Thirstin' for the Word Thursday

"'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.'" (John 7:37b)

Feeling a bit parched? Searching to quench that thirst with an iced tea or Diet Coke? Dive into the Word for real refreshment!

I am diligent in my Bible reading and am often rewarded by God's speaking to my heart through particular scriptures. I pause and sometimes even write them down. The reflection usually ends there, however. This year, I would like to pursue the verses that God lays on my heart by pondering how He wants me to apply these verses in my life.

Here are the verses that spoke to me this week:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14, NIV)

I blew it this morning. Darling daughter frustrated me beyond my own level of patience this morning. She was digging in her heels about a particular issue, and since my ballerina flats were already deep into the ground, I did not respond with self-control. Instead, I only exacerbated the issue and got us both so upset that most of our morning was shot (hence, this post appearing in the afternoon, rather than the morning!).

When I finally got the chance to sit down and work on this post, I reflected on the connection between this scripture and my reaction this morning. How can I apply these verses to my own situation?

• Pray for God's grace to help me lead a righteous life. God provides His grace and mercy, not only for salvation, but also for being Christ-like. I certainly can not live a righteous life on my own. Believe me, I have tried . . . and failed . . . miserably. Each morning I must pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me and provide the strength and self-control to say the right thing and do the righteous thing. I must yield to His guidance. I am God's child, and He wants to help me become more Christ-like so that I can spread His glory.
• Just say, "No," to the world. Worldly messages bombard me, contradicting God's Word on how I should live. How much time do I actually spend surrounded by the world's messages as compared to God's Message? I should replace sitcoms and reality shows for programs on Christian networks. I should turn my radio station to the Christian contemporary station (That is, when I get a chance to listen to "my" music. Then again, I should replace the kids' CDs with the Judy Rogers CDs they got for Christmas.). Above all, I should immerse myself in God's Word. I think I'll bring a Bible down to the kitchen to read when I get a chance throughout the day.

So, what verses have spoken to you this week? Post those verses on your own blog, along with how you see that God wants you to apply them in your life. Then, provide your link below so that we can drink from one another's wells of scripture.

She Speaks, She Writes, She Leads, She Blogs

My desk was cleared, Microsoft Word was up and running, my copy of Sally Stuart’s Christian Writer’s Market Guide was at the ready . . . and my computer screen was blank. I had no idea of what to write!

I was a stay-at-home mom who was glad to have the opportunity of being with my new baby girl, but was definitely unhappy to lose the accolades to which I had been accustomed in my teaching career. I had led workshops for fellow English teachers, had earned National Board Certification, and was even named one of five finalists for South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Now, however, I got few kudos for the hard work of being a mommy. In my desperation to do something that mattered (Yes, I understand the irony in that statement now!), I latched on to my first love—writing.

I have always loved to write. From writing poems at my grandmother’s secretary, to writing short stories my friends loved to read, to excelling at essays in high school, college, and graduate school, God’s gift to me has been evident throughout my life. It was natural for me to fall back on writing when I was unsure of my identity at this time. I just didn’t know what to write!

Looking back, I realize that my motivation for writing was all wrong. I was attempting to write for my glory, not for God’s. God did not plan for this particular season of my life to be focused on writing. His plan was for me to experience and enjoy and learn from the season of motherhood I was just entering.

During this time I have grown so much spiritually. I can not imagine another calling that fosters more spiritual growth than motherhood! From dawn till dusk (and beyond) we serve. We humble ourselves as our most common fashion accessory is spit-up splashed on our shoulder. We learn patience as we retrieve yet another piece of construction paper and pick up the fiftieth crayon from the floor. We learn self-control when we would love to vent our emotions by screaming out our frustration but refrain when we imagine the look of hurt in our children’s eyes. In short, we learn how to love.

God must have used this time to prepare me for my calling because I have been amazed at how much writing I have been doing thus far in 2008. I am also in awe of how God has used Proverbs 31 to foster this writing.

I have received the Proverbs 31 devotional via for a year or so now and was interested in one where Lysa Terkeurst announced a writing contest. The winning entry was to be published in Proverbs 31 Magazine. I had an article that I had written back in November and decided to submit it. In fact, I got so excited that I created a blog just for the contest!

As a result of posting on this blog, I have found that I have more to write about than I would have thought possible. My writing now is focused on how God impacts my life rather than being focused on myself.

I would love to attend the She Speaks conference and hone my skills. My sister attended in 2006, and I too have wanted to participate since she shared with me her great experience. As a matter of fact, we had a phone conversation just the other day, and I questioned her more about the conference, as God was pushing it to the forefront of my mind.

The conference, held in Concord, North Carolina, consists of four tracks for speakers, writers, women's ministry leaders, and teen girls. Published authors, experienced speakers, and hard-to-contact publishers will lead sessions at She Speaks. Also, new this year, Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer, Sophie from Boo Mama, and Melanie from Big Mama will be available to provide their expertise on blogging.

Hearing from these bloggers extradordinaire on how to enhance my blog would be a dream come true. Participating in a speaker’s critique, as well as learning how to engage an audience, would also be something I would love. In fact, I have already perused the session descriptions and highlighted which ones would most benefit me in following God's calling.

I had resigned myself to attending another year since our finances are tied up in two mortgage payments right now, but I was so excited in learning about the scholarship opportunity. I believe that God has aligned my interest, situation, and gift to correspond with this year’s conference. However, if God does not open the door for me to attend She Speaks this summer, I look forward to the work that God will complete in my life in order to fulfill His purpose for me at a later time.

Until I come give attention to the public reading of the Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you . . . .
(1 Timothy 4:13-14, NASB)

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
(1 Thessalonians 5:24, NASB)

Super Spiritual Sunday

I know that some people are gearing up for another Super Sunday this coming weekend, but I had my own a week early: a Super Spiritual Sunday!

This past Sunday morning, our youth pastor filled in for our regular pastor, who was on sabbatical this month, and involved the teenagers in the service. Our youth praise team, Praz B2 God, performed a moving liturgical dance to “We Are the Body” by Casting Crowns (I hope to provide a link to the video of the performance as soon as it appears on our church’s website). Then, in the Children’s Sermon, they explained to the little ones what it meant to take part in Harvest of Hope, a mission trip which helps to glean fields and provide food for the hungry. They also led two responsive readings, which were so meaningful in their simplicity. I was so impressed by the teenagers' sincerity, faith, and obedience, and I prayed that my little ones would become youth like these.

Our youth pastor’s sermon dealt with what it means to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. If we are under the influence of the Spirit,
 We do not think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
 We recognize that we have been given gifts for the common good.
 We do something with those gifts.
She then ended with the thought-provoking question: “How can I be the body of Christ today?”


Our youth pastor also announced that Candace Cameron Bure (“D. J.” of Full House fame) would be speaking at another local church that afternoon. I had heard that she would be speaking and had wanted to attend but forgot that the appearance was coming up this soon.

My sweet in-laws, who were visiting for the weekend, purchased tickets for me and my husband and offered to keep the children so that we could go see Candace! I was so excited!

I was not disappointed. Candace was down-to-earth and impressed both me and my husband with her sincerity. Her testimony was wonderful and included information about her life during Full House, her early days as a Christian, and how her brother Kirk helped her along the Christian road with the books Left Behind and The Way of the Master. Most moving to me, though, was her story of being a stay-at-home-mom.

She told of receiving a part-time opportunity that, at one time, she would have jumped at. She said that she struggled with understanding whether this was a blessing from God for her faithfulness in staying home or a test. She ultimately decided to forego the opportunity. Her decision was based on the question, “What would please God on Judgment Day?” She asked herself, “Would God say to you, ‘Candace, I’m so proud that you accepted a job that took you away from your children and husband. I’m so proud that you made more money and added a credit to your resume.’?” She then realized that, for her, her greatest work for God was at home.

In November I had struggled with a part-time job offer that came out of the blue. After talking with my husband and praying over the matter, I declined. On the heels of my refusal, came another part-time teaching position. I, too, wondered, “God, are you trying to tell me that I should be teaching, or is this a test of my obedience?” Candace’s testimony struck such a chord with me, and confirmed for me that I had made the right decision for my family in declining both opportunities.

Candace went on to tell another moving story about her baptism and then concluded her testimony with a reading of the Ten Commandments to confirm that we are,indeed, all sinners and in need of God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

After her testimony, Candace signed autographs, and we were one of the first ones in line. The ushers announced that Candace would be available for photographs only after all autographs were signed. We waited around for an hour or so, and I noticed that Candace really and truly gave her full attention to each person in line. Once the autographs were all signed, everyone moved into the sanctuary for pictures. Candace picked my husband and me out, pointed to us, and said, “You have been waiting so long!”

If you ever get the chance to see Candace in person, I would urge you to do so. In the meantime, visit her website, and an interview with her from Christian Women Online Magazine.

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

I am excited to participate in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival sponsored by Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer. My giveaway will refresh you and others. I am offering The One Year Bible: New Testament in New Living Translation, as well as five encouraging notecards from Hype Stripe.

It is a little difficult to read the verse on the front of the notecards in the photo. It is in purple Curlz font and reads: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1). The back of the notecards has cute lavender polka dots on a white background.

To win, simply comment on this post, making sure to list a URL or email address. I will send out your prize via first-class mail, but I'm sorry, I can ship only to the US and Canada.

Good Luck! I will close the drawing at noon on Friday and will randomly choose a winner Friday evening.

Heart of the Matter Meme

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

"Mama? Can we get a butterfly and put it in this jar? Ooh-ooh, can we find a cocoon and put it in the jar and wait to see the caterpillar come out as a butterfly? Mama, do we have to wait until spring to find a cocoon? How would we cut the cocoon down, Mama?"

This run-on string of questions occurred during morning snack time today, and my heart leapt to hear the enthusiasm in my four-year-old daughter's voice. My mind raced ahead to all the learning possibilities that stemmed from such excitement: planting a butterfly garden, researching different types of butterflies, writing poems about butterflies, creating a lap book on the life cycle of a caterpillar.

Although I planned, I also stopped to reflect. How was it that this little girl could come up with such an experiment? How did she know about cocoons, caterpillars, and butterflies? How could she already be trying to solve the problem of getting the cocoon out of the tree?

I recalled countless readings of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with its counting, days of the week, and beautiful butterfly on the last pages. I remembered, too, my daughter running, trying to catch a butterfly, and when it landed just out of reach, her father explaining what kind of butterfly it was. Memories of her uncle bug-hunting with her in the backyard and her grandfather pointing out different birds at the feeder also flooded my mind.

All of these incidents and many more, as well as a general attitude that celebrates learning, have accumulated to create my daughter's enthusiasm for finding out more about nature. As a former English teacher, I hate to disagree with Yeats (his poem, "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is one of my favorites), but I have to say that education is both the filling of a pail and the lighting of a fire.

No, we don't stockpile knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge or to win trivia contests. Each piece of information that we learn, though, can become kindling that produces sparks to light fires of learning. Susan Wise Bauer expresses this same idea through the analogy of a sponge:
"Young children are described as sponges because they soak up knowledge. But there's another side to the metaphor. Squeeze a dry sponge, and nothing comes out. First the sponge has to be filled."

As we educate our children, we provide them with the kindling that fills their pail, kindling that will later be used to produce a roaring bonfire of intellectual curiosity.

Works for Me Wednesday

This post is my inaugural one for "Works for Me Wednesday," a blog carnival over at Rocks in My Dryer. Here is what works for me.

Although not organized by nature (just ask my organizationally gifted sister and organizationally gifted husband!), I am learning to become organized. As evidence, I submit our home planner. Within this three-ring binder resides all the important information without which I would be lost.

First, I keep our calendar on Outlook. This allows me to keep dates like birthdays and anniversaries from year to year without re-entering them each time. I also like Outlook because as I check my email, I get reminders for events, which is great because sometimes I forget to look at my calendar! I print off the calendar in weekly format, and these pages go first in the binder in page protectors, which allow me to slide the pages out and add information but still protect the pages. The weekly format works well for us right now although when we embark on homeschooling next year, I may find that I will need the daily schedule.

Next in the binder comes my address book, which is actually the Contact information I have printed out from Outlook and put in page protectors. The next section is for long-term activities, like information from preschool, soccer, etc (again in page protectors).

My next section includes charts to list scripture that has touched my heart (Check out my blog later today for an introduction to "Thirstin' for the Word Thursday"!) and an intercessory prayer list.

A preprinted grocery list comes next, but I must confess that I haven't usually used this list. I tend to just grab a sheet of blank notebook paper (from the back of the binder) and jot down what we're out of and what we need. Also included is a form for menu planning, but I usually stick this information on the refrigerator.

The next section contains a chart to list library books borrowed, the due date, and a box to check when they're returned. I love books and also have a chart to list books I want to buy.

During the Christmas season, I include our Christmas budget and a page to list gift ideas for family members.

In the back of the notebook, I have blank notebook paper for miscellaneous lists. Some right now include "Preschool/Kindergarten Books on Tape," "Christian Music to Investigate, " and Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds regime.

I hope you can glean something from my planner notebook that works for you!

Thirstin' for the Word Thursdays

"'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.'" (John 7:37b)

Feeling a bit parched? Searching to quench that thirst with an iced tea or Diet Coke? Dive into the Word for real refreshment!

I am diligent in my Bible reading and am often rewarded by God's speaking to my heart through particular scriptures. I pause and sometimes even write them down. The reflection usually ends there, however. This year, I would like to pursue the verses that God lays on my heart by pondering how He wants me to apply these verses in my life.

Here are the verses that spoke to me this week:

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on." (Exodus 14:13-15 NIV)

Application:

• 
  
  "Stand firm" in your faith in the Lord when fear and worry invade your mind. Repeat to yourself, "The LORD will fight for you."


• 
  
  "Be still" when you are tempted to run ahead of God. Pray to God for guidance and discernment of His will and allow Him room to work in your life.


• 
  
  "Move on" once you receive His guidance. Don't become stagnant in a pool of fear but keep going in confidence that God is on your side.

I would love for this blog to be a community spring where we can all share and partake of one another's jars of living water. If particular verses spoke to you during your Bible reading and devotions this week, please post these on your blog, along with how you see God leading you to apply them. Type your name and URL below, and please leave a comment on this blog.

Looking forward to sipping some scripture with you all!

Telling Our Stories

Congratulations to the winner's of the Proverbs 31 Magazine writing contest: Carol Hatcher, Amy Brooke, and Miss Sandy! Kudos also to the Honorable Mentions: Sumi, Linda, Dee Dee, and Jess. I had read each of these entries on Saturday and remember being specially touched by each one. I rejoice with you all as God opens up this avenue for you to share your stories! You can read the winning entries here, and also access the complete list of one hundred or so entries here. You will be blessed by them all!

I was completely awestruck by the accounts of how God has worked in so many lives and how He has equipped so many to tell of their encounters with Him. He has definitely put forth a calling to many of us. With this idea fresh in mind, I wanted to share another writing opportunity with you all.

Jennifer Petitt of Front Yard Press is compiling a book of salvation testimonies. You can read more about the project here and find common questions and answers about the book here. So many of you had such wonderful stories of God's intervention in your lives, that I thought this project might appeal to you.

Happy writing!

Zipporah threw what?

If you are visiting my blog through Lysa Terkeurst's writing contest, welcome (my entry, "Our Pet Rock" is below)! I have been so blessed by reading all the articles posted. It is amazing to see the way that God has worked in so many lives and how he has equipped so many to share their stories!

I also wanted to share with you the website of my sister Kathryn Wells and her friend Traci Alexander. They are involved in a new ministry called Trumpet and Torch, and God is doing amazing things with it. They have made several presentations in the Virginia area in the past few weeks. Their website is www.trumpetandtorch.org. You can read their testimonies if you click on "On Fire for Christ" at the bottom of the page, and there will be more information on the site by the beginning of February (in time for Lent).

Last year I read through the Bible in one year following Dr. Charles Stanley's Early Light Devotionals. They are available online and in the free In Touch magazine here http://www.intouch.org/site/c.dhKHIXPKIuE/b.2284587/.
I was blessed by this reading in 2007 and am undertaking it in 2008. This past week I began reading in Exodus and was enjoying (although somewhat complacently) the familiar story of Moses and the burning bush and the excuses he offered to God and how God shot down every one. As I read about Moses' return to Egypt, verses, which I surely had read before but apparently not studied, jumped out at me.

At a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said, "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26 (NIV)

What a change! Moses had finally agreed to God's plan, and now God was trying to kill him? What was this all about? What in the world was Zipporah doing to her son?

The note in my study Bible explained that Moses had been disobedient in God's command to circumcise his son, perhaps because Zipporah was unwilling to have the ritual take place. God then punished Moses to the point of death at which Zipporah intervened by performing the circumcision herself. Moses certainly encountered an important object lesson in obeying God's commands, one which served him well as he led the Israelites around the wilderness for forty years. What, however, did Zipporah learn?

Let's look at Zipporah's reaction to this experience. Her words to Moses that he is a "bridegroom of blood to her" reveal dissatisfaction with Moses. There is a hint of bitterness in her words, as well. Also, as I reread this passage in my other Bible, the New American Standard version, it states that she "threw" the foreskin at Moses' feet. This translation certainly suggests that she blames Moses for this whole mess. Zipporah's reaction to this event shows that she is ungracefully giving in to the circumcision.

It seems to me that from the time that God gave Moses the command to circumcise his son, Zipporah was sqeamish about having her child "maimed" in this way and adamant that it would not occur. I imagine Moses bringing up the topic only to have Zipporah say, "Oh, no! I may marry a fugitive who has committed murder. I may follow him back to the country from which he fled on a "fool's errand" to free thousands upon thousands from a cruel ruler, but I draw the line at cutting my son in a very sensitive place!" Zipporah could have benefited from the advice to submit to one's husband. Had she done so, her husband's life would not have been in danger, and she might have been permitted to travel with him on his famous mission (My study note also suggests that it is at this time that Zipporah returned to Midian as she did not arrive in Egypt with Moses).

Are there times that we act like Zipporah? Do we respond to our husbands with stubborn opposition? Do we allow them to truly be the spiritual leader of our home, or do we stubbornly return "home" to our own customs and ideas?

Addie, Our Pet Rock

Prompting my inaugural post on my brand-new blog is Lysa Terkeurst's contest for prospective writers. The winner will be published in Proverbs 31. This contest has been the impetus for me to create a blog, an idea I've been pondering for several months, and to share a story from our family that I wrote in early December. I hope that this article blesses you.

Addie, Our Pet Rock

“So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:7b (NIV)

Back in July, we added a new member to our family. Our daughter christened her with the noble name Lady Adaline, which was quickly shortened to Addie. Adorable, with wavy apricot-colored fur, soulful brown eyes from her Golden Retriever mother and playful personality of her white Standard Poodle father, this Goldendoodle quickly fit into our family. She adored the children, was protective of them, and was always ready to play. She adopted me as her special human and “dogged” my every footstep. Addie’s flaw, however, was an intense desire to eat everything—and I mean everything! With an almost two-year-old and a four-year-old in the house, she was quite happy with the many crumbs that dropped from barstools like manna from heaven.
However, one day, Addie decided to venture from the edible to the inedible. On Thanksgiving, we found some tell-tale pieces of green plastic that pointed toward the fact that she had ingested part of one of the children’s toys. Addie’s usually huge appetite began to wane until finally she was eating nothing. When the dog who ordinarily followed my every move around the house refused to leave the bedroom, I knew that it was time to take her to the vet.
The vet stated that Addie would need exploratory surgery, which would run about $500. Ordinarily, I would have insisted on the operation with no qualms, but we had found ourselves in a much different financial situation that ever before. A few months ago we had bought a new home, and our other house had not sold. Two mortgage payments a month was beginning to dwindle the savings that my husband had so carefully built up for years. Paying this much money in our current financial straits gave me pause. However, in my heart I knew that we had taken responsibility for this wonderful animal and that we needed to do what was necessary to take care of her. Although I was unable to reach my husband, as he was in an all-day meeting, to make sure he concurred with my decision, I told the vet to go ahead with the exploratory surgery. I was sure that they would find the blockage caused by the toy, they would remove it, and Addie would be fine. I prayed for God to give the veterinary surgeon wisdom and steady hands and to give Addie strength.
Later that afternoon I spoke with the vet who surprised me with the news that they had found no blockage, but the passage from the stomach into the intestines was scarred and swollen. We would just have to wait and see if the swelling would go down. If not, there was a further surgery at a better equipped vet’s office in another area that could be done. I was truly surprised that the expensive operation had not fixed the problem and that we could be headed for much more expense down the road. Would we be able to afford it? What would happen if Addie didn’t improve? The children would be heartbroken. My toddler was already wondering where Addie was.
The next day my husband visited Addie at the vet and reported that she looked weak and worse than before. That night I stayed up for hours praying, although at the back of my mind was a fear that God might think my prayer for a dog was trivial. Didn’t He have much more important things to worry about? My mind drifted to my four-year-old, who was just beginning to understand about God. On her own initiative she asked God to take care of Addie and make her well. If Addie didn’t get better, how would that shape her perceptions of Who God was and what He could do? Suddenly, I realized that it was God’s will for Addie to heal. This situation would be a memorial for our family, just as the Israelites set up stone memorials to remind themselves and teach their children of the greatness and goodness of their God. I prayed to God that we would use this situation as a way to draw closer to Him and teach His nature to our children.
I visited Addie the next day at the vet, and she was very weak. She was, however, obviously happy to see me. She even managed a couple of bites of food in my presence, which was the first food that she had eaten in five days. When I called later that afternoon, she had shown the first signs of improvement. The vet thought that she should be able to go home by the weekend. I praised God for His answer to my prayer! My four-year-old and I thanked God that night for making Addie better. When I called the vet’s office the next day, I was told that she could go home that day, a full day earlier than expected! Addie slowly has recovered at home and is now completely back to normal, playing with the children and chasing the cats!
As an unexpected bonus, my husband went by to check the mail at the other house and found a refund check for medical expenses associated with the birth of our younger child, now almost two years old. The amount of the check was approximately $600, roughly the amount needed to cover Addie’s vet bills! Not only did God heal Addie, but he provided the financial resources we did not even expect.
Our dog’s illness taught our family much. I have decided that Addie will be the first chapter in a family scrapbook which commemorates events that evidence God’s working in our lives. Addie, this beautiful Goldendoodle, this important member of our family, is also a memorial, a stone, or our pet rock, if you will, set up to remind our family of God’s goodness and His personal involvement in our lives.

Application
¨ Read Chapter 4 of Joshua. Why did God instruct Joshua to set up the twelve stones?
¨ What events in your lives show God’s power in your life?
¨ What could you do to make these events tangible reminders of God’s goodness?

Power Verses
¨ “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7 (NIV)
¨ “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 11:19 (NIV)
¨ It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High . . . . Psalm 92:1 (NIV)