Standing Ovation for God!

Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing

praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting

to praise him.

Psalm 147:1

As I go through this phase of my pain treatment, things get worse before they can get better. Right now, my pain level is the highest I can ever remember. But then again, our brains protect us from remembering the worst. 

My philosophy is "Create a positive day!". I learned early on that in order to live with chronic pain, my focus must be on the positive and not on the pain or negative side-effects.

But, there is another step that helps even more, sharing the positive. Sharing joy multiples it. The positives in my life are many. God has blessed me with friends, doctors, and even some things (Max, MacBook, stereo w/remote, etc). But all those blessings are from the greatest blessing—God's love. God provides blessings because He loves me. He takes care of my needs and sends extra "treats" along the way, all because HE LOVES ME! That thought in and of itself is a wonderful blessing. Keeping blessings to myself, doesn't have the same joy as when I share blessings with others.

Praise: In its common usage, praise is the act of making positive statements about a person, object or idea, either in public or privately. The word refers specifically to extolling or exalting God and his attributes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praise)

A synonym for Praise is Applause. When was the last time I applauded God? When was the last time I gave Him a standing ovation? He sure deserves one! One thing about a standing ovation is that others join in.

 

Will you join me

in giving a standing ovation

to God?

Now, some of you are asking,

"If God is so great, why are you in pain?" 

The answer to that is very simple:

to accomplish His purpose. 

See, there are many things which I wouldn't be doing if I was healed. I wouldn't be writing this blog. I wouldn't be helping others who also live in chronic pain. I wouldn't be meeting the people in Dr's offices or hospitals,....the list is endless. In order for me to accomplish God's purpose, He decided that this was the best way. 

Just because I'm in pain doesn't mean that God doesn't love me. Rather, I think that I am MORE aware of God's love because I'm in pain. Before my injury, I knew God loved me, but was too busy to appreicate His love, or applaud Him for His love. Now, I am very aware of God, His love, and His blessings in my life. 

As you go about your day, take a moment to reflect upon God's blessings and PRAISE Him. If you create a habit of PRAISING God, you will be more aware of Who God is, and what He does for you. And when you are aware of God and His love, your day will be positive.

Joy Pills

When I was in High School, I lived next door to the M&M plant in Hacketstown, NJ. Loving M&M's it was a great place to live. When I went off to college, I took a jar of M&Ms with me. And the jar soon was full of "JOY PILLS"— green and yellow M&Ms.

Why were they called "joy pills"?

 Because whenever you eat M&Ms you smile! 

My dormmates would drop by and take a few "joy pills" when they needed some encouragement. Since college, I've kept up the tradition of having the same jar filled with M&Ms (either green and/or yellow).

Today, I knocked over the jar and green M&Ms went everywhere. As I tried to sweep up the M&Ms they just rolled away. They rolled under the heat vent, the shelving...everywhere. Just when I thought I had gotten them all... I'd see another one. As I stood there looking at the M&Ms all over the floor, I smiled.

 I had spilled my 'Joy'—

but God got my attention!

God's joy is not based on circumstances. It's not based on what we have, or don't have. Joy is not based on how we feel, or what is happening in our lives. Joy is not about US—rather....

Pure Joy

is based on an

UNCHANGING God, 

who loves with an

 UNCONDITIONAL love.

I'm going through medication withdraw, as I prepare for a new treatment to lower my pain. There is NO reason I should be experiencing joy right now. The pain is unbearable. I'm dizzy and have a terrible headache. My body is wanting medication, but the medication I can give it...has it's own side effects. Yet in the midst of my circumstances, I have joy!

Since the joy God provides, is not based on our emotions (which change on a whim), we can enjoy JOY 24/7 no matter our circumstances. We can celebrate joy in the midst of any circumstance knowing that God is in control and He is at work in our lives. 

 Joy—mine 24/7!

Will I fill my M&M jar? Probably. It will take a while to fill it up with just green and or green/yellow M&Ms. But the "JOY PILLS" remind me of my great God and His love for me. 

Today was an especially rough day, and I was struggling to focus on anything. God knew He had to get my attention and remind me of His love for me. When I spilled the M&Ms I smiled—God got through to me.  Today was positive, all because I spilled some M&Ms on the floor and remembered the true source of joy—God.