JoAnne's Blog

Praise Changes Things!

Live in an atmosphere of praise!  It changes things!  As I am writing my book, I am so reminded about this.  When I lay on my couch, Nov.2/06 at 79 lbs, thinking that I was breathing my last breath, I began to praise God.  My friend, Mary, had sent me a CD from Joshua Mills, entitled Praise Changes the Atmosphere.  Wow!  I was so impacted by that CD and here I am today.  I am well and enjoying my life.  And I know, it is because God raised me up.

I cannot stress enough the importance of praising God in everything.  We often take the everyday things for granted.  But, nothing happens to us by chance.  If we are a child of God, then He is watching over and seeing to every little detail of our life.  There are times, when praise is the last thing that we want to do. I know, I've been there.  But that is exactly the time that we must.  I believe that is when it becomes what the Bible says "a sacrifice of praise".  It wasn't easy, but as I acted in obediance to what God said, he filled not only my heart with praise but my mouth as well.  I became aware of all the things that I had to be thankful for and joy filled my heart.  So let's be a people of praise!  Let's change the world we live in!  Let's be a peculiar people!

Ramblings!

It's been one of those days!  where I didn't feel like doing anything.  Have you ever had one?  Well, fortunately, now that I am retired, I can do just that.  But, how do you do nothing?  I have to do something.  I certainly didn't want to eat all day.  I'm not into watching TV that much. I didn't want to sleep. I really don't like to exercise. I should walk the dog; but it's cold and rainy. What should I do?  Maybe, I'll read.

So, I decided to get on the computer and get caught up on a lot of e-mail that I have just set aside, to read, someday.  It is now 4 hours later and I don't seem to be making any headway.  One thing leads to another and I have been all over the web.  I decided that was enough. 

Some of you may recall I began writing a book several years ago about my journey with cancer.  I have been procrastinating lately and not written anything.  So, today, I decided to take a look at it and get going again.

Wow!  I know why I have been procrastinating.  It's a lot of work. There is so much to tell; so much that happened in my journey.  Everytime, I began to write I would think of something else that should have been included.  So back I would go and add or edit what I had already said. It's also important to keep at this a little everyday so that I don't forget where I am going and what it is I want to say.

I have a new found admiration for people who can write and finish something.  It is a mammoth job.  The good news is I think I'm half way, unless I get more revelation.

Well, this was a nice little diversion.  I'd better get back to writing, so I can tell myself that I did do something today.

Have a nice day!