“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart and glorify your name for ever” Psalm 86:12
What better way to look at a Monday and start a week than by praising our God?
This is a tough day for me to feel the praise rise within. Thirty years ago, my dad passed away. One minute he was here and the next, he was gone. And the commemoration of this day in my life has brought this song to the forefront.
It was in this darkest hour that I first realized how much God’s love defends me. I can remember so much of these days as if just yesterday. But in one of these moments God brought His love to shine through the darkness.
I had just landed from my flight from Japan where I was serving in the USAF. At 3:00 in the morning I knelt alone in the funeral home. In those minutes I knelt alone beside my father’s coffin, I was more broken then I had ever been in my life. It was at this time that God made His Presence known. Jesus came to me to give me His comfort and peace. He took my burden and pain and wrapped me in the love of God. The consolation I received and the love of the Father has grown in my life since that moment. Jesus planted the seed of His love within darkness. This seed broke through the hardness of my heart over time and has given me strength of faith in God’s love.
“My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:2
I love you and think about you every day, dad. You taught me of the Father’s love in your life and death. You are and always will be my hero. Standing beside our Father in Heaven, I pray my praise and faith give you moments of pride. Today, though the pain of your loss lingers, I give praise to our Father and God for and with you.
Take a moment today to tell you father how much you appreciate and love him whether he is still with us or not.
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!” Psalm 34:2-4