his heart was renewed day by day! With such deep affection and appreciation for her, he leaned over and kissed her forehead, patted her on the cheek and told her how much she had done for him.

Kay never in a million years would have told me that story, but the LORD wanted me to hear it........first-hand!! It was the visual aid to the very conversation we were having, which was "Why in the world, do Christians not get it!! That it is all about praising the LORD!!!"

So, I ask you.............."Have you praised the LORD today?"

Help, LORD!

Recently, well in the past several months at least, a recurring theme in conversations with other believers has been how hard things are. So many are struggling more than in years past...........and in many different arenas.

For some it is focused in finances, especially job related......so many out of work and looking for something!! Anything!!! For others, it is the cost of living going up but not the income.

Another common thread is that of aging parents and all of the many issues that come with that, not the least of which is relocation for them??!!! There are so many questions raised and very few, if any, easy answers. How did it happen that we now see "retirement VILLAGES......nursing HOMES...........senior COMMUNITIES" on corners and blocks everywhere we turn? I have no idea the amount of monies going into this "Senior" industry, but it must be huge!!

Often the discussions are centered on hard health issues, either personal ones, or spouse, or children, or other loved ones, or friends' loved ones. So much more common now than I remember even 10-15 years ago!!! This often becomes a financial burden, as well.

But, one topic in common that I am hearing most often is the longing for heaven and deliverance from the on-going and worsening reports of evil throughout the world. The personal spiritual battles of the mind and heart, longing to trust God and have peace, but finding that to be so difficult under the pressures and stresses of life.

But one only has to read consistently in Scripture to find a common bond with the saints of old who also were longing for His Peace, His deliverance, His joy, His comfort in the midst of trials and tribulations!! Of course, it would be that way. Human nature has not changed since the Garden of Eden became off-limits because of sin.

David set a great example for us in Psalm 12:1 when he prayed, "Help, LORD!". When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help. But at the same time, he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. The psalmist runs straight to his God with a well-considered prayer.

LORD, teach me.....teach us ....to pray in the same blessed manner. Am I not saying..."LORD, I trust you! Lord, I need You! LORD, You are the Sovereign One!"? In fact, in all cases, times and places, "Help, LORD!" will suit us....... living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him, our help is found.

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered through Jesus. The LORD's character assures us that He will not leave His people. His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing...........so Paul tells us in Ro 8:32 "He, who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?"

I look up unto the hills.............my HELP comes from the LORD!!

Address

Location!!! Location!! Location!!

Being the daughter of a realtor since I was about 11 and then the wife of one since I was.........oh, considerably older than 11..........it has been drilled into my head this little saying!! Well, it applies not only to the purchasing of a home for our families, wanting to makes sure they are in a safe place, with the "right" school, stores, neighbors, etc..

We want it to be a good investment for the future, should we need to relocate for various reasons! But, it also applies to our ultimate location.........for eternity!!

Now, that is of far greater consequence if the decision is not carefully made. Do you remember the time you first were asked if you wanted to go to heaven?? I remember it so well? I was FIVE!!!!

It wasn't like my parents asking me if I wanted to go to the park...........or if I wanted to go and get some ice cream........or even if I wanted to go swimming at the neighborhood park!!??? That was a really big question!! It was a question about LOCATION! Location!! LOCATION!! And at the age of five, it seemed to me that it was my decision to make!!

Now, without wanting to get into a deep theological discussion about Who was really asking me that question and Who was really going to determine my destination, as a five year old child, the answer was a no-brainer. I wanted to go to heaven. And I even thought it was okay if I went there right then.

Well, here I am, not quite six decades later, and my answer is still the same that it was that day!! I want to go to heaven and today would be fine!! Didn't Jesus say that unless we have the faith of a little child, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven??

How I praise Him for giving to me by His grace that kind of faith! How thankful I am that for all of these years, He.....the One Who is able to keep me and present me faultless before Him........has been faithful to me.

Oh, the joy of KNOWING that if I died today, I know for certain that because of Jesus Christ and His death in my place, I am going to relocate in heaven!!

Location!! Location!! Location!! DO you know where your final move will be??