Praise Break!

There’s a preacher down here I love to listen to online. He gets real excited sometimes and says, ‘Let’s have a Praise Break!’

Well, bless my heart. I’ve been having a whole lot more grump breaks and pouting spells than I am praising God for His blessings. And that, my friend, is going to stop ASAP!!! I’m sick and tired of this mess – in more ways than one! Being as crotchety as I am makes me look like a grumpy old lady – which I refuse to be!!!

So I am having a Praise Break.

As I think about moving, I am going to think on the good things rather than the back breaking work I have been doing which is the total opposite of my hip doctor’s advice. Argh! And yes, he was right about what happens when I overdo things. Ugh! But I’ll survive – I think. Maybe. Oops! Is that a grumpy complaint? Sorry, yes, I think it is.

So I am thankful for:

We will be closer to our youngest daughter’s family. We will get to be a part of the ‘littles’ growing up. Dylan loved the place so much, he said he was ready to move in.

We will be closer to the grandkids who live 14 miles away! The Louisville family will be at least 2 hours closer because there will be no Atlanta traffic to deal with. We can easily host the three amigos (teenage grandsons) at different times through the year. Our teenager from Griffin can come stay with us, and we will be close enough to the pole vault camps to take him back and forth. Our senior granddaughter will be going to Kennesaw for college and will be a drivable distance away. Our oldest daughter and husband come up that way often.

We’ve had a good run of it here for the past 20 years. I am asking the Lord to show us how we can get involved up there at the old people’s place and in a local congregation and be a blessing. It will be fun to see what opportunities come our way. See? I can look on the positive side, right?

As I understand it, there are music festivals in the quaint towns around. Fun! Lots of exploring.

I am thankful for the strength God has given us. I’m thankful that God is helping me to let go of the ‘things’ in my life. One doesn’t get as old as I am without collecting too much stuff. I hope I am being wise throughout this process. From the tall stacks of boxes strewn around my house, I’m thinking another heavy purging session is just around the corner. Sooner rather than later. I’m still looking to sell a few furniture items and give away LOTS! Mercy!

Much of life is about attitude and choices. The book, Happiness is a Choice, has been a real blessing to me. I need to reread it as I ponder the future…but it is deep in some box stashed in who knows where in the stuffed storage unit.

So maybe instead I’ll pull out my go to verses from Philippians 4:8-9 MSG. ‘Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you have learned (from me, Paul), what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.’

I’m more familiar with the Living Bible translation. ‘And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about it. Keep putting into practice all you learned and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.’

All I can say is…well, I can say lots of things, but I won’t. I’m just going to focus on those verses and claim God’s peace in the process and joy in the journey.

Blessings

Kara Beth