Praising God from A to Z

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Praising God from A to Z examples with praise songs

Praising God from A to Z

Last week I shared a way of praising God using the letters of the alphabet by saying a character trait or attribute of God for each letter and praising God for being that particular trait. I encouraged you to try a few different methods of this type of praise as another way of praising God on a regular basis. I mentioned that this week I would give some examples of praising God from A to Z with accompanying scriptures and praise songs.

So as promised…

Take Some Practical Steps and Use These Examples (and songs–click song title to play songs in YouTube) to Praise God From A to Z:

Praising God because He is Able

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

“He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.” Romans 4:21 (NLT)

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)

“He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Hebrews 11:19 (ESV)

Praise Song: God is Able (Hillsong Worship)

Praising God because He is Beautiful

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

“On that day the LORD of Hosts will become a crown of beauty and a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people” Isaiah 28:5 (HCSB)

“But in that day, the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.” Isaiah 4:2 (NLT)

“Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” Isaiah 33:17 (NIV)

“From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.” Psalm 50:2 (NIV)

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Praise Song: What A Beautiful Name (Hillsong Worship)

Praising God because He is Compassionate Continue reading →

Funny Friday: Inner Gangster

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Nobody tests your inner gangster like your teen's smart mouth.

Funny Friday: Inner Gangster

Nobody tests your inner gangster like your teen’s smart mouth. Unfortunately this is my life right now. Jesus help me!

“…”Enough!” he said to the destroying Messenger. “Put down your weapon.”…” 1 Chronicles 21:15 (GW)

God From A to Z

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God from A to Z

God From A to Z

I was at a Moms in Prayer meeting a few weeks ago, and one of the moms mentioned a creative way to praise God from A to Z. Each week at the start of every Moms in Prayer meeting, we spend time praising God for one of his many attributes, characteristics, or personality traits. Our leader can either choose a prayer sheet with a pre-printed attribute and accompanying verses, or she can choose her own attribute and verses and customize our own prayer sheet for the week. Somehow we got into a conversation about choosing these attributes. She mentioned that she had once heard about saying a prayer of praise via the ABC’s of adoration.

I loved this idea. The concept is to say a character or attribute of God for each letter of the alphabet and then praise God for being that particular trait as you work your way through the alphabet. For example, I praise you God because you are Awesome, Bold, Caring, Defender, etc.

God from A to Z journal entry

God from A to Z journal entry

I took it on as a challenge one morning, and started writing some ABC attributes of God in my journal.

Making praise a habit

Praise is important, and we should be praising God on a regular basis.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name!” Psalm 103:1 (NET)

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

“Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!” Psalm 150:1-6 (NLT)

I mentioned in a previous post about how praise (particularly separate from praise and worship) was always a little awkward and unnatural feeling to me. However, God convicted me about how I need to spend more time praising him…and not just for his benefit but also my own. Until it became a habit, it was sometimes a little hard to come up with what to say. This idea of praising God from A to Z would’ve come in handy!

In that post on starting with praise, I listed several reasons WHY it’s important, and WHY we should start with praise.

Praise God for who you need Him to be

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Funny Friday: Three sisters

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Three sisters

Funny Friday: Three sisters

One of my sisters sent this to me last week. There are three of us sisters…I wonder if she was hinting that this will be us later? 🙂

I love when people send me Funny Friday ideas. Feel free to send me some anytime! Happy Friday!

“You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:24 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit Told Me to Eat a Pineapple

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The Holy Spirit Told Me to Eat a Pineapple

The Holy Spirit Told Me to Eat a Pineapple

The Holy Spirit told me to eat a pineapple. Sounds crazy right? I thought so too, but let me back up and share the whole story with you. This really is more about going to the Holy Spirit for guidance and listening…even in the small things.

A couple of weeks ago I had lunch with one of my friends. I always enjoying getting together with good Christian friends. I always walk away feeling so encouraged and uplifted and sometimes even challenged a little, as was the case when I met with Kim. After all, isn’t that how God intended for Christian community to work?

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

Anyhow, Kim was sharing some things with me about how God has been working in her life and about some projects that she’s working on. Something that stuck out to me was how she kept mentioning her reliance on the Holy Spirit, for EVERYTHING.

I had to ask myself, “Do I rely on the Holy Spirit as much as I should? Do I go to him or listen for guidance on even the small stuff?” If I’m answering honestly, it’s “No”, at least not as often as I should.

I DO listen to God and speak with him regularly. Also, I DO listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice. Fortunately, he’s a familiar friend that I do recognize. I think where I was missing the mark was in seeking guidance, on purpose, for even small things in my life. Things where I think, “I’ve got this” or things that seem too trivial to bother God with. Things like minor stomach discomfort or acid-reflux.

Stomach issues, the Daniel Fast, and then more stomach issues

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Funny Friday: Turn the video games off

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turn the video games off

Funny Friday: Turn the video games off

This is one way to keep them from playing video games! My sister-in-law sent this to me this week. It’s very tempting… 🙂

“…Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” Daniel 2:14 (NLT)

Anxiety and Stress in Younger Generations

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Anxiety and Stress in Younger Generations

Anxiety and Stress in Younger Generations

Last week I shared about how I’m having to learn a balance of helping but not coddling my kids in order to help them build necessary life skills. Fortunately I’ve had some good teaching in this area from my pastors in addition to other helpful resources that I have either sought out or “stumbled upon” (i.e. led by the Holy Spirit). I often actively seek out resources in guiding and leading younger generations due to being a parent, educator, and church youth leader. I recognize my own limitations. Subsequently, I realize that my own perspective is definitely not unbiased and not shared by today’s younger generations and culture.

Some of the issues I have dealt with as an educator over the past 10+ years have also prompted me to seek out further counsel and guidance. One issue in particular is the rise of anxiety and stress levels in younger generations. Today, I’ll share some examples with you from what I’ve seen in my own classroom. Additionally, I’ll give you some resources to help in this area, along with other resources that I find extremely helpful when dealing with younger generations.

The rise of anxiety and stress

I’ve been pretty disheartened with the state of many of my college students lately. Although there are some AMAZING and desirable qualities in these younger generations, so many of them are so inadequately prepared for college and for life. I could get on a colossal soapbox about the sense of entitlement, apathy, poor work ethic, and lack of respect for authority that is so rampant among younger generations, but I’ll spare you that rant. My discouragement today centers around the rise of anxiety and stress (and really even poor mental health) among today’s youth and young adults.

Unfortunately, many parents, educators, and/or other influencers of youth and young adults have been a large part of the problem. I will include myself because I have personally been convicted about some of my previous parenting and teaching strategies that have enabled and even exacerbated this problem.

Recent examples of students crippled by anxiety

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She forgot her backpack…Allowing natural consequences

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She forgot her backpack...allowing natural consequences

She forgot her backpack…Allowing natural consequences

A couple of weeks ago I experienced a hard day as a momma. In fact my journal entry for that day reads, “Today is a little rough as a mom to see through natural consequences for my child.”

My daughter had been pretty irresponsible lately (not getting chores done, taking much longer than it should to get things done, forgetting things, and so on). On this particular day, she had forgotten her backpack with her homework at home because she wasn’t paying attention and focusing on the right things. She also forgot to drink her milk that morning even after being reminded.

At school, as she was getting out of the car, she noticed that she had forgotten her backpack. She didn’t ask me to go get it and bring it back to her because she knew she’d already used up her one “grace” already this school year. I give each of my kids one “grace” per school year where I’ll retrieve a forgotten item just one time.

Part of me REALLY wanted to go back home and get it for her though. She had such a discouraged look on her face that broke my heart. However, something inside me reminded me that she needs to have her natural consequences as a learning opportunity. I was struggling so much internally though I even called Eric to ask him if I should go back and get it for her. As soon as I heard myself asking him though, “don’t do it!” was running through my head. Eric had the same response, especially considering her recent irresponsible behavior.

It still just made me so sad because I don’t want my kids to have to suffer discouragement, pain or heartache. I think God must feel this way at times too.

God is also a good, but just parent

Thinking about it all reminded me of a previous post I wrote where I talked about being sad when I wanted to do nice or fun things for the kids but their bad behavior prevented me from doing so. At that time I also had the realization that God must experience similar emotions and how he is a good but just parent. He allows us to experience many of our natural consequences. Though as a parent, he probably doesn’t like it, and it makes him really sad to see us experience pain and hardship too.

Consequences teach necessary life skills

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