God's Blessing in the Sky

I've been kind of crabby about the frigid air up here in ND. It's crazy cold up here and it's supposed to get worse. Temperatures are about to go below zero, it's miserable to be outside and we go to bed some nights with a heating pad turned up on high. I have to admitt I've been pretty growly about it.

Well, God decided He was going to help me get out of this funk. If I think about it,He always provides a way out if I choose to see His handywork. Well, His handywork was quite obvious this time.

On the way to work on Monday, Rob and I saw the strangest thing in the sky. I told Rob it looked like the sun was rising in two spots. For the next 15 minutes, while on the way to work, we tried to figure out what this strange image was. When I arrived at school I asked another teacher what this second, sunrise was all about. She said it must have been a "sundog". A what??? She told me it had something to do with ice crystals in the sky. The sun reflects on these ice crystals and makes an almost mirror image of the sun. She said these "sundogs" sometimes create rainbows in the sky as well. Oh, yeah they do!!!! On the way to work today we saw almost a full rainbow and what appeared to be, three sunrises. WOW!!!!!

God, thank you for your surprises and blessings when we are feeling low. Thank you for thawing my heart out and giving me a smile in the midst of this tundra. Thank you for being creative and helping me to find the positive in these icy conditions. Thank you for knowing just what I needed.

The Art of Authentic Praise

Tuesday night, at Bible study, I learned about David's Authentic Praise. Recently I've been feeling that my praise is being squeezed out of me. It's not flowing or gushing like it sometimes does. This is what Beth Moore has helped me to learn about Praise.

PRAISE requires focus. (Ps. 9:1)
PRAISE is not confined.
PRAISE in Hebrew
Yadhah- speak out, confess
Tehillah-hymn, a song
Zamar-to play an instrument or make music
Hala- to be bright, shine, to boast, to praise, the idea of radiance WOW!!!
PRAISE is a choice(Ps. 103:1-5)
PRAISE is to become a habit (Ps. 34:1)
PRAISE becomes compulsory when we experience true intamacy.(Ps. 63:1-4)
PRAISE is contaigous(Ps. 52:9)
PRAISE invites the audience of God (Ps. 22:3)


I so want to be obedient in Praise. I just recently met a family via cyberspace that has and is exhibiting this fine art of authentic Praise. Their Praise has been contaigous to many lives. I read their blog finding myself praising the Lord through tears and joy. They have invited the audience of God, have experienced true intamacy, made a choice and made that choice habit, spoke out, celebrated in song, and are radiant, shining and as bright as bright can be. I'm going to pass this contaigous praise on and you too I'm sure, will find yourself praising without being confined. The Art of Authentic Praise(People after God's own heart)...........................................
http://noahsteven.blogspot.com/

Snow or Shine

This is just really an excuse to use this cute, little picture of me and my hubby in our fun hats we received from mom and dad Phillips. No, not really. I just wanted to write about some of my observations of a ND winter. Snow or Shine, life goes on. YIKES!!!!!!

*We don't get rainy days here. We get snowy days.
*I rolled up to the Starbucks, drive through the other day and my window was frozen shut. I had to open my door to pay and get my coffee.
*We have recess in the snow. Every student brings snow boots and pants, coat, hat and mittens to school. Yesterday we played outside while it was snowing. We build snowmen, throw snowballs and have a great time.
*I have to start my car now and then just so it won't freeze up.
* People leave their cars running when they go in to shop at W-mart. Most people have automatic car starters.
*There are no snow-days here. Every day would be a snow -day. That's very disappointing to a teacher. :(
*Ice forms on the inside of windows.

To be continued........