How Can I Keep From Singing

Here I am at Day 4 of the challenge to "STOP Complaining" and can I just say that it has been a great week so far!  Now, I must confess to commenting a couple times (in a kind of negative way) when the temperature got a little warm in my office (the AC broke down) and when "my new knee" decided to ache more than usual  ~ but overall I've managed to put a stop to the complaining.  I even asked my family and they agreed!!  No sarcastic comments about chores that they haven't done, no grumbling about the chores I have to do...not even any complaining thoughts!  Really!  The only explanation for this is that my focus has been different.  It hasn't been on me...it's been on Him and all that He's blessed me with. All that He's done for me.  All that He's brought me through.

I want to continue filling my thoughts, words and actions with praise for Him because I like who I am when I do this.  How could I not want this to continue!?

My sticky note for today:

"How Can I Keep From Singing......"
   

There is an endless song

Echoes in my soul

I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come

I am holding on

To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes

In the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You

Knowing You`ll see me through

And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times

Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step

And fall down again

I can sing `cause You pick me up

Sing `cause You`re there

I can sing `cause You hear me, Lord

When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath

Sing for I know

That I`ll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

My Special Family

Day 3 of "Stop Complaining".

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky." Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without grumbling....?!  Even at home with my family?!  That's a tough one. Home is sometimes the hardest place for me to be obedient to God with regard to grumbling and complaining.  I'm not sure why....maybe because I know they'll forgive my grumpiness.  But this week I've worked hard at praising God for all the blessings He's given me, because when your mouth is full of praise there's no room for complaining...not even at home.

Today I want to focus on my family and the wonderful blessing each of them is to me.   I praise God for blessing me with them and I thank Him for their physical and spiritual health.

I especially want to thank Him for my husband Bill. He's an extra-special man and today is his birthday!! (yes, yesterday was mine...convenient, isn't it!)

Happy Birthday Bill!

I love you!

My sticky note reminder for today is:

"God gave me a special family..."

Me & The Grand Old Flag

Continuing with the challenge to have a complaint free week...I want to praise the Lord for our country.

Today is Flag Day.

 

The Flag..."the emblem of the land I love,

The home of the free and the brave."

What a blessing to live in this country.  Even in the midst of all that is wrong there is so much more right about our land.  Thank you Lord, you could have put me anywhere, thank you for putting me here....where I'm free to praise You.  

 

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag,

And forever, in peace, may you wave,

You're the emblem of

The land I love,

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'Neath the red, white, and blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag,

But, should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep you eye on the grand old flag.

My sticky note reminder for today:

"The Grand Old Flag...."

Speaking of old....I'm 56 years old today.
Happy Birthday to me!
When I was a little girl a lot more homes displayed flags on Flag Day than do now.  I used to think they were putting them up for me, 'cause it was my birthday!

Praising God for life!!  Thanking Him for giving me such a wonderful one!

Consider the Lily

Last week my Pastor began a new message series called
STOP..... Start Really Living!
This week's message focused on Stop Complaining.  Pastor encouraged us to get through this coming week without complaining.  I don't know about you ~ but this will be a challenge for me....in certain areas of my life. 

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."
Philippians 2:14-15

It's difficult to complain when your heart, thoughts and words are full of praise. So this week I'm going to focus on praising the Lord.  Today I want to praise Him for the beautiful flowers that are blooming in my yard. The colors, the shapes and smells. The intricacies of each one.  To help me maintain a spirit of gratefulness through out the day, I'm going to write something on a little sticky note and post it nearby.  Just a little something to help me remember how many blessings I have. 

Today it will be:

 "Consider the lilies of the field......."