Bless The Lord O My Soul – The (Not-So) Newlywed Lefebvres

Yes, I know. I have been a bad blogger and ALREADY broken my ‘resolution’ of daily (M-F) blogging and we aren’t even out of January yet! 🙂 But, I have a good excuse…

Wednesday I trained a temporary employee all day at work, and then Thursday through Monday we were out of town. So, see…Does that really count as breaking my resolution??? 🙂

Well, since I have been playing catch-up all day at the office, I wanted to keep this post short and to the point, so here goes!

The current Bible reading plan I am using also includes one ‘focus Scripture passage’ for every week…I’m a little bit behind (of course), but I have been stuck on the first passage of the year. I keep it on a post-it note at my desk, and I feel like I have been gaining insight about what scripture is saying for several weeks now:

I realize now that I’ve attached the photo you can’t really see the verses written on my turquoise stickie (because you know I can’t use a plain yellow stickie note, right?!?!???)… So let me share what my little note says:

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:1-4

Wow!!! I just LOVE that Psalm!! What beautiful knowledge to be reminded that our Savior forgives everything we do, heals us to complete perfection (upon our entrance into Heaven), saves us from eternal fire, and once we are His, we are CHANGED!!

When I look up at my little note at my desk and see this, I am reminded that no matter how busy I am – no matter how much I am dreading the commute home or the upcoming meeting – no matter how sad I am that Craig is on a trip for work and I’m still not pregnant…this little reminder reminds me that He is in control; reminds me that He is my Savior, and I am His – that no matter what else is erupting around us in this world, our Lord is THE Almighty, and all things are possible through Him.

When you don’t know what to pray, repeat this passage. Praise Him for all the many things He has done for us! Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NLT) says, “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.”

The Lord is so amazing and wonderful, He is beyond our human capacity of understanding! So this small set of four verses is a good place to start in our praise of Him. It reminds me to be thankful, joyful, peaceful and patient. So for you, I have made a little printable, so that you, too, can have Psalm 103:1-4 close-by to keep your mind on how amazing God is!

Print this out, and enjoy being reminded as you go about your day, what an AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!

Until tomorrow (and yes, I promise I’ll be back!!),

Good Morning and Happy First Friday of 2014!!

On this Food For Thought Friday, I was sort of stumped about what to write…and that isn’t typical for me. I usually have plenty to say – as most who know me might agree. 😉 After this morning’s Pure Barre class, Craig and I chatted on the phone and tried to come up with something…But neither one of us had any ideas or anything weighing on our minds that seemed worthy of a “FFTF” post…

And then I checked my e-mail when I got to the office this morning, and saw my YouTube update, and one of the videos was this one:

And I knew that this was what we were meant to share today.

Just take a gander at the lyrics:

“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy nameThe 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[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name

How apropos for a new year: “The sun comes up, there’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.”

We are actually working on this song with our choir at church, but I almost like it better as a ‘solo’ piece…So maybe stay tuned? 🙂

So the take-away for this Food For Thought Friday should be to allow God to work in your 2014 like you have never allowed Him before. No matter what happened before or what is going to happen down the road, walk right by His side. Let Him be your strength.

That’s a hard pill to swallow for us strong-willed folk…But the Jesus Calling devotional for January 1st says, “Come to me with a teachable spirit to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Today’s Jesus Callling devotional reads, “Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.” (Reference: Psalm 31:19-20; John 16:33; Romans 12:2; & Jeremiah 29:11)

Let the verses above and this beautiful and heartwrenching song melt over you this morning. Really take a moment to think about letting GO and letting God this year…

One more piece of “Food For Thought” today… With Thanksgiving and Christmas now over, many people forget that charities are still in need of donations beyond “the holidays”. Consider this today, and search out an organization like the one below in your own community. (Or you can certainly use this one!)

Click on the logo for more information! Food is something we all can certainly “afford” to give! (And if not, let me know, and Craig & I will send you some food!)

Happy Friday Everyone! Stay WARM wherever you might be!!!

Lots Of Love,